US ENERGY CORP - Annual Report: 2007 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
(Mark
One)
þ
|
Annual
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 for the fiscal year Ended December 31, 2007
|
¨
|
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 000-6814
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
(Exact
Name of Company as Specified in its
Charter)
|
Wyoming
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83-0205516
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S.
Employer
|
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
|
877
North 8th West, Riverton, WY
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82501
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|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
|
|
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code:
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(307)
856-9271
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Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
|
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common
Stock, $0.01 par value
|
(Title of
Class)
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.YES ¨ 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 Act.YES ¨ 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 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 þ NO
¨
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 ¨ Accelerated
filer þ Non-accelerated
filer ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).YES ¨ NO
þ
State the
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by
non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was
last sold, or the average bid and ask price of such common equity, as of the
last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal
quarter (June 30, 2007) $101,495,600.
Class
|
Outstanding
at March 13, 2008
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value
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24,064,191
Shares
|
Documents incorporated by
reference: None.
Indicate
by 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
the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K ¨.
-2-
DISCLOSURE
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 are forward-looking statements, including without limitation the statements
under Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations; the disclosures about possible exploration, development and
operation of our molybdenum and oil and gas properties; the disclosures about
Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (“SGMI”), formerly Globemin Resources Inc., and plans
for its gold properties in California and Mexico; and future business
plans. Whenever words like "expect," "anticipate" or "believe" are
used, we are making forward-looking statements.
Although
we believe that our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we don't know if
our expectations will prove to be correct. Where we express an
expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief
is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable
basis. However, our forward-looking statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from
future results expressed, projected or implied by those forward-looking
statements.
The
forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of all the
information in this Annual Report, including the statements in ITEM 1A, RISK
FACTORS below.
-3-
DISCLOSURE
REGARDING MINERAL RESOURCES UNDER SEC AND
CANADIAN
REGULATIONS
U.S.
Energy Corp. (“USE” or the “Company”) has entered into agreements with Kobex
Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”), and Sutter Gold Mining, Inc. (“SGMI,” a majority-owned
subsidiary of USE). Kobex and SGMI are traded on the TSX-V and are
subject to the reporting requirements of Canadian securities regulatory
authorities.
From time
to time, SGMI and Kobex make public disclosures in compliance with National
Instrument (“NI”) 43-101, “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Properties.” NI 43-101 establishes procedures and standards for
determining the existence of, and the reporting of, Mineral Resources and
Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources are classified in ascending
categories of geological confidence, as Inferred, Indicated, and
Measured. Each definition relates to a resource that is determined to
be of “such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic
extraction.” Mineral Reserves are classified as Proven or
Probable.
The U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) allows public disclosure of the
extent and grade of mineral deposits, and also, under SEC Industry Guide 7,
“Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant
Mining Operations, of Proven (Measured) Reserves and Probable (Indicated)
Reserves”. In contrast to NI 43-101, the SEC does not allow public
disclosure of Inferred, Indicated, or Measured Resources. In
addition, there are some significant differences in the standards allowed, and
the procedures required to be followed by the SEC for public disclosure of the
SEC’s Proven (Measured) Reserves and Probable (Indicated) Reserves, as compared
to NI 43-101 for Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves.
United
States residents who obtain information about our molybdenum property, and about
SGMI’s gold properties, which are reported upon by Kobex and SGMI to the TSX-V
in accordance with NI 43-101, are cautioned that such information may be
materially different from what would be permitted under SEC rules for United
States companies.
-4-
PART
I
ITEM
1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
U.S.
Energy Corp. (“USE” or the “Company”), a Wyoming corporation organized in 1966,
acquires and develops energy-related and other mineral properties. In
2008, we expect to participate as a working interest owner with an independent
petroleum company in a number of exploratory oil and gas wells in the Gulf Coast
region. In 2007, we began building multifamily housing units in
Gillette, Wyoming, and anticipate building additional units in other communities
in the Rocky Mountain region which are experiencing housing
shortages. As of December 31, 2007, no revenues had been reported
from the oil and gas or multifamily housing activities. Management
expects that the multifamily housing business will provide cash flows in the
future but plans to concentrate primarily on the mineral sector.
Principal
executive offices are located in the Glen L. Larsen building at 877 North 8th
West, Riverton, Wyoming 82501, telephone 307-856-9271. SGMI has an
office in Sutter Creek, California and Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Our
website is www.usnrg.com. We make available on this website, through
a direct link to Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at
http://www.sec.gov, free of charge, our annual reports on Form 10-K; quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q; current reports on Form 8-K; proxy statements; and Forms
3, 4 and 5 for stock ownership by directors and executive
officers. You may also find information related to our corporate
governance, board committees and company code of ethics at our
website.
Minerals.
Mining. USE
currently owns 100% of a world-class molybdenum property in Colorado (the “Lucky
Jack” molybdenum property), a royalty interest in uranium claims on Green
Mountain, Wyoming and has an option to acquire miscellaneous uranium
properties. In 2007, we sold all of our other uranium properties and
the commercial real estate associated with the Utah uranium properties to
Uranium One Ltd. (“Uranium One”). After closing the Uranium One
transaction, we entered into two option agreements to purchase 21,435 acres of
mining leases by paying an option payment of $31,100. To purchase the
leases, we will have to pay an additional $105,000 before November 7,
2008. The uranium leases are located in Utah and are subject to an
Area of Mutual Interest (“AMI”) delineated in the Uranium One
transaction. Uranium One has waived their rights under the AMI in
regard to these leases.
We are
seeking to acquire undeveloped and/or developed mineral properties, with a view
to operate, sell, lease and/or joint venture the properties with industry
partners. We are also seeking to acquire companies in the minerals
and oil and gas business. In the past, USE conducted most of its
business in a joint venture with its subsidiary Crested Corp. (“Crested”) , and
often organized (with Crested) subsidiary companies to hold properties, thus
allowing the opportunity to raise project capital without direct dilution to USE
or Crested shareholders. Except for SGMI and Remington Village, LLC,
all operating subsidiaries have been acquired (Crested by merger into USE in
2007), sold (Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. to Enterra Energy Trust in 2005), or
dissolved.
Our
strategy is to demonstrate prospective value in mineral properties sufficient to
support substantial investments by financial institutions and/or industry
partners, then bring in long term development expertise to develop and produce
the properties. Alternatively, we might sell a property
outright. The determinants in this strategy are the quantity and
quality of the minerals in the ground, environmental and permitting requirements
associated therewith, and commodity prices. Although most mineral
commodities are currently at or in excess of historical high prices, viable
properties may be acquired if our financial reward is worth the
risk.
-5-
To
demonstrate value to a prospective partner or institution, we may commission a
feasibility study on a mineral property. In some instances, however,
we may be able to raise capital or bring an industry partner into a project
without having a study prepared.
Oil and Gas
Exploration. We have an agreement with an independent oil and
gas exploration and production company and expect to participate as a 20%
working interest owner in a number of exploration wells in the Gulf Coast region
of the United States in 2008. Initial wells are expected to be
drilled in the second and third quarters 2008. We are evaluating
opportunities with other companies in this industry.
Energy Sector
Housing.
The
energy sector is undergoing expansion in the Rocky Mountain region, which is
creating opportunities for new multifamily housing in select
areas. We are building a mid-size multifamily apartment complex in
Gillette (Campbell County), Wyoming, which is expected to be completed in fourth
quarter 2008. As of the date of this report, we have received
occupancy permits for two of the nine buildings and they are fully
occupied. All-in land and construction cost is estimated at $26
million. At mid-March 2008, the entire project is about 60%
finished. We also own a small undeveloped parcel of land in Riverton,
Wyoming (adjacent to our corporate headquarters) which was purchased in December
2007. Plans for this property are under review. We are
also evaluating other opportunities for potential development.
Corporate Developments in
2007.
Crested Corp. Merger into
U.S. Energy Corp. Until November 27, 2007, Crested was a
majority-owned subsidiary of USE. At a special meeting of
shareholders of Crested held on November 26, 2007, a majority of the minority
shareholders of Crested voted to approve the January 23, 2007 (as amended on
July 31, 2007) Agreement and Plan of Merger for the merger of Crested into
USE. Immediately following receipt of such approval, USE (and those
of its affiliates that owned Crested stock) voted their Crested shares in favor
of the agreement.
The
merger was completed on November 27, 2007, and Crested was merged into USE
pursuant to Colorado and Wyoming law. Crested has ceased to exist and
all outstanding shares of Crested have been converted into the right to receive
USE shares. In accordance with the agreement, and USE’s effective
Form S-4 registration statement for the transaction, USE is issuing 2,876,188
shares of common stock plus 55 shares for fractional share rounding to all
former shareholders of Crested (except USE), on an exchange ratio of 1 USE share
for every 2 Crested shares. These shares are deemed issued and
outstanding as of December 31, 2007.
In
connection with the merger transaction, Navigant Capital Advisors, LLC acted as
financial advisor to the special committee of the USE board of directors, and
Neidiger Tucker Bruner Inc. acted as financial advisor to the special committee
of the Crested board of directors. These firms delivered opinions to
USE and Crested, to the effects that the exchange ratio was fair to the USE
shareholders, and to the Crested minority shareholders,
respectively.
Because
most of USE’s business was conducted together with Crested (usually through a
joint venture arrangement) until the merger was closed, you will see some
historical references to Crested in this Annual Report. Generally,
however, references to our past business in this Annual Report are made in USE’s
name alone, since USE acquired all of Crested’s interests in ongoing business
activities in late 2007.
-6-
Sale of Uranium
Assets. On April 30, 2007, USE and its then majority-owned
subsidiary Crested, and certain of their private subsidiary companies, sold
their uranium assets by closing the February 22, 2007 Asset Purchase Agreement
(the “APA”) with sxr Uranium One Inc. (“Uranium One,” headquartered in Toronto,
Canada with offices in South Africa and Australia (Toronto Stock Exchange and
Johannesburg Stock Exchange, “UUU”), and certain of its private subsidiary
companies.
The
assets sold were the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill in Utah, unpatented uranium
claims in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and Utah (and geological data information
related to the sold claims), and USE’s and Crested’s contractual rights with
Uranium Power Corp. (“UPC”), to subsidiaries of Uranium One, for (a) $6,602,700
cash and 6,607,605 Uranium One common shares (all later sold in 2007 for
$90,724,000 cash); and (b) Uranium One’s assumption of certain specific
liabilities associated with the sold assets, including (but not limited to)
those future reclamation liabilities associated with the Shootaring Canyon Mill
in Utah, and the Sheep Mountain (Wyoming) properties. USE’s and
Crested’s cash bonds were released and the cash was returned by the regulatory
authorities to USE and Crested in 2007. Crested’s share of the sale
proceeds and the returned bond cash, which were still held by Crested when it
merged into USE in November 2007, were thereby acquired by USE, and any future
payments to which Crested would have been entitled will be paid to
USE.
Pursuant
to the APA, USE may also receive from Uranium One in the future:
·
|
$20,000,000
cash when commercial production occurs at the Shootaring Canyon Mill (when
the Shootaring Canyon Mill has been operating at 60% or more of its design
capacity of 750 short tons per day for 60 consecutive
days).
|
·
|
$7,500,000
cash on the first delivery (after commercial production has occurred) of
mineralized material from any of the claims sold to Uranium One on April
30, 2007 to a commercial mill (excluding existing ore stockpiles on the
properties).
|
·
|
From
and after commercial production occurs at the Shootaring Canyon Mill, a
production payment royalty (up to but not more than $12,500,000) equal to
five percent of (i) the gross value of uranium and vanadium products
produced at and sold from the mill; or (ii) mill fees received by Uranium
One from third parties for custom milling or tolling arrangements, as
applicable. If production is sold to a Uranium One affiliate,
partner, or joint venturer, gross value shall be determined by reference
to mining industry publications or
data.
|
USE holds
a 4% net profits interest on unpatented claims on Rio Tinto’s Jackpot uranium
property located on Green Mountain in Wyoming. This interest was not
sold to Uranium One.
Uranium
One has the first opportunity to earn into or fund uranium property interests
which may in the future be owned or acquired by USE within a five mile area of
mutual interest surrounding each of the sold properties.
Subsequent Sale of
Commercial Property to Uranium One. On October 29, 2007,
Uranium One purchased the Ticaboo commercial property associated with uranium
assets sold to Uranium One in a transaction separate from the April 2007 APA,
for $2,700,000. The Company received $2,635,400 and recorded a net
profit of $472,300 on the sale. The property included a motel,
restaurant/lounge, convenience store and a boat storage/service facility, a
149-unit mobile home park, a single-family residential subdivision with 98 lots
and an RV park.
-7-
Industry
Segments/Principal Products
The
Company had one operating segment during the twelve months ended December 31,
2007, commercial real estate operations which were managed by a third
party. The Company did continue to maintain mineral and commercial
assets on either a stand by or leased out basis, but minimal revenues were
generated from these operations. The uranium mineral assets and
associated commercial assets were sold in 2007.
Non-operating
segments and principal activities at December 31, 2007 were:
Minerals: The
Company is primarily involved in the acquisition of mineral properties, the
exploration and development of those properties, and from time to time the sale
and lease of mineral-bearing properties and production and/or marketing of
minerals. The Company currently owns an undeveloped molybdenum
property and an interest in a gold property through its subsidiary,
SGMI. In 2007, the Company acquired minority working interests in oil
and gas prospects in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, upon which drilling is expected
to start in the second quarter of 2008. Interests in additional
prospects may be acquired in 2008 and beyond.
Real
Estate: In 2007, we started the construction of an apartment
complex in Gillette, Wyoming; similar projects may be started in 2008 (and
thereafter if fundable out of cash flow from the 2007 and 2008 projects – See
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations”). The project under construction is held by Remington
Village, LLC. (“Remington”), a 100% owned subsidiary of USE. USE also holds
13.84 undeveloped acres in Riverton, Wyoming (adjacent to our corporate
headquarters) which may be developed in the future. No revenues were
recognized from real estate activities in 2007.
Minerals
– Molybdenum (Inactive and Permitting)
On
February 28, 2006, the Company re-acquired the Lucky Jack molybdenum property,
(formerly the Mount Emmons molybdenum property), located near Crested Butte,
Colorado. The property was returned to the Company by Phelps Dodge
Corporation (“PD”) in accordance with a 1987 Amended Royalty Deed and Agreement
between the Company and Amax Inc. (“Amax”). The Lucky Jack property
includes 25 patented mining claims and approximately 520 unpatented mining and
or mill site claims, which together approximate 5,400 acres. For
further information on the Lucky Jack molybdenum property see PART I, ITEM 2,
PROPERTY / Molybdenum of this Annual Report.
In light
of increased molybdic oxide prices, the Company has decided to pursue permitting
and development of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property. Development of
the property for mining will require extensive capital and long term planning
and permitting activities. Capital through equity financing and/or a
joint venture or other arrangement will need to be obtained to bring the
property into production.
· Markets
Molybdic
oxide is an alloy used primarily in specialty steel products for enhanced
corrosion resistance, metal strengthening and heat
resistance. Molybdenum chemicals are used in a number of diverse
applications such as lubricants, additives for water treatment, feedstock for
the production of pure molybdenum metal and catalysts used for petroleum
refining. Pure molybdenum metal powder products are used in a number
of diverse applications, such as lighting, electronics and specialty steel
alloys.
-8-
The
metallurgical market for molybdenum is characterized by cyclical and volatile
prices, little product differentiation and strong competition. In the
market, prices are influenced by production costs of domestic and foreign
competitors, worldwide economic conditions, world supply/demand balances,
inventory levels, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate and other
factors. Molybdenum prices also are affected by the demand for
end-use products in, for example, the construction, transportation and durable
goods markets. A substantial portion the of world’s molybdenum supply
is produced as a by-product of copper mining. Today, by-product
production is estimated to account for approximately 60% of global molybdenum
production.
Molybdenum
price experienced continued stability during 2007. Production
increases were experienced in by-product copper production and primary
production. Production in China remains difficult to estimate;
however, based on published reports, production was negatively impacted in
several molybdenum producing regions due to safety concerns and operational
issues. Although more stable, the tight supply of western,
high-quality materials continued through the year. It is believed
that the overall market remained in slight deficit during 2007 due to demand
continuing to outpace supply.
Annual
Metal Week Dealer Oxide mean prices averaged $30.65 in 2007 ($25.55 in 2006 and
$32.94 in 2005). Continued strong demand has outpaced supply over the
past several years (deficit market conditions) and has reduced inventory levels
throughout the industry.
· Kobex
Resources Ltd. Agreement for the Lucky Jack Molybdenum Property
On
October 6, 2006, the Company and Kobex Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”) (a British
Columbia company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “KBX”)
signed an agreement providing Kobex an option to acquire up to a 65% interest in
certain patented and unpatented claims held by the Company at the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property. The agreement was amended on December 7, 2006,
with an effective date of December 5, 2006.
The total
cost to Kobex over an estimated period of five years to exercise the full option
will be $50 million in option payments and property expenditures including the
costs to prepare a bankable feasibility study plus a cash differential payment
if this total is less than $50 million.
Expenditures and Option
payments
Date
by When Expenditures and Options Must be Paid(1)
|
Expenditures
Amount(2)
- $
|
Option
Payment
Amount
(3)
- $
|
Total
Expenditure
and
Option Payment
Amount
- $
|
Cumulative
Total for Expenditures Amounts and Option Payments - $
|
||||
Later
of April 13, 2007 or TSX-V Approval(4)
|
-0-
|
750,000
|
750,000
|
750,000
|
||||
March
31, 2008
|
3,500,000(5)
|
1,200,000(5)
|
4,200,000
|
4,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2008
|
5,000,000
|
500,000
|
5,500,000
|
10,450,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2009
|
5,000,000
|
500,000
|
5,500,000
|
15,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2010
|
2,500,000
|
500,000
|
3,000,000
|
18,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2011
|
-0-
|
500,000
|
500,000
|
19,450,000
|
||||
Totals
|
16,000,000
|
3,950,000
|
19,450,000
|
19,450,000
|
-9-
(1)
|
Any
shortfall in expenditures may be paid direct, in cash. Except
for the initial payment of $3,500,000 in expenditures by March 31, 2008
(which is a firm commitment of Kobex). At December 31, 2007,
Kobex had expended $7.7 million on the project which satisfies their
commitment through December 31, 2007 and part of 2008. If any
expenditures amount is not fulfilled and/or option payment is not made by
90 days after the due date, the agreement will be deemed to have been
terminated by Kobex. However, if Kobex fails to incur an
expenditures amount and/or does not make an option payment after the date
when Kobex has earned a 15% interest, USE will replace Kobex as manager of
the property.
|
(2)
|
Expenditures
include (but are not limited to) holding and permitting costs for the
Property; geological, geophysical, metallurgical, and related work;
salaries and wages; and water treatment plant capital and operating
costs. As of December 31, 2007, Kobex had expended $7.7 million
for its payments to USE and work performed on the
property.
|
(3)
|
At
Kobex’s election, option payments may be made in cash or Kobex common
stock at market price on issue date. Kobex may accelerate these
payments in advance of the scheduled
dates.
|
(4)
|
The
agreement was approved by the TSX-V on May 23, 2007, and Kobex made the
first option payment (US$750,000) by issuing 285,632 shares of Kobex
common stock to USE, valued at the stock market price on May 22,
2007. Subsequently in 2007, this number of shares has been
reduced to 269,932 shares for USE paying its share of a broker’s fee (see
below).
|
(5)
|
For
this period, Kobex may reduce the option payment by $700,000 by increasing
expenditures by that amount, or apportioning the $700,000 between the
option payment and expenditures.
|
Bankable Feasibility
Study
Kobex is
required to deliver a bankable feasibility study (the “BFS”) for the Lucky Jack
property (including confirmation of advance permitting or issuance of a mining
permit). If option payments and expenditures, plus the costs to
prepare the BFS, total $50 million before the BFS is completed and delivered to
USE, Kobex and USE jointly (50% each) shall fund completion of the
BFS.
If option
payments and expenditures are less than $50 million, then, in order to fully
exercise the option to acquire an aggregate 50% interest in the Lucky Jack
property, Kobex shall pay USE the difference between $50 million, and the option
payments plus expenditures plus the costs to prepare and complete the
BFS. This amount is the “study cash difference.” If the
BFS is not completed by December 31, 2016, Kobex’s interest will revert to 15%
and USE will assume operatorship of the Lucky Jack property.
Exercise of the
Option
The
option is exercisable in two stages. The “option period” is the time
between April 3, 2007, and that date when Kobex has earned the additional 35%
interest.
First
Stage: When Kobex has incurred an initial $15 million in
expenditures, Kobex shall have earned a 15% interest in the Lucky Jack
property.
Second
Stage: If Kobex completes the remaining option payments and
expenditures and delivers the BFS (and pays the study cash difference, if
applicable), Kobex shall have earned an additional 35% interest (for a total of
50%). This date will be the “50% option exercise date.”
-10-
Exercise of
Option. On the 50% option exercise date, Kobex may either (i)
elect to form a joint venture with USE (50% interest each); or (ii) four months
after such date, offer USE an election to form the joint venture and have Kobex
arrange all future financing for all operations on the Lucky Jack property, for
an additional 15% interest to Kobex (for a total 65% interest in the joint
venture); or (iii) offer USE an election to have Kobex acquire all the
outstanding securities of an entity formed by USE to hold its joint venture
interest, for Kobex stock, with the purchase price determined by negotiation or
an independent valuator. If option (iii) is elected by USE, the total number of
Kobex shares issued to USE shall not be greater than 50% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Kobex at the time the election is completed.
Throughout
the option period, Kobex shall be the manager of all programs on the property,
and its activities shall be subject to the direction and control of a management
committee. The management committee shall have four members (two each
from USE and Kobex); in the event of a tie, the Kobex members shall have the
casting vote. A technical committee, also with two members from each
party, shall provide technical assistance to the management
committee.
The Joint
Venture
After the
50% option exercise date, a joint venture (the “Lucky Jack Joint Venture”) shall
be deemed formed between USE and Kobex, to hold and explore the Lucky Jack
property; if feasible, develop a mine on the property; and for so long as
feasible, operate the mine and produce minerals from the
property. USE and Kobex each shall have a 50% interest in the joint
venture and shall be obligated to contribute funds to adopted programs and
budgets in proportion to their interests.
When the
joint venture is formed, Kobex will be the manager, subject to the direction and
control of a management committee (which may be the same as the management
committee during the option period).
Broker’s
Fee
Kobex has
agreed to pay a Cdn$463,700 broker’s fee in connection with the agreement, of
which USE is responsible for 50% (Cdn$231,900). The initial payment
by Kobex in 2007 was Cdn$348,700; USE’s portion was Cdn$174,400, of which it
reimbursed (in 2007) 50% to Kobex by returning to Kobex 17,700 of the Kobex
shares paid on the first option installment. The remainder of the
initial payment will be reimbursed to Kobex by USE in March 2008, in cash if
Kobex pays the option installment then due in cash, or as a reduction in the
number of Kobex’s shares, if Kobex pays the option in stock. The
balance of the total fee (Cdn$115,000) is to be paid by annual installments of
Cdn$28,700 on December 31, 2008 through 2011 (assuming the Kobex-USE agreement
still is in effect at each date). USE’s portion will be Cdn$14,400
annually.
Continuing Royalty held by
USE
USE will
continue to retain a 6% gross overriding royalty on production from the Lucky
Jack property, under the Amended and Restated Royalty Deeds and Agreement dated
May 29, 1987 between USE, Crested, and Mt. Emmons Mining
Company. USE’s 6% royalty will be reduced to 5.1% when Kobex earns a
15% interest in the property, and will be reduced again to 3% when Kobex earns a
50% interest in the property. Kobex also has an option to eliminate
an additional 1% of the 3% royalty for $10 million.
-11-
Minerals
– Oil and Gas Exploration – Gulf Coast Region
The
Company entered into an Exploration and Area of Mutual Interest Agreement (the
“E&AMI Agreement”) with an independent oil and gas exploration and
production company (the “E&P Company”), which relates to three prospect
areas in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. In connection
with that agreement, the parties have also signed an Operating Agreement,
whereby the E&P Company will be the operator. The E&AMI Agreement
provides the Company with the right, through September 13, 2011, to acquire a
20% working interest in each lease acquired by the E&P Company, within any
of the three prospect areas.
At
December 31, 2007, we have paid approximately $2.9 million for our 20% interest
of lease acquisition costs within each of the first two areas, and for our share
of seismic data reprocessing and reinterpretation costs. At the date
of this Annual Report, our anticipated drilling and completion costs for three
wells are projected by the E&P Company to be $4.5 million ($1.5 million
each); with drilling expected to commence in May of 2008. The actual
number of wells to be drilled will depend upon ongoing drilling and completion
results. In 2008, we also project to spend in excess of
$750,000 for our share of additional seismic work on the areas.
If the
E&P Company is presented with opportunities to participate in other
companies’ acreage positions within any of the three areas identified in the
E&AMI Agreement, the Company will have the opportunity to participate on a
20% working interest basis (proportionately reduced for the interest acquired by
the E&P Company).
We have
also entered into a Management Engagement agreement (for a term of three years)
with a management company affiliated with Wildes Exploration
(“Wildes”). Wildes will be paid $50,000 annually for consulting and
management services for each of the three areas under the E&AMI Agreement
(not to exceed $100,000 in any calendar year), starting in each area with the
date when seismic data for an area has been reprocessed by a third party and
reinterpreted by the E&P Company for lease acquisition
purposes.
Pursuant
to the Management Engagement agreement, the Company will also assign to Wildes a
Working Interest (“WI”) of 15% of the Company’s 20% WI (or a 3% net WI) after
the Company has recovered 100% of all of its costs plus a 6% interest compounded
annually for each producing well drilled and completed within such
AMI. This WI will increase to 20% of the Company’s 20% WI (or a 4%
net WI) after the Company has recovered 200% of its costs from each producing
well within such AMI. This assignment will cover all wells drilled
and completed in the particular area under the E&AMI
Agreement. From the assignment date forward, Wildes will be
responsible for its proportionate share of all of the WI costs associated with
the wells in accordance with the Operating Agreement.
Minerals
- Gold (Permitting and Exploration)
In 1991,
USE acquired an interest in gold properties located in the Mother Lode Mining
District of Amador County, California. The entire Lincoln Project
(which is the name for the California properties) was owned by Sutter Gold
Mining Company, a Wyoming corporation ("SGMC"). SGMC was acquired by
Globemin Resources Inc., a British Columbia corporation which is traded on the
TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX-V) under its new name, Sutter Gold Mining Inc.
(“SGMI”).
-12-
In 2005,
SGMI received approval of their Waste Discharge Permit application from the
California Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control
Board. Approval of the Waste Discharge Permit will allow SGMI to
construct waste piles, use mill tailings for mine back fill and expand its
mining operations. The Amador County Board of Supervisors previously
issued a Conditional Use Permit ("CUP") in October 1998 allowing mining and
milling of up to 1,000 tons per day, subject to conditions relating to land use,
environmental and public safety issues, road construction and improvement, and
site reclamation.
In
December 2006, SGMI paid $13,300 for an option to acquire the Santa Teresa
concession in Baja California El Norte, Mexico from the Alamo Group,
Inc. The property consists of one concession from the Mexican
government covering 183 hectares.
At
December 31, 2007, USE was considering various potential opportunities to sell
its interest in SGMI. The sale of USE’s interest in SGMI will allow
USE to focus on its Lucky Jack molybdenum property and oil and gas
prospects. No contracts for the sale of USE’s interest in SGMI have
been entered into and no assurance can be given if or when the sale of the
interest will occur.
Energy
Sector Housing
Remington Village –
Gillette, Wyoming. We are building a nine building Class A
multifamily apartment complex, with 216 units on 10.15 acres (purchased in 2007)
located in Gillette, Wyoming. At March 12, 2008, overall project
construction is about 60% complete, with 2 buildings finished and occupied by
tenants (including units rented under the Basin Electric agreement – see
below). Remaining buildings should be ready for occupancy by the end
of 2008. The apartments are a mix of one, two, and three bedroom
units, and a clubhouse and family amenities are still under
construction. This project is held by our wholly-owned subsidiary
Remington Village, LLC. (“Remington”)
Zions
Bank (“Zions”) is providing construction financing of up to $18.5
million. Total cost to buy the land, pay a developer’s fee, obtain
permits and entitlements, site work and construction, is estimated at $26.0
million. Pursuant to the 2007 loan agreement with Zions, USE has
invested $7.0 million cash equity into the project (including $1.2 million for
land purchase). At December 31, 2007, the outstanding balance on the
construction loan was $5.5 million; additional amounts are being drawn in
2008. The interest rate on the loan balance at December 31, 2007 was
6.8812% based on LIBOR, and interest is payable monthly. Loan
maturity is March 1, 2009 (extendable to September 1, 2009 at our
election). USE has guaranteed repayment of the note, which is also
secured by the project (and all rental income including the pre-lease agreement
with Basin Electric – see below). The construction loan is
expected to be refinanced into permanent financing when the project is
completed. Obtaining permanent financing is expected to be subject to
the project meeting the lender’s customary appraised value
requirements.
Basin
Electric Power Cooperative (“Basin Electric”) has begun construction of a $1.345
billion coal fired power plant about 7 miles north of
Gillette. Construction is expected to last 4 years and employ up to
1,100 workers during the peak period. On July 2, 2007, Basin Electric
and Remington signed an agreement to pre-lease apartments to Basin employees and
others associated with building the plant and related facilities, for the period
from January 2008 through August 2011. Occupancy under the Basin
Electric agreement will ramp up in the first three quarters of 2008, maximize
from October 2008 through first quarter 2010, then decline to zero in fourth
quarter 2011. Basin Electric will pay Remington approximately $3.24
million of total rent during the 44 month period, and is obligated to pay rent
regardless of whether the covered units are occupied. Basin Electric
may cancel the agreement at any time by paying USE $100,000.
-13-
If a
proposed expansion of the Wyogen 3 power plant, and construction of a proposed
Two Elk power plant (both near Gillette) go forward, additional workforce and
increased housing needs should favorably impact the local economy (and the
Remington project) for years to come. The long term economic
viability of our investment in Remington is not yet
ascertainable. Please see the risk factors discussed in this Annual
Report.
In
general, available housing in Wyoming is very constrained due to the booming
energy, mining and other sectors. The state has one of the lowest
unemployment rates in the nation, and the limited housing supply situation is
expected to continue. We are currently evaluating further acquisition
and development plans in Wyoming and other areas of the inter-mountain west
region that are being impacted by energy development.
Riverton,
Wyoming. On December 28, 2007 we purchased 13.84 acres of
undeveloped land at the corner of North 8th and
Sunset, Riverton, Wyoming, for $500,400 cash. The property is across
the street from USE’s corporate office building. We may develop this
property for multifamily housing, or other purposes.
Exercise
of Warrants and Options
In 2007,
USE issued a total of 359,598 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of
warrants; 1,109,894 net shares from the exercise of employee options; 62,500
shares pursuant to the 2001 stock compensation plan as compensation to officers;
3,812 shares to outside directors; 84,995 shares for the annual funding of USE’s
Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and with approval from USE shareholders released
the remaining 292,740 forfeitable shares to employees and officers.
RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT
No
research and development expenditures have been incurred, either on the
Company’s account or sponsored by a customer of the Company, during the past
three fiscal years.
ENVIRONMENTAL
General
Operations
are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding
the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the
protection of the environment, including the National Environmental Policy Act
(“NEPA”), Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act ("RCRA"), and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation
Liability Act ("CERCLA"). With respect to proposed mining operations
in Colorado, that state’s mine permitting statute, Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Act and industrial development and siting laws and regulations also affect the
Lucky Jack molybdenum project. Similar laws and regulations in
California affect SGMI operations. Management believes the Company
complies in all material respects with existing environmental
regulations.
For
information on the approximate reclamation costs (decommissioning,
decontamination and other reclamation efforts for which we are primarily
responsible or potentially responsible) related to the Lucky Jack project, see
the consolidated financial statements included in PART III of this Annual
Report.
-14-
Other
Environmental Costs
Actual
costs for compliance with environmental laws may vary considerably from
estimates, depending upon such factors as changes in environmental law and
regulations (e.g., the new Clean Air Act), and conditions encountered in
minerals exploration and mining. We do not anticipate that
expenditures to comply with law regulating the discharge of materials into the
environment, or which are otherwise designed to protect the environment, will
have any substantial adverse impact on our competitive position in the
molybdenum market. Environmental regulatory programs create potential
liability for our operations and may result in requirements to perform
environmental investigations or corrective actions under federal and state laws
and federal and state Superfund requirements.
EMPLOYEES
As of
March 12, 2008, we had 20 full-time employees.
MINING
CLAIM HOLDINGS
Title
Approximately
25 of the Lucky Jack mining claims which USE received back from Phelps Dodge
Corporation (“PD”) are patented claims; however the majority of the mining
claims are unpatented.
Unpatented
claims are located upon federal and public land pursuant to procedures
established by the General Mining Law, which governs mining claims and related
activities on federal public lands. Requirements for the location of
a valid mining claim on public land depend on the type of claim being staked,
but generally include discovery of valuable minerals, erecting a discovery
monument and posting thereon a location notice, marking the boundaries of
the claim with monuments, and filing a certificate of location with the county
in which the claim is located and with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management
(“BLM”). If the statutes and regulations for the location of a mining
claim are complied with, the locator obtains a valid possessory right to
the contained minerals. To preserve an otherwise valid claim, a
claimant must also pay certain rental fees annually to the federal government
and make certain additional filings with the county and the
BLM. Failure to pay such fees or make the required filing may render
the mining claim void or voidable.
Because
mining claims are self-initiated and self-maintained, they possess some unique
vulnerability not associated with other types of property
interests. It is impossible to ascertain the validity of unpatented
mining claims solely from public records and it can be difficult or impossible
to confirm that all of the requisite steps have been followed for location and
maintenance of a claim. If the validity of an unpatented mining claim
is challenged by the government, the claimant has the burden of proving the
economic feasibility of mining minerals located thereon. However, we
believe that all of our Lucky Jack mining claims are valid and in good
standing.
Proposed
Federal Legislation
The U.S.
Congress from time to time has considered proposed revisions to the General
Mining Law, including as recently as 2007 and 2008. If these proposed
revisions are enacted, payment of royalties on production of minerals from
federal lands could be required as well as additional procedural measures, new
requirements for reclamation of mined land, and other environmental control
measures. The effect of any revision of the General Mining Law on
operations cannot be determined until enactment, however, it is possible that
revisions would materially increase the carrying and operating costs of mineral
properties located on federal unpatented mining claims.
-15-
ITEM
1 A. RISK FACTORS
THE
FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN EVALUATING
THE
INFORMATION IN THIS FORM 10-K
Risks
Relating to Our Business
We
have a history of operating losses and no recurring business revenues, and there
are uncertainties associated with transaction-based revenues.
At
December 31, 2007, USE had $19.0 million of retained earnings, a loss before
investment and property transactions of $16.7 million from operations, and a
gain on sale of assets (uranium properties, equipment and marketable securities)
of $106.3 million. At December 31, 2006, the accumulated deficit was
$39.1 million, and for that year we recorded a loss before a benefit from income
taxes of $14.3 million and a net gain after benefit from income taxes of $1.1
million. Significant swings in our earnings from year to year has
been the nature of our business model of acquiring, holding and selling mineral
properties, because the process from property acquisition until ultimate sale or
joint venture is capital intensive and often takes years to
complete. Although we are modifying the business to incorporate
long-term revenue generating activities (oil and gas drilling and energy sector
housing development, as examples), we do expect to continue experiencing
earnings swings as a substantial portion of our assets still likely will be long
term mineral properties.
Working
capital at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $74.6 million and $31.7 million,
respectively. Historically, working capital needs have been primarily
met from receipt of funds from liquidating investments, selling partial
interests in mineral properties and selling equity. However, long
term cash needed to acquire, develop and produce mineral properties, and
possibly for additional energy sector housing initiatives, may exceed the
substantial cash on hand at December 31, 2007.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007 we had one operating business, commercial real
estate, which was managed by a third party. The operating business
was sold during the fourth quarter of 2007. Receipt of funds from
selling interests in mineral properties, or liquidating investments in mineral
properties, are unpredictable as to timing, structure, and
profitability.
While it
is anticipated that funds for developing the Lucky Jack molybdenum property will
be available through Kobex to obtain mining and other permits, further delineate
the mineral resource, and plan the mining and processing operation, additional
capital (the costs of which would be shared by USE and Kobex) will be necessary
to put the property into production.
The
interest retained by USE in the Lucky Jack molybdenum property is not expected
to generate recurring revenues for several years. In addition, the
Plan of Operations of PD (from whom we received the property) and its
predecessor companies encountered opposition from local and environmental
groups, as well as municipal and county government agencies. The new
Plan of Operations we are designing with Kobex (which we expect will be
submitted in 2008 to the United States Forest Service (“USFS”) for review and
approval) is expected to minimize environmental impact and in other ways be very
different from PD’s plan. Nonetheless, we anticipate continued local
opposition to any mining of the molybdenum deposit, which could result in
unexpected delays and increased costs to get a new plan approved and
permitted.
-16-
Uncertainties in
the value of the mineral properties.
While we
believe our mineral properties are valuable, substantial work and capital will
be needed to establish whether they are in fact valuable.
The
profitable mining and processing of gold by SGMI will also depend on many
factors, including: receipt of additional 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.
The Lucky
Jack molybdenum property has been analyzed and explored by its prior
owners. 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 difficult, even with the assistance of
Kobex. Capital requirements for a molybdenum mining operation will be
substantial.
USE has
not yet obtained final feasibility studies on any of its mineral
properties. These studies would establish the potential economic
viability of the different properties based on extensive drilling and sampling;
the design and costs to build and operate mills, the cost of capital, and other
factors. Feasibility studies can take many months or years 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 (i.e., amounts of
minerals in sufficient grades that can be extracted profitably under current
commodity pricing assumptions and estimated for development and operating
costs). A feasibility study usually, but not always, must be
completed in order to raise the substantial capital needed to put a mineral
property into production. We have not established any reserves (i.e.,
economic deposits of mineralized materials) on any of our properties, and future
studies may indicate that some or all of the properties will not be economic to
put into production.
Compliance with
environmental regulations may be costly.
General
USE’s
business is regulated by government agencies. Permits are required to
explore for minerals, operate mines and build and operate processing
plants. 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 cannot withstand the cost of
complying with changed regulations, USE might decide not to move forward with
the project.
USE must
comply with numerous environmental regulations on a continuous basis, to comply
with United States environmental laws, including the National Environmental
Policy Act (“NEPA”), Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”). 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 state and local regulatory agencies. The Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Act in Wyoming and similar laws in other states (for examples,
California for SGMI’s gold property and Colorado for the Lucky Jack molybdenum
property) impose reclamation obligations on abandoned mining properties, in
addition to or in conjunction with federal statutes. Environmental
regulatory programs create potential liability for operations, and may result in
requirements to perform environmental investigations or corrective actions under
federal and state laws and federal and state Superfund
requirements.
-17-
Failure
to comply with these regulations could result in substantial fines,
environmental remediation orders and/or potential shut down of the project until
compliance is achieved. Failure to timely obtain required permits to
start operations at a project could cause delay and/or the failure of the
project resulting in a potential write-off of the investments
therein.
Lucky
Jack
The Lucky
Jack molybdenum property is located on fee property within the boundary of U.S.
Forest Service (“USFS”) land. Although mining of the mineral resource
will occur on the fee property, associated ancillary activities will occur on
USFS land. The Company and Kobex will submit a Plan of Operations to
the USFS in 2008 for USFS approval, which approval is required before
construction can begin and mining and processing may occur. Under the
procedures mandated by the National Environmental Protection Act (“NEPA”), the
USFS will prepare an environmental analysis in the form of an Environmental
Assessment and/or and Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the predicted
environmental and social economic impacts of the proposed development and mining
of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property. The NEPA process provides for
public review and comment of the proposed plan.
The USFS
is the lead regulatory agency in the NEPA process, and coordinates with the
various Federal and State agencies in the review and approval of the Plan of
Operations. Various Colorado state agencies will continue to have
primary jurisdiction over certain areas. For example, enforcement of
the Clean Water Act in Colorado is delegated to the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment and a water discharge permit under the National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) is required before the USFS can
approve the Plan of Operations. The Company currently has a NPDES
Permit from the State of Colorado for the operation of the water treatment plant
at the Lucky Jack molybdenum property; however this permit may need to be
updated. In addition, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining
and Safety issues mining and reclamation permits for mining activities, pursuant
to the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act, and otherwise exercises supervisory
authority over mining in the state. As part of obtaining a permit to
mine, the Company and Kobex will be required to submit a detailed reclamation
plan for the eventual mine closure, which must be reviewed and approved by the
agency. In addition, the Company and Kobex will be required to
provide to the agency financial assurance that the reclamation plan will be
achieved (by bonding and/or insurance) before the mining permit will be
issued.
Obtaining
and maintaining the various permits for the mining operations at the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property will be complex, time-consuming, and
expensive. Changes in a mine’s design, production rates, quality of
material mined, and many other matters, often require submission of the proposed
changes for agency approval prior to implementation. In addition,
changes in operating conditions beyond the Company’s control, or changes in
agency policy and Federal and state law, could further complicate getting
changes to the mine’s operation approved.
Although
the Company is confident that the Plan of Operations for the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property will ultimately be approved by the USFS, the timing and
cost, and ultimate success of the mining operation cannot be
predicted.
We
depend on key personnel.
Our
employees have experience in dealing with the exploration and financing of
mineral properties. We have a very limited staff and executive
group. The loss of key employees could adversely impact our business,
as finding replacements is difficult as a result of competition for experienced
personnel in the minerals industry.
-18-
We may be
classified as an inadvertent investment company.
We are
not engaged in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities,
and we do not hold ourselves out as being engaged in those activities. However,
under the federal Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”), a company may
fall within the scope of being an “inadvertent investment company” under section
3(a)(1)(C) of the 1940 Act if the value of its investment securities is more
than 40% of its total assets (exclusive of government securities and cash
items).
As a result of the 2007 sale of uranium
assets to Uranium One, we received investment securities (stock in
Uranium One) with a value in excess of 40% of the value of our total
assets. All of this stock was sold in 2007.
An
inadvertent investment company can avoid being classified as an investment
company if it can rely on one of the exclusions under the 1940
Act. One such exclusion, Rule 3a-2 under the 1940 Act, allows an
inadvertent investment company (as a “transient investment company”) a grace
period of one year from the date of classification (in our case, April 30,
2008), to seek to comply with the 40% limit, or with any other available
exclusion. Accordingly, we have taken actions to comply with this 40%
limit. These actions included liquidating investment securities as
necessary to stay within the 40% limit.
As Rule
3a-2 is available to a company no more than once every three years, and assuming
no other exclusions were available to us, we would have to keep within the 40%
limit through April 30, 2010. In any event, we do not intend to become an
intentional investment company (i.e. engaging in investment and trading
activities in investment securities), even after April 30, 2010.
Classification
as an investment company under the 1940 Act requires registration with the SEC.
If an investment company fails to register, it would have to stop doing almost
all business, and its contracts would become voidable. Registration is time
consuming and restrictive, and we would be very constrained in the kind of
business we could do as a registered investment company.
Risks
Relating to USE Stock
USE
may issue shares of preferred stock with greater rights than its common
stock.
Although
we have no current plans, arrangements, understandings or agreements to do so,
USE’s articles of incorporation authorize the board of directors to issue one or
more series of preferred stock and set the terms of the stock without seeking
approval from holders of the common stock. Preferred stock that is
issued may have preferential rights over the common stock, in terms of
dividends, liquidation rights and voting rights.
Future
equity transactions, including exercise of options or warrants, could result in
dilution; and registration for public resale of the common stock in these
transactions may depress stock prices.
From time
to time, USE has sold restricted stock and warrants and convertible debt to
investors in private placements conducted by broker-dealers, or in negotiated
transactions. Because the stock was issued as restricted, the stock
was sold at a discount to market prices, and the exercise price of the warrants
sometimes, and/or the debt-to-stock conversion price was at or lower than market
prices. These transactions caused dilution to existing
shareholders. Also, from time to time, options are issued to
employees, directors and third parties as incentives, with exercise prices equal
to market prices. Exercise of in-the-money options and warrants will
result in dilution to existing shareholders.
-19-
Although
it does not intend to do so at this time, USE may continue to raise capital from
the equity markets using private placements at discounted prices. In
addition, USE may continue to grant options to employees with exercise prices
equal to market price at grant date, and in the future may sell restricted stock
and warrants, all of which may result in dilution to existing
shareholders.
Dividends
on USE common stock
USE
declared a one time special cash dividend of $0.10 per share on all the common
stock on the record date of July 6, 2007. We may declare dividends in
the future but we expect to retain the majority of earnings and cash to fund
investments and business development.
USE’s
take-over defense mechanisms could discourage some advantageous
transactions.
USE has
adopted a shareholder rights plan, also known as a poison
pill. The plan is designed to discourage a takeover of USE at
an unfair price. However, it is possible that the board of directors
and a potential takeover acquirer would not agree on a higher price, in which
case the takeover might be abandoned, even though the takeover price might be at
a significant premium to market prices. Therefore, as a result of the
mere existence of the plan, shareholders may not receive the premium
price.
USE’s
stock price likely will continue to be volatile due to several
factors.
In the
two years ended December 31, 2007, USE’s stock has traded as low as $3.32 per
share and as high as $7.20 per share. The principal factors which
have contributed to this volatility have been:
price and
volume fluctuations in the stock market generally;
relatively
small amounts of USE stock trading on any given day;
fluctuations
in USE’s financial operating results; and
price
swings in the minerals commodities markets.
These
factors may continue to be influential on our stock price.
ITEM
2. PROPERTY
Molybdenum
– Lucky Jack molybdenum property
The
Company re-acquired the Lucky Jack Project (formerly known as the Mount Emmons
molybdenum property) located near Crested Butte, Colorado on February 28,
2006. The property was returned to the Company by Phelps Dodge
Corporation (“PD”) in accordance with a 1987 Amended Royalty Deed and Agreement
between the Company and Amax Inc. (“Amax”). The Lucky Jack Project
includes a total of 25 patented and approximately 520 unpatented mining and mill
site claims, which together approximate 5,400 acres, or over 8 square miles of
claims.
Kobex has
an option to acquire up to 65% of the Lucky Jack Project. An increase
to a 65% ownership by Kobex of the Lucky Jack Project requires USE’s
consent. See Part I above.
Conveyance
of the property to the Company also included the transfer of ownership and
operational responsibility of the mine water treatment plant located on the
properties. The water treatment permit issued under the Colorado
Discharge Permit System was assigned to the Company by the Colorado Department
of Health and Environment. We are responsible for operating the plant
and are reimbursed for all costs of those operations by Kobex. We
also are evaluating using the plant in milling operations.
-20-
USE had
leased various patented and unpatented mining claims on the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property to Amax in 1974. In the late 1970s, Amax
delineated a large deposit of molybdenum on the properties, reportedly
containing approximately 155 million tons of mineralized material averaging
0.44% molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). In 1980, Amax constructed a water
treatment plant at the Lucky Jack molybdenum property to treat water flowing
from old mine workings and for potential use in milling
operations. By 1983, Amax had reportedly spent an estimated $150
million in the acquisition of the property, securing water rights, extensive
exploration, ore body delineation, mine planning, metallurgical testing and
other activities involving the mineral deposit. Amax was merged into
Cyprus Minerals in 1992 to form Cyprus Amax. PD then acquired the
Lucky Jack molybdenum property Project in 1999 through its acquisition of Cyprus
Amax. Thereafter, PD acquired additional water rights and patents to
certain claims to mine and mill the deposit.
In its
1992 patent application to the BLM, Cyprus Amax stated that the size and grade
of the Mount Emmons deposit was determined to approximate 220 million tons
grading 0.366% molybdenite. In a letter dated April 2, 2004, the BLM
estimated that there were about 23 million tons of mineable reserves containing
0.689% molybdenite, and that about 267 million pounds of molybdenum trioxide was
recoverable. This letter covered only the high-grade mineralization
which is only a portion of the total mineral deposit delineated to
date. The BLM relied on a mineral report prepared by Western Mine
Engineering (“WME”) for the U.S. Forest Service, which directed and administered
the WME contract. WME’s analysis was based upon a price of $4.61 per
pound for molybdic oxide and was used by the BLM in determining that nine claims
satisfied the patenting requirement that the mining claims contain a valuable
mineral that could be mined profitably. WME consulted a variety of
sources in preparation of its report, including a study prepared in 1990 by
American Mine Services, Inc. and a pre-feasibility report later prepared by
Behre Dolbear & Company, Inc. in 1998.
Gold
- Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (Active Exploration)
Corporate
History and Recent Developments
USE
organized a limited liability company in 1994 to hold and develop California
gold properties which were bought in 1991. The assets were
transferred to Sutter Gold Mining Company, and activities were funded by
continued capital from USE and third party investors. In 2004, the
corporation completed a reverse takeover of Globemin Resources Inc. (Toronto
Venture Exchange “SGMI”) and has raised additional capital from third party
investors. In connection with the takeover, the name was changed to
Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (“SGMI”).
On March
14, 2007, USE negotiated a settlement of $2,025,700 in debt due from SGMI as of
December 31, 2006 for the issuance of 7,621,867 shares of SGMI common
stock. As a result of the issuance of these shares (at market prices)
for debt, USE now owns 54.4% of SGMI. In addition, USE agreed to
convert its $4.6 million Contingent Stock Purchase Warrant into a 5% Net Profits
Interest Royalty (“NPIR”) on SGMI’s California property until the total amount
of $4.6 million is paid, and a 1% NPIR thereafter. These transactions
were negotiated and approved by the independent directors of USE and
SGMI.
-21-
In 2007,
USE set up a Line of Credit and Loan Agreement to provide up to $1 million of
debt funding to SGMI at 12% interest (interest payable
quarterly). USE and SGMI entered into a settlement agreement on
December 21, 2007 to retire the line of credit as a result of SGMI delivering to
USE 225,000 shares of USE common stock valued at a five day VWAP from December
14, 2007 to December 20, 2007. Based on the VWAP price of $4.37 per
share, USE credited SGMI $982,900 which included $12,000 of interest, $723,300
of previously advanced funds under the Line of Credit and an additional cash
contribution by USE of $247,600 at time of closing. USE has notified
the board of SGMI that it does not plan on funding any additional costs and
expenses relating to the SGMI operations and that it intends to sell its
interest in SGMI. No contract has been entered into to sell USE’s
interest in SGMI and management can give no assurance of being able to
actually sell USE’s interest. SGMI is therefore evaluating whether to
raise third party investor capital, seek a joint venture or merger partner, and
other possibilities.
California. SGMI
holds approximately 535 acres of surface and mineral rights near Sutter Creek,
Amador County, California, 45 miles east-southeast of Sacramento, California, in
the central part of the 121-mile-long Mother Lode gold belt.
The
project is located in the western Sierra Nevada Mountains at 1,000 to 1,500
feet in elevation. The year round climate is
temperate. Access is by California State Highway 16 from Sacramento
to California State Highway 49, then by paved county road approximately .4 miles
outside of Sutter Creek.
A
Conditional Use Permit is being kept current to allow for planned mining
activities on the properties in the future.
Surface
and mineral rights holding costs, and property taxes were $17,100 in 2007, and
in 2007, SGMI spent $910,300 on a drilling program. The leases are
for varying terms and require rental fees, annual royalty payments and payment
of real property taxes and insurance. A tourist visitor’s center and
gift shop has been set up and leased to a third party for $1,200 per month plus
a 4% gross royalty on revenues. These revenues offset a portion of
costs for holding the properties.
A review
of documentation of historic gold production from properties to the north and
south of the project shows that between 1857 and 1951, a total of 2,350,096
ounces of gold were produced from the project. Production was halted
in most of the producing mines because of the Second World War. The
report indicates that these very productive mines chased gold bearing
mineralized veins to seven times the depth of SGMI’s present
workings.
The areas
of large historic gold production are found at the north and south ends of the
project area, bracketing a one-mile long portion of the Mother Lode Belt with no
historic gold production, and which hosts the Lincoln and Comet
Zones. The Lincoln and Comet Zones were blind discoveries that did
not outcrop at surface and which represent the first new gold discoveries made
along the Mother Lode Belt in the last 50 years that are unrelated to
past-producing mines. SGMI believes there is potential for continued
new discoveries within the area of the Lincoln and Comet Zones, both near the
surface and at depth as 90% of the property has not been explored.
The
property has been the subject of considerable modern exploration activity, most
of it centering on the Lincoln and Comet zones, which are adjacent to each
other. A total of 85,085 feet of drilling has been accomplished in
prior years, with 190 diamond drill holes, and modern underground development
consists of a 2,850-foot declined ramp with 2,400 feet of crosscuts plus five
raises.
To
further delineate the resource size and connect the Lincoln and Comet blocks, an
underground and surface drilling program was executed in 2006 and
2007.
-22-
Mexico. In
November, 2006, SGMI signed an Exclusive Option Agreement with The Alamo Group,
Inc. of Scottsdale, Arizona, to acquire a 100% interest (less royalty
provisions) in the Santa Teresa mineral concession located in the historic El
Alamo gold mining district southeast of Ensenada, Mexico for Cdn$500,000 in
payments and work commitments.
The
concession contains several historic underground gold mines along its
approximate 1.5 mile long strike length. The concession is located in
the northern Baja peninsula of Mexico approximately 60 miles southeast of the
port city of Ensenada, Mexico. Mining in the district was initiated
in 1888 with the discovery of placer gold resulting in the El Alamo Gold Rush of
1888. Operations quickly went underground as miners followed surface
outcroppings of quartz veins down to the shallow water table at about 50
feet. Mining generally ceased in 1905 due to political unrest and the
lack of infrastructure which would have allowed underground production to
continue below the shallow water table. Since 1905, there has been
only limited exploration work conducted in the
district.
Santa
Teresa geology is characterized by a series of thin highly enriched quartz
veins. The vein system located in this area consists of five main parallel, near
vertical, auriferous quartz veins and numerous shorter parallel companion
veins. As with the California Mother Lode gold system, a majority of
the gold in the quartz is considered "free" gold and amenable to simple gravity
recovery.
In
October 2007, SGMI acquired two additional mineral concessions which are located
north, east and southwest of the Santa Teresa Concession. Total
holdings now are approximately 2,800 hectares. The property is to be
explored jointly with Premier Gold Mines Ltd, a TSX-V listed
company.
Other
Properties
· Wyoming
In
addition to the real estate held for development in Gillette and Riverton,
Wyoming, we own a 14-acre tract in Riverton, Wyoming, with a two-story 30,400
square foot office building. The first floor is rented to
non-affiliates and government agencies; the second floor is occupied by the
Company. We also own a 10,000 square foot aircraft hangar on land
leased from the City of Riverton with 7,000 square feet of associated offices
and facilities; three vacant lots covering 16 acres in Fremont County, Wyoming,
and two city lots and improvements including one small office
building.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Material
legal proceedings pending at December 31, 2007, and developments in those
proceedings from that date to the date this Annual Report is filed, are
summarized below. Legal proceedings which were not material to the
Company were concluded in the fourth quarter 2007.
Water
Rights Litigation – Lucky Jack molybdenum property
Prior to
the transfer of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property (formerly the Mount Emmons
property) from Phelps Dodge Corporation (“PD”) and Mount Emmons Mining Company
(“MEMCO”) to USE on February 28, 2006, MEMCO filed a number of Statements of
Opposition in the Water Court, Water Division No. 4, State of Colorado to
protect its existing water rights against applications filed by other parties
seeking to appropriate or change water rights or perfect conditional water
rights. Subsequent to transfer of the mine property, Motions for
Substitution of Parties (from MEMCO to USE) were filed and approved by the Water
Court. These cases are as follows:
-23-
1.
|
Concerning the
Application for Water Rights of Virgil and Lee Spann Ranches, Inc.,
Case No. 03CW033, 03CW034, 03CW035, 03CW036 and
03CW037. These related cases involve the Spann Ranches, Inc.’s
Water Court applications to change the point of diversion through
alternative points for the purpose of rotating a portion of their senior
water rights between ditches to maximize beneficial use in the event of a
major downstream senior call. MEMCO filed Statements of
Opposition to ensure that the final decrees to be issued by the Water
Court contain terms and conditions sufficient to protect MEMCO’s water
rights from material injury. These cases are pending and USE is
awaiting proposed decrees from Applicant Spann Ranches, Inc. for
consideration.
|
2.
|
Concerning the
Application for Water Rights of the Town of Crested Butte, Case No.
02CW63. This case involves an application filed by the Town of
Crested Butte to provide for an alternative point of
diversion. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition to ensure that
the final decree to be issued by the Water Court contains terms and
conditions sufficient to protect MEMCO’s water rights from material
injury. The Town of Crested Butte and USE have reached a
settlement to protect USE’s water rights pursuant to a proposed final
decree, which will be submitted with a Stipulation signed by the parties
to the Water Court for its
approval.
|
3.
|
Concerning the
Application of the United States of
America
in the Gunnison River, Gunnison County, Case
No. 99CW267. This case involves an application filed by the
United States of America to appropriate 0.033 cubic feet per second of
water for wildlife use and for incidental irrigation of riparian
vegetation at the Mt. Emmons Iron Bog Spring, located in the vicinity of
the Lucky Jack property. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition
to protect proposed mining operations against any adverse impacts by the
water requirements of the Iron Bog on
such operations. This case is pending while the parties
attempt to reach a settlement on the proposed decree terms and
conditions.
|
4.
|
Concerning the
Application for Water Rights of the United States of
America
for Quantification of Reserved Right for Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park,
Case No. 01CW05. This case involves an application filed by the
United States of America to make absolute conditional water rights claimed
in the Gunnison River in relation to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
National Park for, and to quantify in-stream flows for the protection and
reproduction of fish and to preserve the recreational, scenic and
aesthetic conditions. MEMCO and over 350 other parties filed
Statements of Opposition to protect their existing water
rights. USECC and most other Opposers have taken the position
that the flows claimed by the United States should be subordinated to the
historical operations of the federally owned and operated Aspinall Unit,
and are subject to the provisions contained in the Aspinall Unit
Subordination Agreement between the federal government and water districts
which protect junior water users in the Upper Gunnison River
Basin. This case is pending while the parties negotiate terms
and conditions for incorporation into Stipulations among the parties and
into the future final decree to be issued by the Water
Court. Future Water Court proceedings in this case will involve
quantification of the in-stream flows claimed for the
Black Canyon Park.
|
Moratorium
Related to the Crested Butte Watershed
On August
7, 2007, the Town of Crested Butte, Colorado issued a temporary moratorium on
development activities within its watershed that were not ongoing at the
effective date of the moratorium. USE believes the Lucky Jack project
should not be affected by this moratorium and we are continuing all ongoing
activities while reviewing and evaluating the matter.
-24-
USE and
Kobex intend to work with the Town to proceed with the necessary rehabilitation
activities, in a manner which will be consistent with Ordinance 23 and other
applicable rules, regulations, and statutes. However, the timing of
expected revisions to the Watershed Protection District Ordinance, and the
nature of such revisions, is not predicted. As a result, it is
possible that unexpected delays, and/or increased costs, may be encountered in
developing a new mine plan for the Lucky Jack property.
Quiet
Title Litigation – Sutter Gold Mining Inc.
In 2004,
USECC Gold Limited Liability Company (a predecessor of SGMI) as plaintiff filed
an action (USECC Gold
Limited Liability Company vs. Nevada-Wabash Mining Company, et al, Case
No. 04CV3419) in Superior Court of California, County of Amador) seeking to
quiet title as vested in plaintiff to two patented mining claims at the Sutter
Gold project. All but one of the approximately 54 defendants
(dissolved private corporations and other entities, their stockholders and/or
estates of deceased stockholders) defaulted. Plaintiff settled this
litigation with the remaining defendant for $50,000 in 2007.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
On June
22, 2007, the annual meeting of shareholders was held for the election of four
directors to serve until the terms stated in the Proxy
Statement. Votes were as follows:
Name
of Director
|
Votes
For
|
Abstain
|
||
Mark
J. Larsen
|
16,245,419
|
461,782
|
||
Harold
F. Herron
|
16,245,282
|
461,919
|
||
Allen
S. Winters
|
16,245,392
|
461,809
|
||
Michael
T. Anderson
|
16,244,842
|
462,359
|
The
directors now are Keith G. Larsen, Mark J. Larsen, Allen S. Winters, H. Russell
Fraser, Michael T. Anderson and Michael Feinstein. Mr. Herron took
early retirement from the Company and resigned as a Director in December
2007. We expect that several of the current directors will stand for
election again in 2008 to maintain the staggered board terms of three years for
each director, with seats divided as evenly as possible into three
classes.
The
shareholders also voted on five additional items:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan to Extend its Term to 2018, and
Increase the Number of Shares Issuable each Year to a Total of 100,000
Shares.
|
6,252,152
|
1,170,157
|
163,317
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan to Increase the Number of Shares
of Common Stock Issuable on Exercise of Options, to Always Be a Number
Equal to 25% of the Issued and Outstanding Shares of Common
Stock.
|
6,353,405
|
1,089,542
|
142,679
|
|||
-25-
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the Forfeitable Stock Compensation Plan to Permit Early Release of
Forfeitable Shares and Payment of Income Taxes.
|
6,174,604
|
1,267,798
|
143,224
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan to Permit Payment of Income
Taxes.
|
5,591,645
|
1,903,951
|
90,030
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Ratification
of appointment of Moss Adams LLP as independent auditors for the current
fiscal year.
|
16,364,836
|
303,246
|
39,091
|
PART
II
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY,
RELATED
STOCKHOLER MATTERS
AND
ISSUER PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
(a) Market
Information
Shares of
USE common stock are traded on the over-the-counter market, and prices are
reported on a "last sale" basis on the Nasdaq Capital Market of the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq"). The
range by quarter of high and low sales prices was:
High
|
Low
|
|||||||
Calendar
year ended December 31, 2007
|
||||||||
First
quarter ended 03/31/07
|
$ | 6.19 | $ | 4.60 | ||||
Second
quarter ended 06/30/07
|
6.79 | 5.28 | ||||||
Third
quarter ended 09/30/07
|
5.77 | 4.29 | ||||||
Fourth
quarter ended 12/31/07
|
5.74 | 4.17 | ||||||
Calendar
year ended December 31, 2006
|
||||||||
First
quarter ended 03/31/06
|
$ | 7.20 | $ | 4.61 | ||||
Second
quarter ended 06/30/06
|
7.16 | 3.32 | ||||||
Third
quarter ended 09/30/06
|
4.55 | 3.42 | ||||||
Fourth
quarter ended 12/31/06
|
5.98 | 3.88 |
(b) Holders
(1) At March
11, 2008 the closing market price was $3.62 per share. There were
approximately 2,148 shareholders of record, with 23,592,493 shares of common
stock issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007.
(2)
Not
applicable.
(c) We
paid a one time special $0.10 per share cash dividend to common shareholders of
record on July 6, 2007. There are no contractual restrictions on our
present or future ability to pay cash dividends.
-26-
Plan
category
|
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding
options
(a)
|
Weighted
average exercise price of outstanding options
(b)
|
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column
(a))
(c)
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders:
|
||||||||||||
1998
USE ISOP
|
539,614 | $ | 2.47 | - | ||||||||
2001
USE ISOP
|
3,280,313 | (1) | $ | 3.97 | 2,617,810 | |||||||
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders:
|
- | - | ||||||||||
Total
|
3,819,927 | $ | 3.75 | 2,617,810 | ||||||||
(1)
Only 1,947,313 of these options have vested.
|
(d) Equity
Plan Compensation Information - Information about Compensation Plans as of
December 31, 2007:
Issuance
of Securities in 2007
During
the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 USE issued a total of 4,497,051 shares
of its common stock, cancelled 856,889 shares and released 292,740 shares which
were previously forfeitable shares. A brief discussion of the
issuance of the shares follows:
Registered
Securities
During
the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 USE issued 1,109,894 shares as a
result of the exercise of 1,419,524 employee options. A portion of
these option exercises were made by the surrender of 309,630 shares owned by
employees, which resulted in the net increase in shares outstanding of
1,109,894. The balance of the employee options were exercised by the
payment of cash. USE also issued 359,598 shares on exercise of
warrants which had been issued to investors and consultants.
As a
result of the merger of Crested into USE, 2,876,252 shares were
issued.
Unregistered
Securities
USE
issued 3,812 shares of its common stock to non-employee directors during the
year ended December 31, 2007. Pursuant to the shareholder approved
2001 Stock Compensation Plan, USE issued 62,500 shares of its common stock to
five officers during 2007.
On June
22, 2007 the shareholders of USE approved the release of 292,740 shares of
common stock which had been previously held as forfeitable
shares. The shares were issued between 1990 and 1996 and were
forfeitable until the recipients retired, became permanently disabled or
died. The shareholders approved the release of these shares and the
payment of taxes due on the release of the shares to officers providing the
officers would not sell the shares.
-27-
We issued
84,995 shares for the 2007 funding of the ESOP established for
employees. The ESOP funding represents the minimum required
amount.
Cancellation
of Shares
USE
cancelled 856,889 shares of common stock during the year ended December 31,
2007. These shares were held by mineral limited partnerships which
had been dissolved (53,625 shares); cancellation of debt (19,671 shares); shares
previously owned by subsidiary companies (402,424 shares) shares acquired under
the 2007 stock buyback plan (228,000 shares); and 153,169 treasury
shares.
ITEM
6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The
selected financial data is derived from and should be read with the financial
statements included in this Report.
December
31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
||||||||||||||||
Current
assets
|
$ | 82,728,900 | $ | 43,325,200 | $ | 7,840,600 | $ | 5,421,500 | $ | 5,191,400 | ||||||||||
Current
liabilities
|
8,093,200 | 11,595,200 | 1,232,200 | 6,355,900 | 1,909,700 | |||||||||||||||
Working
capital (deficit)
|
74,635,700 | 31,730,000 | 6,608,400 | (934,400 | ) | 3,281,700 | ||||||||||||||
Total
assets
|
131,404,400 | 51,901,400 | 38,106,700 | 30,703,700 | 23,929,700 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term
obligations(1)
|
1,282,500 | 882,000 | 7,949,800 | 13,317,400 | 12,036,600 | |||||||||||||||
Shareholders'
equity
|
115,099,900 | 37,467,900 | 26,027,200 | 6,669,200 | 6,760,800 | |||||||||||||||
(1)Includes
$133,400 of accrued reclamation costs on properties at December 31,
2007, $124,400 at December 31, 2006,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
$5,669,000
at December 31, 2005, $7,882,400 at December 31, 2004, and $7,624,700 at
December 31, 2003.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
See
Note K of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Year
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December
31
|
December
31
|
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
||||||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 1,177,700 | $ | 813,400 | $ | 849,500 | $ | 815,600 | $ | 513,500 | ||||||||||
Loss
from
|
||||||||||||||||||||
continuing
operations
|
(16,708,400 | ) | (16,670,700 | ) | (6,066,900 | ) | (4,983,100 | ) | (5,066,800 | ) | ||||||||||
Other
income & expenses
|
108,989,800 | 2,302,700 | (484,000 | ) | 465,100 | (311,500 | ) | |||||||||||||
Gain
(Loss) before minority
|
||||||||||||||||||||
interest,
equity in income (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
of
affiliates, income taxes,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
discontinued
operations,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
and
cumulative effect of
|
||||||||||||||||||||
accounting
change
|
92,281,400 | (14,368,000 | ) | (6,550,900 | ) | (4,518,000 | ) | (5,378,300 | ) | |||||||||||
-28-
Year
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December
31
|
December
31
|
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
||||||||||||||||
Minority
interest in loss (income)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
of
consolidated subsidiaries
|
(3,551,400 | ) | 88,600 | 185,000 | 207,800 | 13,000 | ||||||||||||||
(Provision
for) Benefit from
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||
Income
Taxes
|
(32,366,800 | ) | 15,331,600 | |||||||||||||||||
Discontinued
operations, net of tax
|
- | 15,207,400 | (1,938,500 | ) | (2,060,400 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Cumulative
effect of
|
||||||||||||||||||||
accounting
change
|
-- | -- | 1,615,600 | |||||||||||||||||
- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred
stock dividends
|
- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
to
common shareholders
|
$ | 56,363,200 | $ | 1,052,200 | $ | 8,841,500 | $ | (6,248,700 | ) | $ | (5,810,100 | ) | ||||||||
Per
share financial data
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 0.06 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.05 | ||||||||||
Loss
from
|
||||||||||||||||||||
continuing
operations
|
0.82 | (0.88 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.44 | ) | |||||||||||
Other
income & expenses
|
5.32 | 0.12 | (0.03 | ) | 0.04 | (0.03 | ) | |||||||||||||
Gain
(Loss) before minority
|
||||||||||||||||||||
interest,
equity in income (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
of
affiliates, income taxes,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
discontinued
operations,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
and
cumulative effect of
|
||||||||||||||||||||
accounting
change
|
4.51 | (0.76 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.48 | ) | |||||||||||
-29-
Year
Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||||
December
31
|
December
31
|
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
||||||||||||||||
Minority
interest in loss (income)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
of
consolidated subsidiaries
|
$ | (0.17 | ) | - | -- | 0.02 | 0.00 | |||||||||||||
Income
taxes
|
(1.58 | ) | 0.81 | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||
Discontinued
operations, net of tax
|
- | - | 0.94 | (0.15 | ) | (0.18 | ) | |||||||||||||
Cumulative
effect of
|
||||||||||||||||||||
accounting
change
|
- | - | -- | -- | 0.14 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred
stock dividends
|
- | - | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
per
share, basic
|
$ | 2.75 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.55 | $ | (0.48 | ) | $ | (0.52 | ) | ||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
||||||||||||||||||||
per
share, diluted
|
$ | 2.54 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.55 | $ | (0.48 | ) | $ | (0.52 | ) | ||||||||
-30-
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND
RESULT OF OPERATIONS
The
following is Management's Discussion and Analysis of significant factors, which
have affected the Company's liquidity, capital resources and results of
operations during the calendar years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Report 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.
General
Overview
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, and oil and gas. The Company had no
production from any of its mineral properties during the year ended December 31,
2007. The Company also has been engaged in commercial real estate on a limited
basis, generally in connection with the acquisition of mineral properties which
included commercial real estate.
Going
forward, the Company’s primary focus is to improve shareholder value by
developing long term income and cash flow streams through participation in the
minerals business. Secondarily, for cash flow in the short term and
income in the midterm, the Company plans to acquire property and invest in the
multifamily housing business along with other commercial real estate projects
during 2008.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company recorded net earnings after taxes
of $56,363,200 or $2.75 basic and $2.54 diluted per share. This resulted in a
shareholder accumulated surplus at December 31, 2007 of
$19,050,900. At the close of 2007 the Company had cash $72,292,200,
working capital of $74,635,700 and a current ratio of 10.2 to
1.0. This is the Company’s strongest financial position in its forty
year history and is the result of the following major transactions:
·
|
The
sale of its uranium properties to sxr Uranium One (“Uranium
One”). The sale of these properties resulted in a net gain of
$111,728,200, which included the receipt of 6,607,605 shares of Uranium
One common stock and $14,022,700 in the form of cash payments and the
release of cash bonds held for reclamation obligations on the
properties.
|
·
|
Sold
all the shares of Uranium One received for the sale of our uranium
properties for $90,724,000. The Company also sold other
marketable securities, primarily shares of UPC, for
$1,526,700.
|
·
|
Sold
the Ticaboo, Utah commercial real estate properties to Uranium One for
$2,700,000 for which the Company received $2,635,400 and recorded a net
profit of $472,300.
|
·
|
Recorded
$2,816,900 in interest income from cash
investments.
|
-31-
·
|
Finalized
the Exploration, Development and Mine Operating Agreement with Kobex
Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”) for the “Lucky Jack” molybdenum property
(previously known as the Mt. Emmons property). At December 31,
2007, Kobex had expended a total of $7.7 million on the property for
initial acquisition payments to the Company, operations, engineering and
permitting work.
|
·
|
Acquired
the minority shareholder interest in Crested Corp. by issuing 2,876,252
shares of the Company’s common stock on a one for two share
basis.
|
·
|
Liquidated
and dissolved all subsidiary companies other than
SGMI.
|
·
|
Paid
a $0.10 per share dividend of $2,108,300 to all shareholders of record on
July 6, 2007.
|
·
|
Purchased
228,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under the terms of a stock
buyback plan at an average price per share of $4.59 per
share.
|
·
|
Partially
constructed a 216 unit multifamily housing unit in Gillette
Wyoming. Obtained $18.5 million of construction financing for
this $26.0 million project and invested $7.0 million in the
project. The Company will invest an additional $500,000 equity
through the construction phase.
|
·
|
Purchased
a 20% working interest in prospective oil and gas properties in the Gulf
Coast area for $2,910,200.
|
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company is in a strong cash and liquidity position at December 31, 2007
primarily as a result of the sale of uranium properties to Uranium
One. As discussed below in Capital Resources and Capital
Requirements, the Company projects that its capital resources at December 31,
2007 will be sufficient to fund its operations and capital projects through 2008
and into the future.
Due to
the nature of the Company’s business, (buying and selling mineral properties and
companies), the principal trend which affects the Company is the price of
minerals. As minerals experience lower values in the market place, it
is less expensive for the Company to acquire properties and hold them until
mineral prices raise to levels which either allow the properties to be sold or
placed into production through joint venture partners or by the Company for its
own account. For discussion relating to mineral prices please see
“Effects of Changes in Prices” below, after results of operations.
Major
changes in liquidity during the year ended December 31, 2007 were:
Current Assets
·
|
Cash
increased by $55.3 million.
|
·
|
Trading
securities and available-for-sale securities decreased by a combined total
of $791,700 as a result of the Company selling its investments in Uranium
Power Corp. (“UPC”) and the Company’s subsidiaries selling their remaining
securities prior to dissolution and
liquidation.
|
·
|
Reimbursable
project costs increased by $593,200 to a balance of $782,100 as a result
of costs paid by the Company on the Lucky Jack property and not reimbursed
as of December 31, 2007 by Kobex. Reimbursement was made during
February of 2008.
|
-32-
·
|
Accounts
receivable from the dissolution of subsidiaries and the Internal Revenue
Service increased by $197,600 and $902,900, respectively. The
receivable from the dissolution of a subsidiary relates to the dissolution
of Four Nines Gold, Inc. and was received during January
2008. The receivable from the IRS is as of a result of a fourth
quarter loss which resulted in overpayment of prior quarter tax
estimates.
|
·
|
We
collected a 2006 real estate loan which decreased notes receivable current
by $560,500.
|
·
|
The
Company recorded $6,624,700 in current restricted cash investments at
December 31, 2007. Please see Other Capital Resources below for
a detailed discussion of these
assets.
|
·
|
At
December 31, 2006 the Company had $11,506,000 and $7,375,800 in assets and
liabilities held for sale, respectively. These amounts related
to the uranium assets which were ultimately sold to Uranium
One. At December 31, 2007, the Company reported $1,112,600 in
assets held for sale which was a used corporate aircraft. We
anticipate that the aircraft will be sold by the second quarter
2008.
|
Current
Liabilities
·
|
Accounts
payable increased by $474,600 to $1,589,600. Included in the
account payable balance at December 31, 2007 was accrued severance pay of
$600,000 to an executive who took early retirement and $285,100 for sales
taxes for the purchase of a corporate
aircraft.
|
·
|
Although
we used cash to reduce long term debt by $1,133,800, total long term debt
increased by $4,519,300 to $5,751,400, of which $5,560,900 was
current. The majority of the current debt, $5,489,500, was for
the construction loan associated with the multifamily housing project in
Gillette, Wyoming, held by our Remington Village LLC
subsidiary.
|
·
|
Refundable
deposits decreased by $800,000 due to the conclusion of the Uranium One
and Kobex transactions.
|
·
|
Other
current liabilities increased by $490,500 primarily as a result of the
retainage amounts related to the Gillette, Wyoming multifamily housing
project of $517,300.
|
Cash flows during the year ended
December 31, 2007:
·
|
Operations
consumed $31,701,200, Investing Activities provided $86,763,000 and
Financing Activities provided $256,900 for a net increase in cash of
$55,318,700.
|
·
|
For
a discussion on cash consumed in Operations please refer to Results of
Operations below.
|
Investing
Activities:
·
|
Cash
provided by investing activities:
|
·
|
The
sale of marketable securities – 6,607,605 shares of Uranium One for
$90,724,000, 1,500,000 shares of UPC for $1,452,400. Also
during the year ended December 31, 2007, subsidiary companies sold various
marketable securities for $74,300.
|
·
|
Proceeds
from the sale of uranium assets of $14,022,700. Cash payments
received from Uranium One at closing of $6,602,700 and the return of cash
bonds previously pledged for the reclamation obligations on the uranium
properties sold to Uranium One.
|
·
|
Proceeds
of $3,978,000 from the sale of property and equipment. These
cash proceeds were primarily generated from the sale of miscellaneous
pieces of equipment, the sale of the Ticaboo commercial real estate
operations of $2,635,400 and the receipt of $1,000,000 from UPC as its
annual contracted payment. This was the final payment we will
receive from UPC as the mineral claims involved were sold to Uranium
One.
|
-33-
·
|
The
receipt of cash of $560,500 from the collection of a third party note
receivable, for which real estate was held as
collateral.
|
·
|
Cash
consumed in investing activities:
|
·
|
The
cash investment by the Company in the Gillette, Wyoming multifamily
housing property of $7.0 million and $500,000 for the purchase of a
potential building lot in Riverton
Wyoming.
|
·
|
The
investment in undeveloped oil and gas properties and seismic data in the
U.S. Gulf Coast of $2,910,200. These properties are expected to
be explored during 2008 and beyond.
|
·
|
$539,900
invested in the purchase and development of mineral
properties. Of this amount $249,600 related to costs incurred
in the purchase of Crested and subsequently the addition of mining claim
cost related to Lucky Jack (See Notes C, H and the discussion of non cash
items below), $224,200 expended on uranium mining claims which were sold
to Uranium One, $31,100 for the purchase of an option to purchase
additional uranium claims and $35,000 expended by SGMI in an underground
development drilling program.
|
·
|
The
purchase of property and equipment, $6,431,400. These funds
were used to purchase a new corporate aircraft, $5,739,300 to replace the
aircraft which is being held as an asset for sale at December 31, 2007,
capital improvements at the corporate head quarters $425,300, capital
improvements to Ticaboo prior to the sale of the property of $187,000 and
the purchase of various vehicles of
$79,800.
|
·
|
An
increase in restricted current cash investments of $7,000,200 which
represents cash pledged on the construction line of credit of $4,784,500,
$1,794,600 of the proceeds from the sale of the Ticaboo townsite held in
escrow for the potential tax deferral purchase of additional real estate
property and $45,600 held in escrow from the Uranium One
closing. Long term restricted cash investments increased by
$375,500 as a result of the Board of Directors making the decision to fund
the executive retirement plan for those executive officers who meet the
criteria of the plan.
|
Financing
Activities:
·
|
Cash
provided by Financing Activities:
|
·
|
A
total of $3,217,000 was received from the issuance of the Company’s common
stock as the result of the cash exercise of 688,697 employee options for
$1,970,500 and the exercise of 359,598 warrants for
$1,246,500. The non cash exercise of an additional 730,827
employee options through the surrender and cancellation of 309,630 shares
resulted in the Company issuing an additional 421,197
shares.
|
·
|
Prior
to the Crested merger, 200,000 employee options were exercised by the
estate of a former officer and director of the Company and Crested by the
payment of $342,000.
|
·
|
The
deferred taxes on the exercise of employee stock options of
$1,242,100.
|
·
|
The
addition of $164,100 for the financing of Company insurance
premiums.
|
·
|
Cash
consumed in Financing Activities:
|
·
|
On
June 22, 2007 the Company declared a one time dividend to shareholders of
record on July 6, 2007 of $0.10 per share or
$2,108,300.
|
·
|
Payment
of long term debt of $1,133,800 which related primarily to the payment of
a note on the used company aircraft which is being held for sale at
December 31, 2007.
|
-34-
·
|
On
June 22, 2007 we announced a stock buyback plan to purchase up to $5.0
million of its common stock. As of December 31, 2007, the
Company had purchased 228,000 shares at an average price per share of
$4.59 or $1,047,300. Additionally, we entered into a settlement
agreement with SGMI to receive back 225,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock in payment of $1.0 million line of credit from the Company to
SGMI. The 225,000 shares of the Company’s common stock had
previously been consolidated on our financial statements as treasury
shares. The settlement agreement resulted in an additional
$418,900 being recognized in treasury stock due to the market value of the
shares at settlement date.
|
Non-Cash
Activities:
Transactions
occurring during the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 but not discussed
previously in Management’s Discussion and Analysis and not discussed in Results
of Operations are:
·
|
SGMI
issued 111,111 shares of its common stock valued at $33,700 for the
purchase of mining claims in Mexico which were sold during the
year.
|
·
|
As
a result of the issuance of the Company’s common stock to purchase the
Crested minority interest shareholders, a non cash increase in mining
claims of $20,754,900 was recorded during the fourth quarter of
2007. This increase represents the Crested minority shareholder
ownership of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property of $13,403,300 and the
recognition of a deferred tax liability associated with the merger of
$7,351,600. (See Note C, H and discussion of cash expenditures
on mining claims in investing
activities)
|
·
|
We
cancelled 805,845 treasury shares valued at
$2,011,600.
|
·
|
The
Company shareholders approved the release of 292,740 forfeitable shares
and the payment of taxes due upon the release of the previously
forfeitable shares to employees and officers. The forfeitable
shares had been issued beginning in 1990 and were forfeitable until
retirement, total disability or death of the
employees.
|
Capital
Resources
Lucky
Jack molybdenum property and Kobex Resources Ltd. Agreement
Historical
records filed by predecessor owners of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property with
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the 1990’s for the application of
patented mineral claims, referenced identification of mineral resources of some
220 million tons of 0.366% molybdic disulfide (MoS2)
mineralization. A high grade section of the mineralization containing
some 23 million tons at a grade of 0.689% MoS2 was also
reported. No assurance can be given that these quantities of MoS2
exist. The average market price for MoS2 at
December 31, 2007 was $32.75 per pound.
On April
3, 2007, the Company signed an Exploration, Development and Mine Operating
Agreement providing Kobex an option to acquire up to a 50% interest in the
property. Prior to Kobex expending $15 million it will not own an
interest in the Lucky Jack property. At such time as Kobex spends $15
million it will own a 15% interest and after it expends a total of $50 million
it will own a 50% interest in the Lucky Jack property. In the event
that Kobex is able to deliver a bankable feasibility study on the Lucky Jack
property prior to spending the $50 million it can pay the reminder of the $50
million directly to the Company to obtain its 50% interest. As a
result of the Kobex agreement, it is not anticipated that any of the Company’s
cash reserves will be consumed in permitting, development and maintenance of the
property during 2008 and into the near term. On July 6, 2007, Kobex announced
its budget for its first year of operations through April of 2008 would be
$14,200,000. As of December 31, 2007, Kobex had expended $7,745,500
on the project.
-35-
The
principal financial benefit to be realized by the Company (if Kobex meets its
contractual obligations) is that Kobex will fund substantially all costs and
expenses which we otherwise would have to fund (including paying for the water
treatment plant, obtain necessary permits, and have a bankable feasibility study
prepared in advance of mining the property). In addition to the
payment of operating, permitting and development costs, the contract also calls
for option payments in the aggregate amount of $3,950,000 payable to the Company
over five years payable in either cash or common shares of
Kobex. These option payments began in 2007 and continue through
December 2011. The first payment of $750,000 in Kobex common stock
was made on May 23, 2007. The next payment of $500,000 is due on
March 31, 2008 payable either in cash or common stock of Kobex.
On August
7, 2007, the Town of Crested Butte, Colorado issued a temporary moratorium on
development activities within its watershed that were not ongoing at the
effective date of the moratorium. Company management believes that
the Lucky Jack Project should not be affected by this moratorium and we are
continuing all ongoing activities while reviewing and evaluating the
matter. The Company and Kobex intend to work with the Town to proceed
with necessary rehabilitation activities, in a manner which will be consistent
with the Town’s Watershed Protection District Ordinance 23 and other applicable
rules, regulations, and statutes. However, the timing of expected
revisions to the Ordinance, and the nature of such revisions are not
predicted. As a result, it is possible that unexpected delays, and/or
increased costs, may be encountered in developing a new mine plan for the Lucky
Jack property.
The Kobex
agreement allows it to buy an additional 15% interest at the completion of its
work and option payments (for a total of 65%), if Kobex arranges for all the
financing. Alternatively, Kobex could elect not to buy the added
interest, but proceed with mine and mill construction with us as equal
partners. In that event, we likely will seek capital either directly
for the Company’s share of costs, or through a special purpose entity in which
we would have an interest. These capital costs would be
substantial. Access to capital will depend on general market
conditions, and particularly upon then-favorable molybdenum
prices. Although our project has been reported to have very high
grade deposits, depressed commodity prices still could make raising capital
difficult.
Cash
on Hand
As
discussed above, we have monetized certain assets which have provided
significant amounts of cash that will continue to be used to fund general and
administrative expenses, and possible exploration and development of new mineral
properties as well as further real estate acquisitions and developments during
2008. The Company has invested its cash surplus in interest bearing
accounts and short term U.S. Government Treasury Bills which will provide
working capital to fund the Company’s projects.
Commercial
Bank
Line of Credit - The
Company has a line of credit with a commercial bank in the amount of
$5,000,000. The full line of credit was available to the Company when
this report was filed. The line of credit has a variable interest
rate which is tied to a national market rate. At the time of signing
the line of credit (October 26, 2007), the interest rate of interest per annum
was 7.75%. The line of credit is available until October 1, 2008 at
which time it may be renewed depending on the financial strength and needs of
the Company. The credit line is secured by our corporate headquarters
and one of the corporate aircraft.
-36-
Construction Loan -
On August 31, 2007, the Company obtained construction financing from a
commercial bank of $18.5 million for the construction of the Gillette, Wyoming
multifamily housing project. The construction loan matures on March
1, 2009, bears interest at 2.25% over 30 day LIBOR and required a 0.75%
origination fee. We can elect to extend the due date to September 1,
2009. Collateral for the loan is the Gillette, Wyoming property, a
guarantee by the Company and a deposit of an additional $4.7 million with the
commercial bank, held in an interest bearing account that is to be released to
the Company upon obtaining permanent financing.
Future
Receipts of Royalties and Contractual Commitments from Uranium
Properties
We
retained our 4% Net Profits Royalty on the Green Mountain uranium property in
Wyoming which is owned and operated by Rio Tinto, Inc. No assurance
can be given as to when or if the property will be placed into
production. Any royalty due will be based on the market price of
uranium concentrates and the cost of producing those concentrates.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Uranium One contract, the Company also anticipates receiving
$20,000,000 when commercial production begins at the uranium mill the Company
sold to Uranium One; $7,500,000 when the first delivery of ore to a commercial
mill, after commercial production commences, from any of the uranium properties
the Company sold to Uranium One; and a production royalty of up to
$12,500,000. No assurance can be given as to when these events and
payments will occur.
Other
Current Asset held for
sale – At December 31, 2007, the Company owned a used corporate aircraft
which is held for sale. The book value of the aircraft at December
31, 2007 is $1,112,600. The Company anticipates selling the aircraft
before the end of the second quarter 2008 in excess of the book
value. No assurance however can be given as to when and for how much
the aircraft will be sold.
Restricted Cash
Investments – At December 31, 2007, we had $6,624,700 in current
restricted cash investments. Of this amount $4,784,500 was pledged as
additional collateral with a commercial bank providing the construction loan for
the Gillette, Wyoming multifamily housing project. Once the project
is completely built and permanent financing is secured for the project, this
cash deposit will be released to the Company. Also held as current
restricted cash investments at December 31, 2007 was $1,794,600 from the sale of
the Ticaboo townsite. The restricted cash from the Ticaboo sale was
held as the cash portion of a potential deferred purchase and was released
during the first quarter of 2008 as a result of the time allowed for such
purchase expiring.
Capital
Requirements
The
direct capital requirements of the Company during the fourth quarter of 2007 are
its general and administrative costs, development of the Company’s interest in
recently acquired oil and gas properties, development of the Gillette, Wyoming
multifamily housing property, the stock buyback program, and the potential
purchase of other assets.
Oil
and Gas Development
The
Company signed an Exploration and Area of Mutual Interest agreement with a
United States Gulf Coast oil and gas exploration and production company for
potential onshore oil and gas development. The Company anticipates it
will participate as a 20% working interest partner in potentially numerous wells
that could be drilled over the next three to five years. Through
December 31, 2007, $2,910,200 had been paid under the agreement. Two
prospects have already been leased, and exploration and development activities
are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2008.
-37-
The
Company believes that numerous prospects could be generated, leased and drilled
potentially resulting in $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 in exploration and
development expenditures for its working interest over the course of an
anticipated three to five year program. During the twelve months
ended December 31, 2008, the Company has forecast the expenditure of $6.2
million cash in the drilling of the initial wells as well as the potential
purchase of additional leases and seismic data.
Real
Estate
Remington Village
multifamily housing – The Company has budgeted the cost of this project
to completion to be $26.0 million. The cash contribution by the
Company for the construction loan is $7.5 million or approximately 29% of the
total build cost. At December 31, 2007, the Company had satisfied
approximately $7.0 million of its cash contribution commitment of $7.5
million. The balance will be paid during 2008. At the
closing of the construction financing, the Company received an equity credit on
the property for previously paid costs of $3.0 million and was required to place
$4,725,000 in escrow with the commercial bank.
As of
December 31, 2007, a total of $5.5 million had been drawn on the construction
line of credit. There have been no major cost over runs on the
project. The Company therefore believes that the remainder of the
construction loan, $13.0 million, will fund the balance of the
construction. The Company anticipates the units being fully occupied
before or during the fourth quarter of 2008 at which time it expects to obtain
long term financing on the property.
Other Real Estate
Developments – The Company has budgeted additional investments in real
estate and multifamily developments during 2008. The projected cash
outlay for these projects is $2.4 million for land acquisitions and $7.5 million
in equity for an additional $25 million in multifamily
construction.
Stock
Buyback Program
The Board
of Directors of the Company approved a share buyback program for up to $5.0
million. The buyback program became effective June 22, 2007, is being
administered exclusively through an individual brokerage firm and is subject to
blackout periods. Through December 31, 2007, the Company had
repurchased 228,000 shares of its common stock for $1,047,400 leaving an
additional $3,952,600 available for the purchase of shares of the Company under
the plan.
Sutter
Gold Mining Inc. Properties
In 2007,
USE entered into a Line of Credit and Loan Agreement to provide a $1 million
line of credit to SGMI at 12% interest (interest payable
quarterly). USE and SGMI subsequently entered into a settlement
agreement on December 21, 2007 to retire the line of credit as a result of SGMI
delivering to USE 225,000 shares of USE common stock valued at a five day Volume
Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) from December 14, 2007 to December 20,
2007. Based on the VWAP price of $4.37 per share, USE credited SGMI
$982,900 which included $12,000 in interest, $723,300 of previously advanced
funds under the line of credit and an additional cash contribution by USE of
$247,600 at time of closing.
The
Company has notified the board of SGMI that it does not wish to continue funding
additional costs and expenses relating to the SGMI operations. The
Company’s intent is to have SGMI bring in an industry partner to further develop
the property and over time allow the Company the opportunity to liquidate its
investment position in SGMI. No contract has been entered into to
sell the Company’s interest in SGMI and management can give no assurance of
being able to actually sell the Company’s interest. SGMI is therefore
evaluating whether to raise third party investor capital, seek a joint venture
or merger partner, and other possibilities.
-38-
Reclamation
Costs
At the
close of the sale of the uranium properties to Uranium One, all asset retirement
obligations relating to those assets were transferred to Uranium
One. With the relief of those obligations, the Company only has
obligations relating to the SGMI and Lucky Jack properties.
The asset
retirement obligation for SGMI at December 31, 2007 is $23,200 which is covered
by a cash bond. It is not anticipated that any cash resources will be
used for asset retirement obligations at SGMI during the year ending December
31, 2008.
The Lucky
Jack molybdenum property is located on fee property within the boundary of U.S.
Forest Service (“USFS”) land. Although mining of the mineral resource
will occur on the fee property, associated ancillary activities will occur on
USFS land. It is anticipated that the Company and Kobex will be
submitting a Plan of Operations to the USFS in 2008 for the USFS approval, which
approval is required before construction can begin and mining and processing may
occur. Under the procedures mandated by National Environmental
Protection Act (“NEPA”), the USFS will prepare an environmental analysis in the
form of an Environmental Assessment and/or and Environmental Impact Statement to
evaluate the predicted environmental and social economic impacts of the proposed
development and mining of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property. The
NEPA process provides for public review and comment of the proposed
plan.
The USFS
is the lead regulatory agency in the NEPA process, and coordinates with the
various Federal and State agencies in the review and approval of the Plan of
Operations. Various Colorado state agencies will continue to have
primary jurisdiction over certain areas. For example, enforcement of
the Clean Water Act in Colorado is delegated to the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment and a water discharge permit under the National
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) is required before the USFS can
approve the Plan of Operations. The Company currently has a NPDES
Permit from the State of Colorado for the operation of the water treatment plant
at the Lucky Jack molybdenum property; however this permit may need to be
updated. In addition, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining
and Safety issues mining and reclamation permits for mining activities, pursuant
to the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act, and otherwise exercises supervisory
authority over mining in the state. As part obtaining a permit to
mine, the Company and Kobex will be required to submit a detailed reclamation
plan for the eventual mine closure, which must be reviewed and approved by the
agency. In addition, the Company and Kobex will be required to
provide to the agency financial assurance that the reclamation plan will be
achieved (by bonding and/or insurance) before the mining permit will be
issued.
Obtaining
and maintaining the various permits for the mining operations at the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property will be complex, time-consuming, and
expensive. Changes in a mine’s design, production rates, quality of
material mined, and many other matters, often require submission of the proposed
changes for agency approval prior to implementation. In addition,
changes in operating conditions beyond the Company’s control, or changes in
agency policy and Federal and state law, could further complicate getting
changes to the mine’s operation approved.
Although
the Company is confident that the Plan of Operations for the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property will ultimately be approved by the USFS, the timing and
cost, and ultimate success of the mining operation cannot be
predicted.
The asset
retirement obligation for the Lucky Jack molybdenum property at December 31,
2007 is $110,100. It is not anticipated that this reclamation work
will occur in the near term. There is no asset retirement obligation
as of December 31, 2007 on the water treatment plant at the Lucky Jack
property.
-39-
The
Company’s and Kobex’s objective, upon closure of the proposed mine at the Lucky
Jack property, is to eliminate long-term liabilities associated with the
property.
General
and Administrative Costs and Expenses
General
and Administrative Costs and Expenses may increase somewhat in 2008 if we add
staff, and the increase could be material if we enter into new business ventures
requiring different areas of expertise.
During
2007 the Board of Directors at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee,
consisting of independent directors, adopted an annual performance- based cash
bonus plan. Any bonuses earned in 2008 will be accrued quarterly,
based on the Committee’s quarterly evaluation of goal attainment, and paid in
2009.
Other
The
Company is evaluating several mineral and real estate projects in which it may
invest. Additionally, the Company is researching other opportunities
to deploy its capital outside of the minerals business. These
opportunities include but are not limited to the acquisition of additional
mineral and real estate properties and existing companies with established
operations, cash flows and net profits. At December 31, 2007, none of
these acquisition targets had advanced past the evaluation stage.
Results
of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2007
Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2006
The sale
of uranium assets to Uranium One resulted in net income before minority interest
and income taxes of $92,281,400 for the year ended December 31,
2007. This is an increase in earnings before taxes of $106,649,400 as
compared to the reported loss of $14,368,000 for the year ended December 31,
2006. Net earnings after taxes for the year ended December 31, 2007
were $56,363,200 or a gain of $2.75 per share basic, $2.54 diluted per share as
compared to a gain of $1,052,200 or $0.06 per share basic and $0.05 per share
diluted for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Operating
revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007 increased by $364,300 over the
year ended December 31, 2006. The reason for the increase was due to
the Company selling residential lots at the Company’s commercial real estate
property in southern Utah for $613,300 during the year ended December 31, 2007
as compared to $30,400 during 2006. Rental revenues from real estate
holdings and other commercial operations increased by $175,600 during the year
ended December 31, 2007 over those recorded during the year ended December 31,
2006 to $362,900. This increase in rental revenues is due to
increased receipts of cash from operations managed by a third party at the
Company’s southern Utah commercial property which was sold during the fourth
quarter of 2007. Likewise, management fees increased during the year
ended December 31, 2007 to $164,200 from $66,800 during the year ended December
31, 2006. The increase in management fees during 2007 are related to
our work effort on the Lucky Jack molybdenum property for which the Company
receives reimbursement from Kobex at the rate of cost plus 5%.
These
increases in operating revenues were offset by reductions in non-recurring fees
earned from mineral companies for due diligence work which was completed during
the year ended December 31, 2006 of $250,000.
-40-
Operating
costs and expenses increased during the year ended December 31, 2007 by $402,000
over those recorded during the year ended December 31, 2006. The
increase came as a result of increased General and Administrative expense which
increased by $1,274,600 primarily as a result of employee
compensation. Components of that compensation are (1) a gross cash
bonus of $4,887,000 to all employees for extraordinary service related to the
April 30, 2007 sale of uranium assets to Uranium One. A bonus was
also paid during the year ended December 31, 2006 for employees work on the sale
of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. to Enterra Energy Trust of
$3,013,000; (2) each outside director was paid a one time bonus of
$40,000 at the closing of the Uranium One sale, and (3) on June 22, 2007, the
shareholders of the Company approved the payment of $624,400 in taxes owed by
officers and employees, upon the release to them of forfeitable shares of the
Company’s common stock. These shares had been issued to individuals
in the early 1990s, and have been recorded at issue dates on the books as
compensation expense, but the stock was held by the Company; recognition of
income by the recipients was deferred pending vesting upon retirement, total
disability or death.
Mineral
holding costs and asset retirement obligation costs and expenses were reduced
$101,600 and $845,600, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2007
from the prior year. These reductions in costs and expenses occurred
as a result of the sale of the Company’s uranium properties and the reclamation
obligations of those properties to Uranium One.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company recorded $2,482,800 from the gain
on the sale of assets as compared to a gain on the sale of assets of $3,063,600
during the year ended December 31, 2006. This reduction of $580,800
was as a result of a reduction in the payments received from UPC during the 2006
as compared to the same period of the previous year. The reduction in
payments from UPC is as a result of the sale of the uranium assets to Uranium
One. The Company will receive no additional payments in the future
from UPC. Offsets to the reduction of UPC payments were the receipt
of 285,632 shares of Kobex common stock valued at $750,000 and the sale of the
Company’s Ticaboo property, in southern Utah. The Kobex shares were
delivered pursuant to the agreement with Kobex as option payments. As
a result of the signing of the Exploration, Development and Mine Operating
Agreement on April 3, 2007, this option payment of $750,000 and the $50,000 cash
earnest money deposit paid in 2006 were recorded as sale of asset
revenues.
The sale
of the Company’s uranium assets to Uranium One resulted in a net gain before
taxes of $111,728,200 during 2007. The sale of the shares of Uranium
One received as compensation for the sale of the Company’s uranium properties
were recorded at April 30, 2007 at the then market price for Uranium One common
shares of $15.04 per share. The sale of all these shares of Uranium
One (6,607,605 shares) at an average net sales price of $13.68 per share
resulted in a loss of $8,997,700. Included in this net loss are
commissions and a bulk discount of $2,568,800. The balance is due to
a reduction in the market price of the Uranium One shares.
Along
with the sale of the Uranium One common stock, the Company sold its remaining
shares of UPC common stock during the nine months ended September 30,
2007. As a result of the sale of these 1,500,000 shares of common
stock of UPC, the Company recognized a net gain of $774,700. The
Company also recorded a $95,500 loss on the sale of units of Enterra Energy
Trust (“Enterra”) by one of its subsidiaries. The sales of the shares
of Uranium One, UPC and the Enterra units resulted in a net loss from the sale
of marketable securities during the year ended December 30, 2007 of
$8,318,400. Sales of marketable securities during the year ended
December 31, 2006 consisted of the sale of Enterra Energy Trust units and
resulted in a net loss of $867,300.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007 the Company recorded a gain based on foreign
exchange rates of $430,000. This gain was as a result of the sale of
the sale of Uranium One common stock, $321,000; and the receipt of additional
shares of SGMI common stock in payment of debt to the Company,
$109,000.
-41-
Interest
income during the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 increased by $2,084,600
over interest income recorded in 2006 to $2,816,900. The increase in interest
income is due to larger amounts of cash invested in interest bearing accounts
and securities.
The
Company reported minority interest in the gain of consolidated subsidiaries for
the year ended December 31, 2007 of $3,551,400. The minority interest
gain in consolidated subsidiaries recorded during the year ended December, 2007
was primarily the minority interest gain of $3,555,900 of
Crested. This amount was offset by a net minority loss of $4,500 from
two small consolidated subsidiaries. On a consolidated basis, all
previous minority interest losses of Crested that were absorbed by the Company
through consolidation have been fully reinstated through December 31,
2007.
During
the year ended December 31, 2006 the Company recognized various other income and
expenses which it did not recognize during 2007. Those items
were:
· Loss on
the valuation of derivatives of $630,900. The Enterra units were sold
prior to 2007 so no loss was recognized during 2007.
· During
2006 the Company recorded a loss of $3,845,800 on the conversion of Enterra
units to shares of Enterra Energy Trust. During 2007 only those
shares owned by a subsidiary company were converted to Enterra Energy Trust
shares resulting in a loss of $117,600.
· During
2006 the Company recorded a $10,815,600 gain on the sale of all of its equity
ownership in Pinnacle Gas Resources, Inc. (“Pinnacle”).
· During
2006 the Company paid Phelps Dodge Corporation, (“PD”) a $7,000,000 cash
litigation settlement fee relating to the return of the Lucky Jack molybdenum
property to the Company.
The
Company reported a current tax provision of $17,589,200 and a provision from
deferred income taxes of $14,777,600 during the year ended December 31,
2007. This is a significant change from the $235,000 tax provision
and deferred tax benefit of $15,096,600 recorded at December 31,
2006. The change in the tax provision is as a result of the earnings
generated from the sale of the uranium assets to Uranium One and those other
increases in revenues reported above. The Company paid $17,250,000 in
income taxes during the year ended December 31, 2007.
The net
gain of $56,363,200 during the year ended December 31, 2007 resulted in positive
retained earnings for the Company of $19,050,900 from an accumulated deficit at
December 31, 2006 of $39,101,900.
Year Ended December 31, 2006
Compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2005
During
the years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 the Company discontinued
certain operations. Reclassifications to previously published financial
statements have therefore been made to reflect ongoing operations and the effect
of the discontinued operations.
-42-
Operating
revenues were reduced by $36,100 to $813,400 at December 31, 2006 from $849,500
at December 31, 2005 due to lower real estate revenues of $68,300 which was
partially offset by an increase in management fees of
$32,200. Revenues from real estate operations decreased primarily as
a result of the Company selling one of its office
buildings. Management fees increased due to billable services under
the Uranium One and Kobex agreements. Mineral property holding costs
increased by $936,500 during the year ended December 31, 2006 to $2,312,800 as
compared to $1,376,300 during 2005. The increase in mineral property
holding costs is due to increased geological and engineering activity on the
Company’s mineral properties and holding costs associated with the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property and water treatment plant. The water treatment
plant and other Lucky Jack property costs were approximately $125,000 per
month. These costs are being paid by Kobex as capital contributions
under the agreement.
The
Company recorded a net gain of $10,815,600 on the sale of its equity ownership
in Pinnacle during the year ended December 31, 2006. The Company
received $13.8 million in cash as a result of the sale. From that
amount, the Company deducted $2.0 million due to Enterra and its cost basis in
Pinnacle of $957,700 for the net gain of $10,815,600. No similar gain
was recorded during 2005.
During
the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company recognized $3,063,600 from the
sale of assets while during 2005 the Company recognized $1,311,200 from the sale
of assets. This increase of $1,752,400 was primarily due to cash and
common stock payments from UPC along with the sale of an office building,
$126,500, and the sale of miscellaneous equipment.
Interest
revenues increased by $327,100 during the twelve months ended December 31, 2006
over 2005 due to larger sums of cash being invested for longer periods of time
during 2006. Interest expense decreased during the year ended
December 31, 2006 by $3,919,600 from 2005 as no major financing activities with
prepaid interest and attached warrants were transacted during the year ended
December 31, 2006 while there were such financings during the year ended
December 31, 2005. Dividend income increased during the year ended
December 31, 2006 over 2005 due to dividends received on the Enterra
units.
General
and Administrative expenses increased by $7,064,000 during the year ended
December 31, 2006 over those recorded during the prior year. This
increase in General and Administrative expenses is as a result of (1) the
payment of a $3 million bonus distributed amongst all employees of the
Company (2) the settlement of other litigation, $395,000 (3)
maintenance for the Company’s airplane $353,700 (4) an increase of general and
administration costs at Sutter of $302,000 due to the drilling program and
associated increased number of employees as well as non-cash expenditures of:
(a) the expensing of employee options pursuant to SFAS 123(R) which vested in
2006, $273,600; (b) accrual of the executive retirement benefits adopted in
October 2005, $419,400, and (c) increased professional services paid for through
the issuance of common stock and the extension of warrants,
$347,900.
During
calendar 2006, the Company recognized a non-cash loss of $630,900 from the
valuation of the imbedded derivative associated with the Acquisitions Class D
shares. Further, the Company recorded a non-cash loss of $3,845,800
due to the depressed price of the Enterra units at the time that the
Acquisitions Class D shares were exchanged for units of Enterra along with
management’s decision to sell the Enterra units during the third quarter of
2006. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company recorded a
non-cash gain from the valuation of the imbedded derivative of
$630,900.
-43-
The
Company recognized a loss before benefit from income taxes of $14,279,400 or
$0.77 per share during the year ended December 31, 2006. The Company
recorded a benefit from income taxes as a result of the accounting for the
valuation allowance and deferred tax assets of $15,096,600 and a current benefit
from income taxes of $235,000 due to the refund of prior year taxes
paid. The Company therefore recorded a net gain of $1,052,200 or
$0.06 per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 as compared to a
gain of $8,841,500 or $0.55 per share during the year ended December 31,
2005. Operations for year ended December 31, 2005 resulted in a gain
as a result of the sale of RMG. The payment of the $7.0 million
settlement to PD was the single largest contributor of the loss incurred during
the year ended December 31, 2006. This settlement was a one time
charge to earnings.
Although
operations resulted in losses during the year ended December 31, 2006, the
Company recorded a net increase of cash of $9,974,800 or $0.54 per
share. This increase in cash is net of the $7.0 million payment to PD
and is a result of the sale of the Enterra units and the equity ownership of
Pinnacle.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation –
During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company acquired the minority
shareholder ownership of Crested Corp. by issuing 2,876,252 shares of its common
stock. The Company also liquidated all of its subsidiaries with the
exception of SGMI of which the Company owns a controlling 54.4%
interest. The Company uses the equity method of accounting in
the consolidation of SGMI. All material inter-company profits,
transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Marketable Securities - The
Company accounts for its marketable securities as trading
available-for-sale. Based on the Company's intent to sell the
securities, its equity securities are reported as trading
securities. The Company's available-for-sale securities are carried
at fair value with net unrealized gain or (loss) recorded as a separate
component of shareholders' equity.
Mineral Claims - We follow
the full cost method of accounting for mineral
properties. Accordingly, all costs associated with acquisition,
development and capital equipment as well as construction of plant relating to
mineral properties are capitalized and are subject to ceiling tests to ensure
the carrying value does not exceed the fair market value. All
associated general and administrative as well as exploration costs and expenses
associated with mineral properties are expensed when incurred.
All
capitalized costs of mineral properties subject to amortization and the
estimated future costs to develop proved reserves are amortized by applying the
unit-of-production method using estimates of proved
reserves. Investments in unproven properties and major construction
and development projects are not amortized until proven reserves associated with
the projects can be determined or until impairment occurs.
If the
sum of estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis is less than the
carrying amount of the related asset, an asset impairment is considered to
exist. The related impairment loss is measured by comparing estimated
future cash flows on a discounted basis to the carrying amount of the
asset. Changes in significant assumptions underlying future cash flow
estimates may have a material effect on the Company's financial position and
results of operations. An uneconomic commodity market price, if
sustained for an extended period of time, or an inability to obtain financing
necessary to develop mineral interests, may result in asset
impairment. If the results of an assessment indicate that the
properties are impaired, the capitalized cost of the property is
expensed.
Asset Impairments - We assess
the impairment of property and equipment whenever events or circumstances
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
-44-
Asset Retirement Obligations
- The Company records the fair value of the reclamation liability on its shut
down mining properties as of the date that the liability is
incurred. The Company reviews the liability each quarter and
determines if a change in estimate is required as well as accretes the total
liability on a quarterly basis for the future liability. Final
determinations are made during the fourth quarter of each year. The
Company deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation during the quarter in
which it occurs.
Assets and Liabilities Held for
Sale – Long lived assets that will be sold within one year of the
financial statements are classified as current. At December 31, 2007
the Company believed that its used corporate aircraft would be sold within a
twelve month period.
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, in which case the
gain or loss is recognized in income.
Income Taxes - The Company
recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future
income tax consequences, based on enacted tax laws, of temporary differences
between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets, liabilities and carry
forwards. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets for the expected
future effects of all deductible temporary differences, loss carry forwards and
tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced, if deemed necessary,
by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits which, based on current
circumstances, are not expected to be realized.
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
FIN 48 The Company
adopted Financial Accountings Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, (“FIN 48”) and interpretation of
FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” on January 1,
2007. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement
attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax
position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires that the
Company recognize in its financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if
that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the
technical merits of the position. FIN 48 also provides guidance on
derecognizing, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim
periods and disclosure. The adoption of FIN 48 had no significant
impact on the financial statements of the Company at December 31,
2007.
-45-
FAS 141R In
December 2007 FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141 (R)”), to replace
FAS 141, “Business Combinations”. FAS 141 (R)
requires use of the acquisition method of accounting, defines the acquirer,
establishes the acquisition date and broadens the scope to all transactions and
other events in which one entity obtains control over one or more other
businesses. This statement is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with earlier
adoption prohibited. While the Company does not expect that the
adoption of FAS 141 (R) to have a material impact to its consolidated financial
statements for transactions completed prior to December 31, 2008, the impact of
the accounting change could be material for business combinations which may be
consummated subsequent thereto.
FAS 157 In September 2006,
the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS
157”). FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for
measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. The provisions for FAS 157
are effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2008. We do not believe the
adoption of this statement will have an impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
FAS 159 In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”) which
permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain
other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair
value. SFAS 159 will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year
beginning January 1, 2008. We do not believe the
adoption of this statement will have an impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
FAS 160 In
December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of FAS No. 160, “Non controlling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements”—an amendment of ARB No. 51 , (“FAS 160”). FAS 160
establishes accounting and reporting standards for the non controlling interest
in a subsidiary and for the retained interest and gain or loss when a subsidiary
is deconsolidated. This statement is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with
earlier adoption prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact of FAS 160 on its consolidated financial statements.
The
Company has reviewed other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does
not believe that any of those pronouncements will have a material effect on the
Company’s financial position or results of operations when adopted.
Future
Operations
Management
intends to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the recent and
future projected market prices for all the minerals with which it is
involved. We intend to acquire new mineral properties and pursue new
business opportunities, including real estate development in the communities
impacted by significant energy development in the Rocky Mountain
region. Long term, we intend to be prepared to pay our share of the
holding and development costs associated with the Lucky Jack property after
Kobex completes its option payments and property expenditure
obligations.
-46-
Effects
of Changes in Prices
Mineral
Prices
Mineral
operations are significantly affected by changes in commodity
prices. As prices for a particular mineral increase, prices for
prospects for that mineral typically also increase, making acquisitions of such
properties more costly and sales more advantageous. Conversely, a
price decline could enhance acquisitions of properties containing that mineral,
but could make sales of such properties more difficult. Operational
impacts of changes in mineral commodity prices are common in the mining
industry.
At
December 31, 2007 the Company participated in five mineral commodities,
molybdenum, oil, gas, gold and uranium. The Company has not had
production from its properties which contain these commodities during the past
five years. The market prices for these commodities have risen to
levels, which if maintained, may allow the Company to continue participating
with Kobex in permitting and developing, for ultimate production, its molybdenum
property, joint venture or sell its gold property and receive royalties from its
uranium properties and future payments from Uranium One. The
Company’s multifamily housing could be affected negatively if there was a
sustained down turn in the price of coal, gas and oil. A brief
summary of these mineral prices follows:
Molybdenum - The ten year
high for dealer molybdenum oxide was $38 per pound in June of 2005 while the ten
year low was $2.05 per pound in November 1998. At December 31, 2007
the mean price of molybdenum oxide was $32.81 per pound and increased to $33.50
per pound during February 2008. Continued strong demand has outpaced
supply over the past several years (deficit market conditions) and has reduced
inventory levels throughout the industry.
Oil and Gas – The ten year
Cushing, OK WTI spot price for oil reached a high of $94.77 per barrel during
November 2007 and was at $91.69 per barrel at December 31, 2007. The
ten year U.S. Natural Gas City Gate Price reached a high of $12.16 per mcf in
October of 2005 and was $8.05 in November 2007. The corresponding ten
year low for oil and gas was $11.35 per barrel in December of 1998 and $2.77 per
mcf in March of 1999.
Gold - The ten year high for
gold was $900 per ounce in December of 2007 while the ten year low was $256.62
per ounce in July of 1999. The price per ounce increased to $900 per
ounce during February 2008. Our ability to sell our interest in the
SGMI gold property will depend on gold prices as well as proven reserves on the
property. Before additional reserves are defined a significant amount
of exploration drilling will need to be done.
Uranium – The ten year high
for uranium concentrate was $136 per pound in June of 2007 while the ten year
low was $7.10 per pound in December of 2000. At December 31, 2007 the
price of uranium concentrate was $90 per pound and decreased to $75 per pound
during February 2008. Although the Company no longer owns uranium
properties, the market price for uranium concentrates impacts future cash flows
from the uranium properties sold to Uranium One and the potential royalties to
be received under the royalty agreement on Green Mountain. (See sale
of uranium properties above)
-47-
Contractual
Obligations
Contractual
obligations at December 31, 2007 consist of debt to third parties of $5,751,400
for the temporary construction financing of the Gillette Wyoming multifamily
housing project, executive retirement of $927,000 and asset retirement
obligations of $133,400. The debt will be paid over a period of five
years, the executive retirement annually for the 25 to 30 years and the asset
retirement obligations will be satisfied during the next 34
years. The following table shows the scheduled debt payment and
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
|
$ | 5,751,400 | $ | 5,560,900 | $ | 190,500 | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||||||
Finders
Fee on Lucky Jack
|
184,500 | 46,400 | 138,100 | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||
Executive
retirement
|
927,000 | 152,900 | 458,700 | 114,700 | 200,700 | |||||||||||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
133,400 | -- | -- | -- | 133,400 | |||||||||||||||
Totals
|
$ | 6,996,300 | $ | 5,760,200 | $ | 787,300 | $ | 114,700 | $ | 334,100 | ||||||||||
ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
None
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial
statements meeting the requirements of Regulation S-X for the Company follow
immediately.
-48-
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of
Directors and Shareholders ofU.S. Energy Corp.
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of U.S. Energy Corp. and
Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2007 and December 30, 2006, and
the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the two year-period
ended December 31, 2007. We also have audited the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established
in Internal Control -
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for
these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over
financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company's
internal control over financial reporting 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audits of the financial statements included 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.
Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk
that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and
operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our
audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary
in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for
our opinions.
A
company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to
the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's
assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
-49-
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of U.S. Energy Corp. and
Subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2007, and December 31, 2006, and the
consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of years in
the two-year period ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our
opinion, U.S. Energy Corp. and Subsidiaries, maintained, in all material
respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (COSO).
As
discussed in Note B to the consolidated financial statements, effective January
1, 2007, the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes – an interpretation of FASB No. 109, and effective January 1, 2006,
the Company adopted as new principle of accounting for share-based payments in
accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123R, Share-Based
Payment.
/s/ Moss
Adams LLP
Scottsdale,
Arizona
March 12,
2008
-50-
Report of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
U.S.
Energy Corp. Board of Directors
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’
equity and cash flows of U.S. Energy Corp. and subsidiaries for the year ended
December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion of these
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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
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 results of operations and cash flows of U.S. Energy Corp.
and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
/s/
EPSTEIN WEBER & CONOVER, PLC
Scottsdale,
Arizona
March 3,
2006
-51-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 72,292,200 | $ | 16,973,500 | ||||
Marketable
securities
|
||||||||
Trading
securities
|
-- | 123,400 | ||||||
Available
for sale securities
|
480,200 | 1,148,500 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
||||||||
Trade
|
171,700 | 156,000 | ||||||
Reimbursable
project costs
|
782,100 | 188,900 | ||||||
Dissolution
of subsidiaries
|
197,600 | -- | ||||||
Income
taxes
|
902,900 | -- | ||||||
Restricted
investments
|
6,624,700 | -- | ||||||
Note
receivable
|
-- | 560,500 | ||||||
Assets
held for sale
|
1,112,600 | 9,686,300 | ||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
59,700 | 14,321,600 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
105,200 | 166,500 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
82,728,900 | 43,325,200 | ||||||
PROPERTIES
AND EQUIPMENT:
|
||||||||
Land
|
2,463,400 | 711,300 | ||||||
Construction
in progress
|
11,770,800 | -- | ||||||
Undeveloped
mining claims
|
21,859,200 | 788,600 | ||||||
Buildings
and improvements
|
5,182,400 | 4,869,600 | ||||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
8,599,200 | 5,194,000 | ||||||
Undeveloped
oil & gas properties
|
2,910,200 | -- | ||||||
Total
properties and equipment
|
52,785,200 | 11,563,500 | ||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation,
|
||||||||
depletion
and amortization
|
(4,691,700 | ) | (5,454,200 | ) | ||||
Net
properties and equipment
|
48,093,500 | 6,109,300 | ||||||
OTHER
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
-- | 610,200 | ||||||
Real
estate held for resale
|
-- | 1,819,700 | ||||||
Restricted
investments
|
375,500 | -- | ||||||
Deposits
and other
|
206,500 | 37,000 | ||||||
Total
other assets
|
582,000 | 2,466,900 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 131,404,400 | $ | 51,901,400 | ||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-52-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
December
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 1,589,600 | $ | 1,115,000 | ||||
Accrued
compensation expense
|
275,200 | 1,190,200 | ||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
5,560,900 | 937,200 | ||||||
Liabilities
held for sale
|
-- | 7,375,800 | ||||||
Refundable
deposits
|
-- | 800,000 | ||||||
Other
current liabilities
|
667,500 | 177,000 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
8,093,200 | 11,595,200 | ||||||
LONG-TERM
DEBT, net of current portion
|
190,500 | 294,900 | ||||||
DEFERRED
TAX LIABILITY
|
6,928,800 | -- | ||||||
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
|
133,400 | 124,400 | ||||||
OTHER
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
|
958,600 | 462,700 | ||||||
MINORITY
INTERESTS
|
-- | 209,700 | ||||||
FORFEITABLE
COMMON STOCK, $.01 par value
|
||||||||
-0-
and 297,540 shares issued, respectively
|
||||||||
forfeitable
until earned
|
-- | 1,746,600 | ||||||
PREFERRED
STOCK,
|
||||||||
$.01
par value; 100,000 shares authorized
|
||||||||
No
shares issued or outstanding
|
-- | -- | ||||||
SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY:
|
||||||||
Common
stock, $.01 par value;
|
||||||||
unlimited
shares authorized; 23,592,493
|
||||||||
and
19,659,591 shares issued net of
|
||||||||
treasury
stock, respectively
|
235,900 | 196,600 | ||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
96,560,100 | 77,481,200 | ||||||
Accumulated
surplus (deficit)
|
19,050,900 | (39,101,900 | ) | |||||
Treasury
stock at cost, -0- and 497,845 shares
|
-- | (923,500 | ) | |||||
Unrealized
(loss) gain on marketable securities
|
(256,500 | ) | 306,000 | |||||
Unallocated
ESOP contribution
|
(490,500 | ) | (490,500 | ) | ||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
115,099,900 | 37,467,900 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$ | 131,404,400 | $ | 51,901,400 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
statements.
-53-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||
For
the years ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES:
|
||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
$ | 976,200 | $ | 217,700 | $ | 286,000 | ||||||
Management
fees and other
|
201,500 | 595,700 | 563,500 | |||||||||
1,177,700 | 813,400 | 849,500 | ||||||||||
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
384,300 | 309,700 | 306,300 | |||||||||
Mineral
holding costs
|
2,211,200 | 2,312,800 | 1,376,300 | |||||||||
Asset
retirement obligations
|
9,000 | 854,600 | (1,709,200 | ) | ||||||||
General
and administrative
|
15,281,600 | 14,007,000 | 6,943,000 | |||||||||
17,886,100 | 17,484,100 | 6,916,400 | ||||||||||
LOSS
BEFORE INVESTMENT AND
|
||||||||||||
PROPERTY
TRANSACTIONS
|
(16,708,400 | ) | (16,670,700 | ) | (6,066,900 | ) | ||||||
OTHER
INCOME & (EXPENSES):
|
||||||||||||
Gain
on sales of assets
|
2,482,800 | 3,063,600 | 1,311,200 | |||||||||
(Loss)
gain on sale of marketable securities
|
(8,318,400 | ) | (867,300 | ) | 1,038,500 | |||||||
Gain
on foreign exchange
|
430,000 | -- | -- | |||||||||
Gain
on sale of uranium assets
|
111,728,200 | -- | -- | |||||||||
Loss
from dissolution of subsidiaries
|
(117,600 | ) | -- | -- | ||||||||
(Loss)
gain from valuation of derivatives
|
-- | (630,900 | ) | 630,900 | ||||||||
Loss
from Enterra share exchange
|
-- | (3,845,800 | ) | -- | ||||||||
Gain
on sale of investment
|
-- | 10,815,600 | 117,700 | |||||||||
Settlement
of litigation
|
-- | (7,000,000 | ) | -- | ||||||||
Dividends
|
40,200 | 147,800 | 44,700 | |||||||||
Interest
income
|
2,816,900 | 732,300 | 405,200 | |||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(72,300 | ) | (112,600 | ) | (4,032,200 | ) | ||||||
108,989,800 | 2,302,700 | (484,000 | ) | |||||||||
INCOME
(LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY
|
||||||||||||
INTEREST,
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||
AND
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
|
92,281,400 | (14,368,000 | ) | (6,550,900 | ) | |||||||
MINORITY
INTEREST IN (GAIN) LOSS OF
|
||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
SUBSIDIARIES
|
(3,551,400 | ) | 88,600 | 185,000 | ||||||||
INCOME
(LOSS) BEFORE DISCONTINUED
|
||||||||||||
OPERATIONS
AND PROVISION FOR
|
||||||||||||
INCOME
TAXES
|
88,730,000 | (14,279,400 | ) | (6,365,900 | ) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
statements.
-54-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||
For
the years ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS, net of taxes
|
||||||||||||
Gain
on sale of discontinued segment
|
-- | -- | 15,533,500 | |||||||||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
-- | -- | (326,100 | ) | ||||||||
-- | -- | 15,207,400 | ||||||||||
INCOME
(LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION
|
||||||||||||
FOR
INCOME TAXES
|
88,730,000 | (14,279,400 | ) | 8,841,500 | ||||||||
INCOME
TAXES:
|
||||||||||||
Current
(provision for) benefit from
|
(17,589,200 | ) | 235,000 | -- | ||||||||
Deferred
(provision for) benefit from
|
(14,777,600 | ) | 15,096,600 | -- | ||||||||
(32,366,800 | ) | 15,331,600 | -- | |||||||||
NET
INCOME
|
$ | 56,363,200 | $ | 1,052,200 | $ | 8,841,500 | ||||||
PER
SHARE DATA
|
||||||||||||
Basic
earnings per share
|
||||||||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
$ | 2.75 | $ | 0.06 | $ | (0.39 | ) | |||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
-- | -- | 0.94 | |||||||||
$ | 2.75 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.55 | |||||||
Diluted
earnings per share
|
||||||||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
$ | 2.54 | $ | 0.05 | $ | (0.39 | ) | |||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
-- | -- | 0.94 | |||||||||
$ | 2.54 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.55 | |||||||
BASIC
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
20,469,846 | 18,461,885 | 16,177,383 | |||||||||
DILUTED
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
22,189,828 | 21,131,786 | 16,177,383 | |||||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-55-
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
|
Unrealized
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
Loss
on
|
Loss
on
|
Unallocated
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
Accumulated
|
Marketable
|
Hedging
|
Treasury
Stock
|
ESOP
|
Shareholders'
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Deficit
|
Securities
|
Activities
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Contribution
|
Equity
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2004
|
15,231,237 | $ | 152,300 | $ | 59,545,000 | $ | (49,321,700 | ) | $ | -- | $ | (436,000 | ) | 972,306 | $ | (2,779,900 | ) | $ | (490,500 | ) | $ | 6,669,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-- | -- | -- | 8,841,500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 8,841,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
gain on
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
marketable
securities
|
-- | -- | -- | (98,100 | ) | -- | -- | -- | -- | (98,100 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
gain on
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
hedging
activities
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | 436,000 | -- | -- | -- | 436,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
9,179,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Funding
of ESOP
|
56,494 | 500 | 262,100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 262,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale
of Rocky Mountain Gas
|
-- | -- | (4,132,300 | ) | 326,100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (3,806,200 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
to
outside directors
|
11,475 | 100 | 35,500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 35,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
from
employee stock options
|
281,641 | 2,800 | 170,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 173,700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
from
stock warrants
|
910,362 | 9,100 | 3,309,300 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3,318,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
in
stock compensation plan
|
60,000 | 600 | 254,100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 254,700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
to
retire debt
|
1,942,387 | 19,500 | 4,700,600 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 4,720,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury
stock from the sale
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of
Rocky Mountain Gas
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 21,868 | (92,500 | ) | -- | (92,500 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury
stock from payment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
on
balance of note receivable
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5,000 | (20,500 | ) | -- | (20,500 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
to
RMG investors
|
331,538 | 3,300 | 1,162,300 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,165,600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock warrants
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
attached
to company debt
|
-- | -- | 2,895,700 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2,895,700 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
warrants
for services
|
-- | -- | 190,300 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 190,300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reverse
merger of SGMI
|
-- | -- | 1,081,100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,081,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2005(1)
|
18,825,134 | $ | 188,200 | $ | 69,474,600 | $ | (40,154,100 | ) | $ | (98,100 | ) | $ | -- | 999,174 | $ | (2,892,900 | ) | $ | (490,500 | ) | $ | 26,027,200 | ||||||||||||||||||
(1)Total
Shareholders' Equity at December 31, 2005 does not include 442,740 shares
currently issued but forfeitable if certain conditions are not met by the
recipients. "Basic
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
and
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding" also includes 834,783 shares
of common stock held by majority-owned subsidiaries, which, in
consolidation, are
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
treated
as treasury shares.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
statements.
-56-
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
Gain
(Loss) on
|
Unallocated
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
Accumulated
|
Marketable
|
Treasury
Stock
|
ESOP
|
Shareholders'
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Deficit
|
Securities
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Contribution
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2005
|
18,825,134 | $ | 188,200 | $ | 69,474,600 | $ | (40,154,100 | ) | $ | (98,100 | ) | 999,174 | $ | (2,892,900 | ) | $ | (490,500 | ) | $ | 26,027,200 | ||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-- | -- | -- | 1,052,200 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,052,200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
gain on
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
marketable
securities
|
-- | -- | -- | 404,100 | -- | -- | -- | 404,100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
1,456,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Funding
of ESOP
|
70,756 | 700 | 351,600 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 352,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Release
of forfeitable stock
|
145,200 | 1,500 | 850,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 852,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
to
outside directors
|
3,140 | -- | 18,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 18,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
from
employee stock options
|
220,022 | 2,200 | 195,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 198,100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
from
stock warrants
|
226,015 | 2,300 | 819,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 822,200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
in
stock compensation plan
|
57,500 | 600 | 290,200 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 290,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale
of Treasury Stock to
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enterra
Energy Trust
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | (506,329 | ) | 2,000,000 | -- | 2,000,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury
stock from payment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
on
balance of note receivable
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 5,000 | (30,600 | ) | -- | (30,600 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting
of stock options
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
issed
to employees
|
-- | -- | 273,600 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 273,600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
warrants
for services
|
-- | -- | 743,200 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 743,200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
for
services
|
111,824 | 1,100 | 635,300 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 636,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock
|
-- | -- | 3,828,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3,828,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2006(1)
|
19,659,591 | $ | 196,600 | $ | 77,481,200 | $ | (39,101,900 | ) | $ | 306,000 | 497,845 | $ | (923,500 | ) | $ | (490,500 | ) | $ | 37,467,900 | |||||||||||||||||
(1)Total
Shareholders' Equity at December 31, 2006 does not include 297,540 shares
currently issued but forfeitable if certain conditions are not met by the
recipients. "Basic
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
and
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding" also includes 322,424 shares
of common stock held by majority-owned subsidiaries, which, in
consolidation, are
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
treated
as treasury shares.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
statements.
-57-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
Gain
(Loss) on
|
Unallocated
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
Retained
|
Marketable
|
Treasury
Stock
|
ESOP
|
Shareholders'
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Earnings
|
Securities
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Contribution
|
Equity
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2006
|
19,659,591 | $ | 196,600 | $ | 77,481,200 | $ | (39,101,900 | ) | $ | 306,000 | 497,845 | $ | (923,500 | ) | $ | (490,500 | ) | $ | 37,467,900 | |||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-- | -- | -- | 56,363,200 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 56,363,200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
loss on
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
marketable
securities
|
-- | -- | -- | (726,000 | ) | -- | -- | -- | (726,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
on
the unrealized loss
|
-- | -- | -- | 163,500 | -- | -- | -- | 163,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
55,800,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income
tax benefit from
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
pre
FAS 123R stock options
|
-- | -- | 1,242,100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,242,100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change
in basis of
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
minority
interests
|
-- | -- | -- | 3,897,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3,897,900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Funding
of ESOP
|
84,995 | 900 | 360,400 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 361,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
to
outside directors
|
3,812 | -- | 18,000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 18,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
in
stock compensation plan
|
62,500 | 600 | 317,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 318,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vesting
of stock options
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
issued
to employees
|
-- | -- | 607,400 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 607,400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
from
employee stock options
|
1,109,894 | 11,100 | 1,959,400 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,970,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
from
stock warrants
|
359,598 | 3,600 | 1,242,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,246,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payment
of dividend
|
-- | -- | -- | (2,108,300 | ) | -- | -- | -- | -- | (2,108,300 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adjustments
to common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
warrants
|
-- | -- | 123,700 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 123,700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Release
of forfeitable stock
|
292,740 | 2,900 | 1,765,900 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1,768,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purchases
of treasury stock
|
-- | -- | (378,000 | ) | -- | -- | 228,000 | (1,047,300 | ) | -- | (1,425,300 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
for
the Crested merger
|
2,876,252 | 28,800 | 13,374,500 | -- | -- | 80,000 | (40,800 | ) | -- | 13,362,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cancellation
of common stock
|
(856,889 | ) | (8,600 | ) | (2,003,100 | ) | -- | -- | (805,845 | ) | 2,011,600 | -- | (100 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock
|
-- | -- | 447,800 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 447,800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2007
|
23,592,493 | $ | 235,900 | $ | 96,560,100 | $ | 19,050,900 | $ | (256,500 | ) | -- | $ | -- | $ | (490,500 | ) | $ | 115,099,900 | ||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
statements.
-58-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|||||||||||||
Year
ended December 31,
|
|||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|||||||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 56,363,200 | $ | 1,052,200 | $ | 8,841,500 | |||||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income
|
|||||||||||||
to
net cash used in operating activities:
|
|||||||||||||
Minority
interest in the income (loss) of
|
|||||||||||||
consolidated
subsidiaries
|
3,551,400 | (88,600 | ) | (185,000 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation
|
490,000 | 510,900 | 386,300 | ||||||||||
Accretion
of asset
|
|||||||||||||
retirement
obligations
|
9,000 | 766,500 | 366,700 | ||||||||||
Subsequent
recognition and measurement
|
|||||||||||||
of
asset retirement obligations
|
-- | (105,200 | ) | (2,075,900 | ) | ||||||||
Amortization
of debt discount
|
-- | -- | 3,168,700 | ||||||||||
Noncash
interest expense
|
-- | -- | 720,000 | ||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
14,777,600 | (15,096,600 | ) | -- | |||||||||
Gain
on sale of assets to sxr
|
(111,728,200 | ) | -- | -- | |||||||||
Gain
on sale of assets
|
(2,482,800 | ) | (3,063,600 | ) | (1,311,200 | ) | |||||||
Gain
on sale of Pinnacle Resources
|
-- | (10,815,600 | ) | -- | |||||||||
Gain
on foreign exchange
|
(430,000 | ) | -- | -- | |||||||||
Loss
on valuation of Enterra units
|
-- | 3,845,800 | -- | ||||||||||
Loss
(gain) on valuation of derivatives
|
-- | 630,900 | (630,900 | ) | |||||||||
Loss
(gain) on sales of marketable securities
|
8,318,400 | 867,300 | (1,038,500 | ) | |||||||||
Gain
on sale of discontinued segment
|
-- | -- | (15,533,500 | ) | |||||||||
Proceeds
from the sale of trading securities
|
-- | 8,304,300 | -- | ||||||||||
Noncash
compensation
|
1,352,400 | 1,328,600 | 688,500 | ||||||||||
Noncash
services
|
141,700 | 1,525,800 | 125,900 | ||||||||||
Net
changes in assets and liabilities:
|
|||||||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(806,500 | ) | (79,400 | ) | (166,000 | ) | |||||||
Income
tax receivable
|
(902,900 | ) | -- | -- | |||||||||
Other
assets
|
(248,600 | ) | (153,900 | ) | 183,700 | ||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
474,600 | 682,000 | (700 | ) | |||||||||
Accrued
compensation expense
|
(958,000 | ) | 1,013,100 | (4,600 | ) | ||||||||
Refundable
deposits
|
-- | 800,000 | -- | ||||||||||
Reclamation
and other liabilities
|
377,500 | (56,500 | ) | 407,300 | |||||||||
NET
CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
(31,701,200 | ) | (8,132,000 | ) | (6,057,700 | ) | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
statements.
-59-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||||||
Year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of marketable securities
|
$ | 92,250,700 | $ | 551,000 | $ | 5,916,600 | ||||||
Proceeds
from sale of uranium assets
|
14,022,700 | -- | -- | |||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of property and equipment
|
3,978,000 | 2,410,600 | 1,087,400 | |||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of investments
|
-- | 13,800,000 | -- | |||||||||
Sale
of Rocky Mountain Gas
|
-- | -- | (270,000 | ) | ||||||||
Acquisition
& development of real estate
|
(7,516,600 | ) | -- | -- | ||||||||
Acquisition
of unproved oil & gas properties
|
(2,910,200 | ) | -- | -- | ||||||||
Acquisition
of unproved mining claims
|
(539,900 | ) | (1,604,700 | ) | (710,900 | ) | ||||||
Acquisition
of property and equipment
|
(6,431,400 | ) | (649,300 | ) | (376,000 | ) | ||||||
Investment
in marketable securities
|
-- | (560,500 | ) | -- | ||||||||
Net
change in restricted investments
|
(7,000,200 | ) | (94,100 | ) | 13,600 | |||||||
Net
change in notes receivable
|
560,500 | (19,800 | ) | 53,600 | ||||||||
Net
change in investments in affiliates
|
349,400 | -- | -- | |||||||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||||||
BY
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
86,763,000 | 13,833,200 | 5,714,300 | |||||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
3,217,000 | 1,020,300 | 3,492,100 | |||||||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock
|
342,000 | 3,413,800 | -- | |||||||||
Deferred
taxes on employee stock options
|
1,242,100 | -- | -- | |||||||||
Payment
of cash dividend
|
(2,108,300 | ) | -- | -- | ||||||||
Proceeds
from long term debt
|
164,100 | 297,300 | 4,064,900 | |||||||||
Repayments
of long term debt
|
(1,133,800 | ) | (457,800 | ) | (3,380,400 | ) | ||||||
Purchase
of treasury stock
|
(1,466,200 | ) | -- | -- | ||||||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
256,900 | 4,273,600 | 4,176,600 | |||||||||
Net
cash used in operating activities of
|
||||||||||||
discontinued
operations
|
-- | -- | (453,500 | ) | ||||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities of
|
||||||||||||
discontinued
operations
|
-- | -- | (215,000 | ) | ||||||||
Net
cash used in financing activities of
|
||||||||||||
discontinued
operations
|
-- | -- | (8,500 | ) | ||||||||
NET
INCREASE IN
|
||||||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
55,318,700 | 9,974,800 | 3,156,200 | |||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||||||
AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
16,973,500 | 6,998,700 | 3,842,500 | |||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||||||
AT
END OF PERIOD
|
$ | 72,292,200 | $ | 16,973,500 | $ | 6,998,700 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
statements.
-60-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||||||
Year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES:
|
||||||||||||
Income
tax paid
|
$ | 17,250,000 | $ | -- | $ | 235,000 | ||||||
Interest
paid
|
$ | 72,300 | $ | 112,600 | $ | 257,900 | ||||||
NON-CASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||||||
Acquisition
of assets
|
||||||||||||
through
issuance of debt
|
$ | 5,489,000 | $ | 355,800 | $ | 113,400 | ||||||
Receipt
of marketable securities from
|
||||||||||||
the
sale of assets
|
$ | 99,400,600 | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock to acquire
|
||||||||||||
mining
claims
|
$ | 33,700 | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||
Value
of common stock issued in
|
||||||||||||
merger
of Crested Corp.
|
$ | 13,403,300 | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||
Cancellation
of treasury stock
|
$ | 1,970,900 | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||
Conversion
of Enterra shares
|
||||||||||||
to
tradable units
|
$ | -- | $ | 13,880,100 | $ | -- | ||||||
|
||||||||||||
Issuance
of stock warrants in
|
||||||||||||
conjunction
with agreements
|
$ | -- | $ | 727,300 | $ | -- | ||||||
Satisfaction
of receivable - employee
|
||||||||||||
with
stock in company
|
$ | -- | $ | 30,600 | $ | 20,500 | ||||||
|
||||||||||||
Issuance
of stock as conversion of
|
||||||||||||
subsidiary
stock
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 1,165,600 | ||||||
Issuance
of stock for services
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 100,000 | ||||||
Issuance
of stock to satisfy debt
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 4,000,000 | ||||||
Foreclosure
of note receivable Cactus Group
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 2,926,400 | ||||||
Issuance
of stock warrants in
|
||||||||||||
conjunction
with debt
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 2,781,200 | ||||||
Unrealized
loss/gain
|
$ | 562,500 | $ | 557,000 | $ | -- | ||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-61-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
A. BUSINESS
ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS:
U.S.
Energy Corp. was incorporated in the State of Wyoming on January 26,
1966. U.S. Energy Corp. and subsidiaries (the "Company" or "USE")
engage in the acquisition, exploration, holding, sale and/or development of
mineral properties. Principal mineral interests are in molybdenum, oil, gas and
gold. Historically, the Company also participated in the acquisition
and development of uranium properties with associated commercial real estate
operations as well as the sale of uranium concentrates. During 2007,
all of the Company’s uranium assets were sold to sxr Uranium One, Inc. (“Uranium
One”) (See Note E). The Company also historically participated in the
development and production of coalbed methane gas through Rocky Mountain Gas,
Inc. (“RMG”), which was sold during the year ended December 31, 2005 (See Note
L). During 2007, the Company entered into the multifamily and other
commercial real estate business. No revenues were received from real
estate operations during 2007. (See Note F) The Company did record
revenues from the sale of lots at the at its Ticaboo town site in southern Utah
prior to the time it was sold to Uranium One. Sutter Gold Mining Inc.
(“SGMI”), a Canadian corporation, manages the Company’s interest in gold
properties.
Correction to
Classification
The
Company has reclassified the equity portion of its balance sheet and its
statement of shareholders equity for the years ended December 31, 2005 and
2006. The correction to classification came as a result of the
reclassification of minority interest liability to Additional paid-in Capital
(“APIC”). The Company records sales of stock by a subsidiary in which
it does not participate, resulting in a change in the Company’s interest in the
carrying value of the subsidiary, as a capital transaction. The
Company had previously misclassified those changes in one of its subsidiaries
and a change in the minority interest liability. The effect of the
reclassification at December 31, 2006 and 2005 was to increase equity and reduce
the minority interest liability by $4,490,500 and $1,469,100 respectively, from
what was previously reported.
Transactions that
resulted in the change in minority interest were:
·
|
During
the year ended December 31, 2005, Sutter Gold completed a reverse stock
merger with Sutter Gold Mining Inc. resulting in an increase in the
Company's interest in Sutter of
$1,081,100.
|
·
|
During
the year ended December 31, 2006, SGMI sold 16,312,000 shares of its
common stock resulting in an increase in the Company's interest in Sutter
of $3,828,000.
|
In the
opinion of management the error in classification was not material and therefore
has not resulted in the amendment of previously filed Form 10K’s based on the
following quantitative and qualitative reasons:
·
|
There
is no effect on the Company’s earnings as a result of the reclassification
of the minority interest to APIC as the Company recognized all of the SGMI
loss for the years ending December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007 in its
consolidated financial statements.
|
·
|
The
minority interest credit never represented an actual obligation to a third
party.
|
·
|
The
effect on the balance sheet is insignificant in that the misclassification
represented approximately 8.7% and 3.9% of the total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2006 and 2005
respectively.
|
·
|
The
understatement of net equity had no affect on any debt covenants or other
financing requirements.
|
-62-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Management's
Plan
Management
is committed to increasing share holder value, liquidity and continued
earnings. The cash position, liquidity and earnings recorded during
the year ended December 31, 2007 are indicative of this
commitment. The Company recorded a net gain after income taxes of
$56,363,200 for the year ended December 31, 2007 and had working capital of
$74,635,700 at December 31, 2007.
In
support of the commitment of management, the Company plans on the following
activities during 2008 and beyond:
·
|
Continue
working with Kobex Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”) in the permitting and
development of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property (“Lucky Jack”) outside
Crested Butte, Colorado. Management of the Company has two out
of five seats on the management committee overseeing the Lucky Jack
property.
|
·
|
Drill
exploratory wells in the U.S. gulf coast region through oil and gas
interests purchased in 2007. Additionally, the Company plans on
expanding its investments in the oil and gas sector through additional
acquisitions of properties, seismic data and potential producing oil and
gas properties.
|
·
|
Complete
the construction of the multifamily housing development in Gillette,
Wyoming and purchase or develop additional properties during
2008. The diversification into multifamily and other commercial
real estate properties is to develop a cash flow stream and ultimately net
profits.
|
·
|
Acquire
producing mineral or oil and gas properties or companies through the
investment of both cash and equity.
|
Budgetary
projections made by the Company for calendar 2008 indicate that the Company has
ample cash resources to fund these goals as well as its ongoing administrative
costs and expenses.
B. SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Principles
of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2007 include
the accounts of the Company and SGMI which was owned 54.4% by the Company at
December 31, 2007. The consolidated financial statements contained in
this report for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 also include
subsidiaries of the Company which were either merged into the Company or
liquidated and dissolved during 2007. These subsidiaries were
majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries: Plateau Resources Limited,
(“Plateau”) (100%), Four Nines Gold, Inc. ("FNG") (50.9%), SGMI (54.4%), Yellow
Stone Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) (49.1%), and the USECC Joint Venture ("USECC"), a
consolidated joint venture which was equally owned by the Company and Crested
Corp. (“Crested”) (70.9%) until Crested was merged into the Company on November
26, 2007 (See Note C). The minority interest in operations for
Crested is reflected through the date of merger with the Company, November 26,
2007. Investments in joint ventures and 20 to 50% owned companies are
accounted for using the equity method.
Cash
Equivalents
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of
three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains
its cash and cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts which exceed federally
insured limits. At December 31, 2007 and 2006 the Company had its
cash and cash equivalents with several financial institutions. The
Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not
exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash
equivalents.
-63-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Marketable
Securities
The
Company accounts for its marketable securities under Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities, which requires certain securities to be categorized
as either trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity. Based on the
Company's intent to hold the securities it owns at December 31, 2007, the
Company's available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with net
unrealized gain or (loss) recorded as a separate component of shareholders'
equity.
Accounts
and Notes Receivable
The
Company determines any required allowance by considering a number of factors
including length of time trade and other accounts receivable are past due and
the Company's previous loss history. The Company provides reserves
for account and note receivable balances when they become uncollectible.
Payments subsequently received on such reserved receivables and notes are
credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts. At December 31, 2007
and 2006, there were no provisions of doubtful accounts for account or note
receivables. At December 31, 2007, the Company’s accounts receivable
are due from industry partners, reimbursable costs related to Lucky Jack,
amounts not yet received from the dissolution of a former subsidiary company and
the Internal Revenue Service. Additionally the Company had accounts
receivable from reimbursable project costs relating to costs and expenses paid
for by the Company at the Lucky Jack project, the dissolution of subsidiary
companies and trade receivables.
Restricted
Investments
The
Company accounts for cash deposits held as collateral for reclamation
obligations, tax deferred real estate sales and purchases and as collateral for
construction loan commitments as restricted investments. Maturities
or release dates less than twelve months from the end of the reported accounting
period are reported as current assets while maturities or release dates in
excess of twelve months from report dates are reported as long term
assets.
Assets
and Liabilities Held for Sale
Long
lived assets and liabilities that will be sold within one year of the financial
statements are classified as current. In the event that assets and
liabilities are not sold within a twelve month period of the reporting date,
they are re-evaluated to insure that no impairment has taken place and
re-classified as long term assets and liabilities. At December 31,
2007 and 2006, the Company believed that certain of its assets and liabilities
would be sold within a twelve month period. The asset held for sale
at December 31, 2007 was a used aircraft with a net book value of
$1,112,600. At December 31, 2006, the Company’s uranium assets in
Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Arizona were reported as assets held for
sale. All capitalized asset balances associated with these uranium
assets, including cash bonds pledged as collateral for reclamation liabilities,
were therefore classified as Assets Held for Sale as of December 31,
2006. Likewise all asset retirement obligations as well as any other
liability associated with these uranium properties were classified as current
Liabilities Held for Sale at December 31, 2006. The following table
sets forth the long lived assets and liabilities which have been classified as
assets or liabilities held for sale:
-64-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Year
Ended December 31
|
||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||
ASSETS HELD FOR
SALE
|
||||||||||
Marketable
Securities held to maturity
|
$ | -- | $ | 6,883,300 | (2) | |||||
Mining
Claims
|
-- | 1,535,500 | ||||||||
Property
Plant and Equipment
|
1,760,600 | (1) | 918,200 | |||||||
Less
Accumulated Depreciation
|
(648,000 | ) | (1) | (225,700 | ) | |||||
Other
Assets
|
-- | 575,000 | (3) | |||||||
$ | 1,112,600 | $ | 9,686,300 | |||||||
LIABILITIES HELD FOR
SALE
|
||||||||||
Asset
Retirement Obligation - Current
|
$ | -- | $ | 178,400 | ||||||
Asset
Retirement Obligation - Long Term
|
-- | 6,348,800 | ||||||||
Other
Accrued Liabilities
|
-- | 848,600 | (4) | |||||||
$ | -- | $ | 7,375,800 | |||||||
(1)
Used corporate aircraft
|
||||||||||
(2)
Cash investments held by a third party trustee for the reclamation
of the Shootaring uranium mill.
|
||||||||||
(3)
Cash investments held by a third party trusted for the reclamation of
uranium
properties in Wyoming, Utah and Arizona.
|
||||||||||
(4)
Accrued holding costs associated with the Shootaring uranium mill at
time of transfer to the Company. This amount has been reduced over
time as the Company paid holding costs associated with the
mill.
|
Properties
and Equipment
Land,
buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment are carried at
cost. Depreciation of buildings, improvements, machinery and
equipment is provided principally by the straight-line method over estimated
useful lives ranging from 3 to 45 years. Following is a breakdown of
the lives over which assets are depreciated.
Machinery
and equipment
|
||
Office
Equipment
|
3
to 5 years
|
|
Planes
|
10
years
|
|
Field
Tools and Hand Equipment
|
5
to 7 years
|
|
Vehicles
and Trucks
|
3
to 7 years
|
|
Heavy
Equipment
|
7
to 10 years
|
|
Buildings
and improvements
|
||
Service
Buildings
|
20
years
|
|
Corporate
Headquarters' Building
|
45
years
|
-65-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Mineral
Properties
The
Company capitalizes all costs incidental to the acquisition of mineral
properties. Mineral exploration costs are expensed as
incurred. When exploration work indicates that a mineral property can
be economically developed as a result of establishing proved and probable
reserves, costs for the development of the mineral property as well as capital
purchases and capital construction are capitalized and amortized using units of
production over the estimated recoverable proved and probable reserves. Costs
and expenses related to general corporate overhead are expensed as incurred. All
capitalized costs are charged to operations if the Company subsequently
determines that the property is not economical due to permanent decreases in
market prices of commodities, excessive production costs or depletion of the
mineral resource.
Oil and
gas properties are accounted for using the full cost
method. Capitalized costs plus any future development costs are
amortized by the units-of-production method using proven reserves.
The
Company has historically acquired substantial mineral properties and associated
facilities at minimal cash cost, primarily through the assumption of standby
costs, reclamation and environmental liabilities. Certain of these
properties are owned by various ventures in which the Company is either a
partner or venturer (See Note E).
Real
Estate Held for Sale
The
Company classifies Real Estate Held for Sale as assets that are not in
production and management has made the decision to dispose of the
assets.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company sold the Ticaboo property, which
was classified as real estate held for sale at December 31, 2006, for $2.7
million. As a result of this sale, the Company recorded net income of
$472,300 and received net cash proceeds of $2,635,400 (See Note E).
Long-Lived
Assets
The
Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be
recoverable. If the sum of estimated future cash flows on an
undiscounted basis is less than the carrying amount of the related asset, an
asset impairment is considered to exist. Changes in significant
assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates may have a material effect on
the Company's financial position and results of operations. At
December 31, 2007, no impairment existed on the consolidated assets of the
Company.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
carrying amount of cash equivalents, receivables, other current assets, accounts
payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term
nature of those instruments. The recorded amounts for short-term and
long-term debt approximate fair market value due to the variable nature of the
interest rates on the short term debt, and the fact that interest rates remain
generally unchanged from issuance of the long term debt.
-66-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Asset
Retirement Obligations
The
Company accounts for its asset retirement obligations under SFAS No. 143,
"Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligation." The Company records the
fair value of the reclamation liability on its shut down mining properties as of
the date that the liability is incurred. The Company reviews the
liability each quarter and determines if a change in estimate is required as
well as accretes the liability on a quarterly basis for the future
liability. Final determinations are made during the fourth quarter of
each year. The Company deducts any actual funds expended for
reclamation during the quarter in which it occurs.
The
following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement
obligations:
For
the years ending December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Balance
January 1,
|
$ | 124,400 | $ | 5,902,200 | $ | 8,075,100 | ||||||
Addition
to Liability
|
-- | 88,100 | -- | |||||||||
Subsequent
recognition and
|
||||||||||||
measurement
|
-- | (105,200 | ) | (2,075,900 | ) | |||||||
Liability
settled
|
-- | -- | (463,700 | ) | ||||||||
Accretion
Expense
|
9,000 | 766,500 | 366,700 | |||||||||
Reclassification
to
|
||||||||||||
liabilities
held for sale
|
-- | (6,527,200 | ) | 366,700 | ||||||||
Balance
December 31,
|
$ | 133,400 | $ | 124,400 | $ | 6,268,900 | ||||||
Revenue
Recognition
Revenues
from real estate operations are reported on a gross revenue basis and are
recorded at the time the service is provided.
Management
fees are recorded when the service is provided. Management fees are
for operating and overseeing services performed on mineral properties in which
the Company participates with joint venture or industry partners.
Stock
Based Compensation
SFAS 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," ("SFAS 123") defines a fair value
based method of accounting for employee stock options or similar equity
instruments. SFAS 123 allowed the continued measurement of
compensation cost for such plans using the intrinsic value based method
prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees"
("APB 25"), provided that pro forma disclosures are made to net income or loss
and net income or loss per share, assuming the fair value based method of SFAS
123 had been applied. The Company elected to account for its
stock-based compensation plans under APB 25 through 2005.
Effective
January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified prospective method, which
requires the Company to measure the cost of employee services received in
exchange for all equity awards granted including stock options based on the fair
market value of the award as of the grant date. Accordingly, prior
period amounts have not been restated. Under the modified prospective
method, stock options awards that are granted, modified or settled after
December 31, 2005 are valued at fair value and recognized on a straight line
basis over the service period of the entire award.
-67-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
The
effect of implementing SFAS 123R was an increase in compensation cost recognized
in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 of $607,400 and $273,600,
respectively.
The
Company has computed the fair values of its options granted using the
Black-Scholes pricing model and the following weighted average
assumptions:
Year
Ended
|
|||
December
31,
|
|||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
4.82%
|
4.53%
|
4.38%
|
Expected
lives (years)
|
10.00
|
4.80
|
6.75
|
Expected
volatility
|
48.80%
|
71.02%
|
78.10%
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
To
estimate expected lives of options for this valuation, it was assumed options
will vest, no forfeiture of options will occur and the options will be exercised
at the end of their expected lives. Cumulative compensation cost
recognized in pro forma net income or loss with respect to options that are
forfeited prior to vesting is adjusted as a reduction of pro forma compensation
expense in the period of forfeiture.
If the
Company had accounted for its stock-based compensation plans in accordance with
SFAS 123(R) during the years ended December 31, 2005 the Company's net
gain/(loss) and pro forma net gain/(loss) per common share would have been
reported as follows:
Year
Ended
|
|||||
December
31,
|
|||||
2005
|
|||||
Net
gain to common
|
$ | 8,841,500 | |||
shareholders
as reported
|
|||||
Deduct:
Total stock based
|
|||||
employee
expense
|
|||||
determined
under fair
|
|||||
value
based method
|
|||||
U.S.
Energy employee options
|
(3,617,900 | ) | (1) | ||
Subsidary
employee options
|
(1,013,500 | ) | (2) | ||
Pro
forma net loss
|
$ | 4,210,100 | |||
As
reported, Basic
|
$ | 0.55 | |||
As
reported, Diluted
|
$ | 0.55 | |||
Pro
forma, Basic
|
$ | 0.26 | |||
Pro
forma, Diluted
|
$ | 0.25 |
(1)
|
Includes
the accelerated vesting of 804,000 employee options which were exercisable
at $2.46 per share and would have vested at the rate of 268,000 shares
each on July 1, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The options would not have
been forfeited had they not been
accelerated.
|
-68-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
(2)
|
On
September 2, 2004, the Board of Directors of Crested adopted (and the
shareholders approved) the 2004 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "2004
ISOP") for the benefit of Crested’s key employees. During the year ended
December 31, 2005, Crested issued 1,700,000 options under this plan to
employees of the Company. These options were valued for
purposes of this footnote using a 4.38% risk-free interest rate, expected
lives of 9.4 years and an expected volatility of 107%. Crested
was merged into the Company on November 26,
2007.
|
Weighted
average shares used to calculate pro forma net loss per share were determined by
applying the treasury stock method to outstanding options, net proceeds assumed
received upon exercise were increased by the amount of compensation cost
attributable to future service periods and not yet recognized as pro forma
expense.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109 ("SFAS 109"), "Accounting for Income
Taxes". This statement requires recognition of deferred income tax
assets and liabilities for the expected future income tax consequences, based on
enacted tax laws, of temporary differences between the financial reporting and
tax bases of assets, liabilities and carry forwards.
SFAS 109
requires recognition of deferred tax assets for the expected future effects of
all deductible temporary differences, loss carry forwards and tax credit carry
forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced, if deemed necessary, by a valuation
allowance for any tax benefits which, based on current circumstances, are not
expected to be realized. Management believes it is more likely than
not that such tax benefits will be realized and a valuation allowance has
not been provided.
Net
Income Per Share
The
Company reports net gain (loss) per share pursuant to Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128 ("SFAS 128"). SFAS 128 specifies the
computation, presentation and disclosure requirements for earnings per
share. Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding. Common shares held by
the ESOP are included in the computation of earnings per share. Total
shares held by the ESOP at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were 541,735,
525,881 and 455,125 respectively. Of the shares held by the ESOP
155,811 shares for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were held as
collateral for loans to the Company. All shares in the ESOP not held
for collateral on the loans to the Company were allocated to participant
accounts. 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. Using the treasury stock method there were potential
shares relating to forfeitable shares, options and warrants that are included in
the diluted earnings per share for 2007. Potential common shares
relating to options and warrants are excluded from the computation of diluted
loss per share, because they were anti dilutive. Dilutive options and
warrants totaled 1,719,982, 2,372,361 and 5,928,102 at December 31, 2007, 2006
and 2005, respectively.
-69-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the USA 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
FIN 48 On
January 1, 2007 the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” (“FIN 48”) an interpretation of FASB Statement No.
109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition
threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN
48 requires that the Company recognize in its financial statements, the impact
of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained
on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. FIN 48 also provides
guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in
interim periods and disclosure. The provisions of FIN 48 requires the
reporting of the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle
recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, goodwill,
deferred income taxes and income taxes payable in the Consolidated Balance
Sheets. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a significant impact on the
financial statements of the Company.
FAS 141R In
December 2007 FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141 (R)”), to replace
FAS 141, “Business Combinations”. FAS 141 (R)
requires use of the acquisition method of accounting, defines the acquirer,
establishes the acquisition date and broadens the scope to all transactions and
other events in which one entity obtains control over one or more other
businesses. This statement is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with earlier
adoption prohibited. While the Company does not expect that the
adoption of FAS 141 (R) to have a material impact to its consolidated financial
statements for transactions completed prior to December 31, 2008, the impact of
the accounting change could be material for business combinations which may be
consummated subsequent thereto.
FAS 157 In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB
Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“FAS 157”). FAS 157 defines fair
value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted
accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.
The provisions for FAS 157 are effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning
January 1, 2008. We
do not believe the adoption of this statement will have an impact on the
Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash
flows.
FAS 159 In February
2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets
and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”) which
permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain
other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair
value. SFAS 159 will be effective for the Company’s fiscal year
beginning January 1, 2008. We do not believe the
adoption of this statement will have an impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The
Company has reviewed other current outstanding statements from the FASB and does
not believe that any of those statements will have a material adverse affect on
the financial statements of the Company when adopted.
-70-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
FAS 160 In December
2007, the FASB issued Statement of FAS No. 160, “Non controlling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements”—an amendment of ARB No. 51 , (“FAS 160”). FAS 160
establishes accounting and reporting standards for the non controlling interest
in a subsidiary and for the retained interest and gain or loss when a subsidiary
is deconsolidated. This statement is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with
earlier adoption prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact of FAS 160 on its consolidated financial statements.
C. RELATED-PARTY
TRANSACTIONS:
Crested
Corp.
At a
special meeting of shareholders of Crested held on November 26, 2007, a majority
of the minority shareholders of Crested voted to approve the January 23, 2007
(as amended on July 31, 2007) Agreement and Plan of Merger for the merger of
Crested into the Company. Immediately following receipt of such
approval from the majority of the minority Crested shareholders, the Company
(and those of its affiliates that owned Crested stock) voted their Crested
shares in favor of the agreement.
The
merger was completed on November 27, 2007, and Crested was merged into the
Company pursuant to Colorado and Wyoming law. Crested has ceased to
exist and all outstanding shares of Crested have been converted into the right
to receive shares of the Company’s common stock. In accordance with
the agreement and the Company’s effective Form S-4 registration statement for
the transaction, the Company is issuing 2,876,188 shares of common stock, plus
55 shares of common stock for fractional share rounding, to all former
shareholders of Crested (except the Company), on an exchange ratio of 1 share of
the Company’s common stock for every 2 Crested shares. These shares
are deemed issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2007.
The
acquisition of the remaining minority interest in Crested was accounted for in
accordance with the purchase method. The value of the Company’s
shares issued for the Crested minority interest was $13,403,300. As a
result of the issuance of the Company’s common stock to purchase the Crested
minority interest shareholders, a non cash increase in mining claims of
$20,754,900 was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2007. This
amount represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value
of the tangible assets of Crested at the time of the
transaction. This increase represents the Crested minority
shareholder ownership of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property of $13,403,300 and
the recognition of a deferred tax liability associated with the merger of
$7,351,600 as the increase in the basis of this asset will not be deductible for
income tax purposes. (See Note H). The Company also
capitalized $249,600 in professional services as acquisition costs relating to
the Crested merger.
Had the
Company acquired the remaining minority interest of Crested Corp. on January 1,
2005, there would have been no change to the consolidated results of operations
for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006 because Crested Corp. had an
accumulated deficit of $11,479,400 and $15,348,300 at December 31, 2006 and 2005
respectively, and the Company therefore recorded 100% of Crested’s results of
operations for those years without an allocation to the minority
interest. Had the merger with Crested occurred on January 1, 2005,
net income for the year ended December 31, 2007 would have been $58,671,600 with
basic earnings per share of $2.54 and diluted earnings per share of
$2.37.
-71-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Fair
value of USE common stock issued, not including
|
||||
stock-based
compensation allocable to USE shares
|
||||
issued
for Crested shares underlying Crested options:
|
$ | 12,484,300 | ||
Fair
value of stock-based compensation (USE shares
|
||||
issued
for Crested shares underlying Crested options):
|
919,000 | |||
Capitalized
professional services
|
249,600 | |||
Deferred
tax liability associated with the merger of Crested
|
7,351,600 | |||
Consideration
for Crested merger added to
|
||||
undeveloped
mining claims
|
$ | 21,004,500 | ||
In
connection with the merger transaction, Navigant Capital Advisors, LLC acted as
financial advisor to the special committee of the Company board of directors,
and Neidiger Tucker Bruner Inc. acted as financial advisor to the special
committee of the Crested board of directors. These firms delivered
opinions to the Company and Crested, to the effect that the exchange ratio was
fair to the Company shareholders, and to the Crested minority shareholders,
respectively.
At
December 31, 2007, the Company had not finalized its purchase price allocation
for the acquisition of the Crested minority interest. The Company
believes that the book value of substantially all of Crested assets and
liabilities other than mineral rights estimated the fair value of those net
assets at the time of the purchase. The Company is evaluating all
other mineral related assets belonging to Crested at the time of the purchase as
well as other tangible assets held by Crested at that time. There may
be allocations to other assets in a future period as a result of the final
purchase price allocation.
Sutter Gold Mining Company,
Inc.
On March
14, 2007, Sutter reached a Settlement Agreement with the Company regarding: 1)
an accumulated debt obligation by Sutter of approximately $2,025,700 at December
31, 2006 for expenditures made by the Company on behalf of SGMI and 2) a
Contingent Stock Purchase Warrant between SGMI and the Company.
The
Company agreed to accept 7,621,867 shares of SGMI common stock (subject to
approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”)). The debt was
therefore paid at negotiated price of $.26 per share. The price for
SMGI stock on March 15, 2007 was $.20 per share. The Company also
agreed to settle the Contingent Stock Purchase Warrant agreement of
approximately $4.6 million, in exchange for a 5% net profits interest royalty
("NPIR"). Furthermore, SGMI agreed that the 5% royalty will continue
until the Company has recouped the $4.6 million. Once the $4.6
million is recouped the 5% NPIR shall be converted to a 1% NPIR
thereafter.
-72-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
On June
20, 2007, the Company established a Line of Credit and Loan Agreement to provide
up to $1.0 million of debt funding to SGMI at 12% interest. The
Company and SGMI entered into a settlement agreement on December 21, 2007 to
retire the line of credit as a result of SGMI delivering to the Company 225,000
shares of the Company’s common stock, which had been reflected as treasury stock
on the Company’s financial statements prior to the date of
settlement. The settlement value of the stock was the five day Volume
Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) from December 14, 2007 to December 20,
2007. Based on the VWAP price of $4.37 per share, the Company
credited SGMI $982,900 which included $12,000 in interest, $723,300 of
previously advanced funds under the Line of Credit and an additional cash
contribution by the Company of $247,600 at time of closing.
The
Company has notified the board of SGMI that it does not plan on funding any
additional costs and expenses relating to the SGMI operations. The
Company’s intent is to have SGMI bring in an industry partner to further develop
the property and over time allow the Company the opportunity to liquidate its
investment position in SGMI. No contract has been entered into to
sell the Company’s interest in SGMI and management can give no assurance of
being able to actually sell the Company’s interest. SGMI is therefore
evaluating whether to raise third party investor capital, seek a joint venture
or merger partner, and other possibilities.
Other
During
2007, the Company liquidated all of its subsidiary companies with the exception
of SGMI. Those subsidiaries dissolved, and the Company’s ownership
percentage at time of dissolution, were Plateau (100%), YSFI (49.1%) and FNG
(50.9%). Assets held by the subsidiary companies were liquidated and
distributed to the shareholders of those companies. The Company also
dissolved USECC Joint Venture which was owned jointly with Crested at the time
of the merger of Crested into the Company.
D. MARKETABLE
SECURITIES:
Investments
in marketable securities consists of the following at December
31.
|
||||||||||||
Trading
securities
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
Market
Value
|
|||||||||||
Enterra
units
|
$ | 123,400 | ||||||||||
Available-for-sale
|
||||||||||||
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
Cost
|
Market
Value
|
(Loss)/Gain
|
|||||||||
Kobex
shares
|
$ | 703,600 | $ | 235,500 | $ | (468,100 | ) | |||||
Premier
shares
|
$ | 197,600 | $ | 244,700 | $ | 48,100 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 901,200 | $ | 480,200 | $ | (420,000 | ) | |||||
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
Cost
|
Market
Value
|
Gain
|
|||||||||
UPC
shares
|
$ | 677,700 | $ | 1,148,500 | $ | 470,800 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 677,700 | $ | 1,148,500 | $ | 470,800 | ||||||
-73-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
The
Company received $92,250,700 from the sale of Uranium One, UPC and Enterra
marketable securities during 2007.
The
Company received $8,855,300 during 2006 from the sale of Enterra units, UPC
shares and Dynasty shares resulting in a realized loss of
$867,300. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company
received $5,916,000 and recognized a gain of $1,038,500 from the sale of Enterra
units.
E. MINERAL
PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS:
Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Properties
On
February 28, 2006, the Company re-acquired the Lucky Jack molybdenum property,
(formerly the Mount Emmons molybdenum property), located near Crested Butte,
Colorado. The property was returned to the Company by Phelps Dodge
Corporation (“PD”) in accordance with a 1987 Amended Royalty Deed and Agreement
between the Company and Amax Inc. (“Amax”). The Lucky Jack property
includes 25 patented mining claims and approximately 520 unpatented mining and
or mill site claims, which together approximate 5,400 acres.
On
October 6, 2006, the Company and Kobex Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”) (a British
Columbia company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “KBX”)
signed an agreement providing Kobex an option to acquire up to a 65% interest in
certain patented and unpatented claims held by the Company at the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property. The agreement was amended on December 7, 2006,
with an effective date of December 5, 2006.
The total
cost to Kobex over an estimated period of five years to exercise the full option
will be $50 million in option payments and property expenditures including the
costs to prepare a bankable feasibility study plus a cash differential payment
if this total is less than $50
million.
Expenditures and Option
payments
Date by When Expenditures
and Options Must be Paid(1)
|
Expenditures
Amount(2)
- $
|
Option
Payment
Amount
(3)
- $
|
Total
Expenditure and Option Payment
Amount
- $
|
Cumulative
Total for Expenditures Amounts and Option Payments - $
|
||||
Later
of April 13, 2007 or TSX-V Approval(4)
|
-0-
|
750,000
|
750,000
|
750,000
|
||||
March
31, 2008
|
3,500,000(5)
|
1,200,000(5)
|
4,200,000
|
4,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2008
|
5,000,000
|
500,000
|
5,500,000
|
10,450,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2009
|
5,000,000
|
500,000
|
5,500,000
|
15,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2010
|
2,500,000
|
500,000
|
3,000,000
|
18,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2011
|
-0-
|
500,000
|
500,000
|
19,450,000
|
||||
Totals
|
16,000,000
|
3,950,000
|
19,450,000
|
19,450,000
|
(1)
|
Any
shortfall in expenditures may be paid direct, in cash. Except
for the initial payment of $3,500,000 in expenditures by March 31, 2008
(which is a firm commitment of Kobex). At December 31, 2007,
Kobex had expended $7.7 million on the project. If any
expenditures amount is not fulfilled and/or option payment is not made by
90 days after the due date, the agreement will be deemed to have been
terminated by Kobex. However, if Kobex fails to incur an
expenditures amount and/or does not make an option payment after the date
when Kobex has earned a 15% interest, the Company will replace Kobex as
manager of the property.
|
-74-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
(2)
|
Expenditures
include (but are not limited to) holding and permitting costs for the
Property; geological, geophysical, metallurgical, and related work;
salaries and wages; and water treatment plant capital and operating
costs. As of December 31, 2007, Kobex had expended $7.7 million
for its payments to the Company and work performed on the
property.
|
(3)
|
At
Kobex’s election, option payments may be made in cash or Kobex common
stock at market price on issue date. Kobex may accelerate these
payments in advance of the scheduled
dates.
|
(4)
|
The
agreement was approved by the TSX-V on May 23, 2007, and Kobex made the
first option payment (US$750,000) by issuing 285,632 shares of Kobex
common stock to the Company, valued at the stock market price on May 22,
2007. Subsequently in 2007, this number of shares has
been reduced to 269,932 shares for the Company paying its share of a
broker’s fee (see below).
|
(5)
|
For
this period, Kobex may reduce the option payment by $700,000 by increasing
expenditures by that amount, or apportioning the $700,000 between the
option payment and expenditures.
|
Bankable Feasibility
Study
Kobex is
required to deliver a bankable feasibility study (the “BFS”) for the Lucky Jack
property (including confirmation of advance permitting or issuance of a mining
permit). If option payments and expenditures, plus the costs to
prepare the BFS, total $50 million before the BFS is completed and delivered to
the Company, Kobex and the Company jointly (50% each) shall fund completion of
the BFS.
If option
payments and expenditures are less than $50 million, then, in order to fully
exercise the option to acquire an aggregate 50% interest in the Lucky Jack
property, Kobex shall pay the Company the difference between $50 million, and
the option payments plus expenditures plus the costs to prepare and complete the
BFS. This amount is the “study cash difference.” If the
BFS is not completed by December 31, 2016, Kobex’s interest will revert to 15%
and the Company will assume operatorship of the Lucky Jack
property.
Exercise of the
Option
The
option is exercisable in two stages. The “option period” is the time
between April 3, 2007, and that date when Kobex has earned the additional 35%
interest.
First
Stage: When Kobex has incurred an initial $15 million in
expenditures, Kobex shall have earned a 15% interest in the Lucky Jack
property.
Second
Stage: If Kobex completes the remaining option payments and
expenditures and delivers the BFS (and pays the study cash difference, if
applicable), Kobex shall have earned an additional 35% interest (for a total of
50%). This date will be the “50% option exercise date.”
-75-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Exercise of
Option. On the 50% option exercise date, Kobex may either (i)
elect to form a joint venture with the Company (50% interest each); or (ii) four
months after such date, offer the Company an election to form the joint venture
and have Kobex arrange all future financing for all operations on the Lucky Jack
property, for an additional 15% interest to Kobex (for a total 65% interest in
the joint venture); or (iii) offer the Company an election to have Kobex acquire
all the outstanding securities of an entity formed by the Company to hold its
joint venture interest, for Kobex stock, with the purchase price determined by
negotiation or an independent valuator. If option (iii) is elected by the
Company, the total number of Kobex shares issued to the Company shall not be
greater than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of Kobex at the time the
election is completed.
Throughout
the option period, Kobex shall be the manager of all programs on the property,
and its activities shall be subject to the direction and control of a management
committee. The management committee shall have four members (two each
from the Company and Kobex); in the event of a tie, the Kobex members shall have
the casting vote. A technical committee, also with two members from
each party, shall provide technical assistance to the management
committee.
The Joint
Venture
After the
50% option exercise date, a joint venture (the “Lucky Jack Joint Venture”) shall
be deemed formed between the Company and Kobex, to hold and explore the Lucky
Jack property; if feasible, develop a mine on the property; and for so long as
feasible, operate the mine and produce minerals from the
property. The Company and Kobex each shall have a 50% interest in the
joint venture and shall be obligated to contribute funds to adopted programs and
budgets in proportion to their interests.
When the
joint venture is formed, Kobex will be the manager, subject to the direction and
control of a management committee (which may be the same as the management
committee during the option period).
Broker’s
Fee
Kobex has
agreed to pay a Cdn$463,700 broker’s fee in connection with the agreement, of
which the Company is responsible for 50% (Cdn$231,900). The initial
payment by Kobex in 2007 was Cdn$348,700; the Company’s portion was Cdn$174,400,
of which it reimbursed (in 2007) 50% to Kobex by returning to Kobex 17,700 of
the Kobex shares paid on the first option installment. The remainder
of the initial payment will be reimbursed to Kobex by the Company in March 2008,
in cash if Kobex pays the option installment then due in cash, or as a reduction
in the number of Kobex’s shares if Kobex pays the option in
stock. The balance of the total fee (Cdn$115,000) is to be paid by
annual installments of Cdn$28,800 on December 31, 2008 through 2011 (assuming
the Kobex agreement still is in effect at each date). The Company’s
portion will be Cdn$14,400 annually.
Continuing Royalty held by
the Company
The
Company will continue to retain a 6% gross overriding royalty on production from
the Lucky Jack property, under the Amended and Restated Royalty Deeds and
Agreement dated May 29, 1987 between USE, Crested, and Mt. Emmons Mining
Company. The Company’s 6% royalty will be reduced to 5.1% when Kobex
earns a 15% interest in the property, and will be reduced again to 3% when Kobex
earns a 50% interest in the property. Kobex also has an option to
eliminate an additional 1% of the 3% royalty for $10 million.
-76-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Oil
and Gas Exploration – Gulf Coast Region
The
Company entered into an Exploration and Area of Mutual Interest Agreement (the
“E&AMI Agreement”) with an independent oil and gas exploration and
production company (the “E&P Company”), which relates to three prospect
areas in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. In connection
with that agreement, the parties have also signed an Operating Agreement,
whereby the E&P Company will be the operator. The E&AMI Agreement
provides the Company with the right, through September 13, 2011, to acquire a
20% working interest in each lease acquired by the E&P Company, within any
of the three prospect areas.
At
December 31, 2007, the Company has paid approximately $2.9 million for our 20%
interest of lease acquisition costs within each of the first two areas, and for
our share of seismic data reprocessing and reinterpretation
costs. This investment has been capitalized as undeveloped oil and
gas properties in the accompanying balance sheet at December 31,
2007. Presently, the anticipated drilling and completion costs for
three wells are projected by the E&P Company to be $4.5 million ($1.5
million each); with drilling expected to commence in May of 2008. The
actual number of wells to be drilled will depend upon ongoing drilling and
completion results. In 2008, Management projects to spend in excess
of $750,000 for the Company’s share of additional seismic work on the
areas.
If the
E&P Company is presented with opportunities to participate in other
companies’ acreage positions within any of the three areas identified in the
E&AMI Agreement, the Company will have the opportunity to participate on a
20% working interest basis (proportionately reduced for the interest acquired by
the E&P Company).
The
Company has also entered into a Management Engagement agreement (for a term of
three years) with a management company affiliated with Wildes Exploration
(“Wildes”). Wildes will be paid $50,000 annually for consulting and
management services for each of the three areas under the E&AMI Agreement
(not to exceed $100,000 in any calendar year), starting in each area with the
date when seismic data for an area has been reprocessed by a third party and
reinterpretation by the E&P Company for lease acquisition purposes has
commenced.
Pursuant
to the Management Engagement agreement, the Company will also assign to Wildes a
Working Interest (“WI”) of 15% of the Company’s 20% WI (or a 3% net WI) after
the Company has recovered 100% of all of its costs plus a 6% interest compounded
annually for each producing well drilled and completed within such
AMI. This WI will increase to 20% of the Company’s 20% WI (or a 4%
net WI) after the Company has recovered 200% of its costs from each producing
well within such AMI. This assignment will cover all wells drilled
and completed in the particular area under the E&AMI
Agreement. From the assignment date forward, Wildes will be
responsible for its proportionate share of all of the WI costs associated with
the wells in accordance with the Operating Agreement.
Sutter
Gold Mining Inc.
Sutter
Gold Mining Company (“SGMC”) was established in 1991 to conduct operations on
mining leases and to produce gold from the Lincoln Project in
California.
SGMC has
not generated any significant revenue. Impairment was taken in prior
years against all the prior exploration and development costs due to depressed
market prices for gold. During fiscal 2000, a visitor’s center was
developed and became operational. SGMC has leased the visitor’s
center to partially cover stand-by costs of the property.
-77-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
On
December 29, 2004, a majority of SGMC was acquired by SGMI ("SGMI") (formerly
Globemin Resources, Inc.) of Vancouver, B.C. SGMI is traded on the TSX Venture
Exchange. Approximately 90% of SGMC's common stock was exchanged for 40,190,647
shares of SGMI common stock. At December 31, 2007, the Company owned
and controlled 54.4% of the common stock of SGMI.
The
Company has notified the board of SGMI that it does not plan on funding any
additional costs and expenses relating to the SGMI operations and that it
intends to sell its interest in SGMI. No contract has been entered
into to sell the Company’s interest in SGMI and management can give no
assurance of being able to actually sell the Company’s interest. SGMI
is therefore evaluating whether to raise third party investor capital, seek a
joint venture or merger partner, and other possibilities.
Sale
of Mineral Interests
Uranium
Power Corp. (“UPC”) – Uranium
On
December 8, 2004, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with
Uranium Power Corp. (“UPC”), a British Columbia corporation (TSX-V “UCP-V”) for
the sale to UPC of an undivided 50% interest in the Sheep Mountain properties
located in Wyoming. Under the terms of the agreement, certain cash
and stock payments were made to the Company through the first quarter of
2007. On April 20, 2007 all of the Company’s rights under the UPC
agreement were sold to Uranium One (See sale of Uranium properties to Uranium
One below).
Uranium One Asset Purchase
Agreement (“Uranium
One”) - Uranium
On April
30, 2007, the Company and certain of its private subsidiary companies, completed
the sale of uranium assets by closing the February 22, 2007 Asset Purchase
Agreement (the “APA”) with sxr Uranium One Inc. (“Uranium One,” headquartered in
Toronto, Canada with offices in South Africa and Australia (Toronto Stock
Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, “UUU”)), and certain of its private
subsidiary companies.
At
closing, the Company sold its uranium assets (the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill
in Utah, unpatented uranium claims in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and Utah and
geological data information related to the claims), and the Company’s
contractual rights with UPC, to subsidiaries of Uranium One, for consideration
(purchase price) comprised of:
Consideration received at
closing:
Cash and Uranium One
stock:
· $750,000
cash (paid in advance on July 13, 2006) and recorded as a refundable
deposit.
·
|
6,607,605
Uranium One common shares. On April 30, 2007, the Uranium One
common shares closed at CAD$16.65 per share on the TSX (approximately
USD$15.04). The Company sold the Uranium One shares during 2007
for $90,724,000.
|
·
|
$6,606,000
cash, comprised of (i) $5,020,900 as a “UPC-Related Payment” to pay the
Company for transferring to Uranium One their contractual rights with UPC;
and (ii) $1,585,100 in reimbursements for the Company’s property
expenditures from July 10, 2006.
|
-78-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
(i) UPC-Related
Payment:
· $3,013,600
as the net present value of $3,100,000 in future cash payments owed by UPC to
the Company under the purchase and sale agreement for UPC to buy a 50% interest
in certain of the Company mining properties (as well as the mining venture
agreement between the Company and UPC, to acquire and develop additional
properties, and other agreements). At February 22, 2007, the future
payments amount was $4,100,000, however, prior to the closing of the Uranium One
contract, UPC paid the Company $1,000,000 of that amount.
and
· $2,007,300
as the net present value of the 1,500,000 shares of UPC stock to have been
issued in the future by UPC to the Company under the purchase and sale
agreement. The UPC stock was priced at a 5.25% annual discount rate
applied to the volume weighted average closing price of UPC stock for the ten
trading days ended April 25, 2007.
(ii)
|
Reimbursements:
|
·
|
$1,585,100
for property acquisition and exploration costs, and Shootaring Mill
holding expenses.
|
Net cash
paid to the Company by Uranium One at closing was $6,602,700 after deduction of
$3,300 for prorated property taxes paid by the Company. Of the cash paid as
reimbursable costs, $88,000 was escrowed for resolution of work related to some
of the mining claims. After closing the Company also received an
additional $7,420,000 from the release of cash reclamation bonds which were
assumed by Uranium One at closing.
The net
gain on the sale of the uranium assets to Uranium One is as
follows:
Revenues from sale of
assets to sxr Uranium One
|
||||
Release
of refundable deposit
|
$ | 750,000 | ||
Relief
from Asset Retirement Obligations
|
6,527,200 | |||
Relief
from accrued holding costs on uranium mill
|
848,600 | |||
sxr
Uranium One purchase of UPC position
|
5,020,900 | |||
Reimbursable
Costs
|
1,585,100 | |||
Receipt
of sxr Uranium One common stock
|
99,400,600 | |||
114,132,400 | ||||
Cost of sale of assets
to sxr Uranium One
|
||||
Mining
Claims
|
1,535,500 | |||
Property
Plant and Equipment - net
|
692,500 | |||
Pro-ration
of property taxes
|
3,300 | |||
Accrued
costs from January 1, 2007 to April 30, 2007
|
172,900 | |||
2,404,200 | ||||
Net
gain before income taxes
|
$ | 111,728,200 | ||
-79-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Assumption of assumed
liabilities:
·
|
Uranium
One has assumed certain specific liabilities associated with the sold
assets, including (but not limited to) those future reclamation
liabilities associated with the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Utah, and the
Sheep Mountain properties. The Company’s cash bonds were
released and the cash will be returned by the regulatory
authorities.
|
Payments which may be
received in the future:
·
|
$20,000,000
cash when commercial production occurs at the Shootaring Canyon Mill (when
the Shootaring Canyon Mill has been operating at 60% or more of its design
capacity of 750 short tons per day for 60 consecutive
days).
|
·
|
$7,500,000
cash on the first delivery (after commercial production has occurred) of
mineralized material from any of the claims sold to Uranium One on April
30, 2007 (excluding existing ore stockpiles on the
properties).
|
·
|
From
and after the initiation of commercial production at the Shootaring Canyon
Mill, a production payment royalty (up to but not more than $12,500,000)
equal to five percent of (i) the gross value of uranium and vanadium
products produced at and sold from the mill; or (ii) mill fees received by
Uranium One from third parties for custom milling or tolling arrangements,
as applicable. If production is sold to a Uranium One
affiliate, partner, or joint venturer, gross value shall be determined by
reference to mining industry publications or
data.
|
The
Company holds a 4% net profits interest on Rio Tinto’s Jackpot uranium property
located on Green Mountain in Wyoming. This interest was not included
in the sale of uranium assets to Uranium One.
The
Company and Uranium One have entered into an agreement by which, for two years,
Uranium One has the first opportunity to earn into or fund uranium property
interests which may in the future be owned or acquired by the Company within the
five mile area surrounding each of the properties sold to Uranium One on April
30, 2007.
On
October 29, 2007, Uranium One purchased the Ticaboo commercial property
associated with uranium assets sold to Uranium One in a transaction separate
from the April 2007 sale of uranium assets, for $2,700,000. The
property included a motel, restaurant/lounge, convenience store and a boat
storage/service facility, a 149-unit mobile home park, a single-family
residential subdivision with 98 lots and an RV park. Cash proceeds
from the sale of the Ticaboo property were $2,635,400. At December
31, 2007, the Company held $1,794,600 in a third party administered restricted
investment account for a potential deferred tax real estate transaction (See
Note N, Subsequent Event). The Company recorded a gain on the sale of
assets from the sale of the Ticaboo property of $472,300.
Rocky
Mountain Gas, Inc.
In 1999,
the Company and Crested organized Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. (“RMG”) to enter into
the coalbed methane gas/natural gas business. On June 1, 2005, Enterra US
Acquisitions Inc. (a privately-held Washington corporation organized by Enterra
Energy Trust (“Enterra”) acquired all the outstanding stock of
RMG. The Company and its subsidiaries received shares of Enterra for
the sale of RMG. All shares received have been sold as of December
31, 2007.
-80-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
For
further discussion of the sale of RMG please see Note L, Discontinued
Operations.
Pinnacle
On June
23, 2003, RMG, Carrizo Oil and Gas, Inc. and seven affiliates of Credit Suisse
First Boston Private Equity formed Pinnacle Gas, Inc.
(“Pinnacle”). In exchange for the contribution of coal bed methane
properties, RMG received 37.5% of the common stock of Pinnacle common stock as
of the closing date and options to purchase Pinnacle common
stock. In September 2006, the Company sold its Pinnacle shares
in a private transaction for $13.8 million cash, and recorded a gain on the
transaction of $10.8 million.
F. ENERGY SECTOR
HOUSING
Remington Village –
Gillette, Wyoming. The Company is developing a nine building
Class A multifamily apartment complex, with 216 units on 10.15 acres (purchased
in 2007) located in Gillette, Wyoming. At March 12, 2008, overall
project construction is about 60% complete, with 2 buildings finished and
occupied by tenants. Remaining buildings should be ready for
occupancy by the end of 2008. The apartments are a mix of one, two,
and three bedroom units, and a clubhouse and family amenities are still under
construction. All construction is being conducted by a third party
contractor.
A
commercial bank is providing construction financing of up to $18.5
million. Total cost to buy the land, pay a developer’s fee, obtain
permits and entitlements, site work and construction, is estimated at $26
million. Pursuant to the 2007 loan agreement the Company has invested
$7.0 million cash equity into the project (including $1,247,700 for land
purchase). At December 31, 2007, the outstanding balance on the
construction loan was $5.5 million. The interest rate on the loan
balance at December 31, 2007 was 6.8812% based on LIBOR, and interest is payable
monthly. Loan maturity is March 1, 2009 (extendable to September 1,
2009 at our election). Obtaining permanent financing is expected to
be subject to the project meeting the lender’s customary appraised value
requirements.
Riverton,
Wyoming On December 28, 2007, we purchased 13.84 acres of
undeveloped land at the corner of North 8th and
Sunset, Riverton, Wyoming, for $500,400 cash. We may develop this
property for multifamily housing, or other purposes.
-81-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
G. DEBT
As of
December 31, 2007 and 2006 the Company had current and long term liabilities
associated with the following funding commitments:
Other
current liabilities:
|
||||||||
December
31,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Retainage
on construction in progress
|
$ | 517,300 | $ | -- | ||||
Employee
health insurance self funding
|
48,200 | 60,000 | ||||||
Deferred
rent
|
29,500 | 28,200 | ||||||
Security
deposits
|
2,800 | -- | ||||||
Accrued
expenses
|
2,700 | 21,800 | ||||||
Mineral
property lease
|
67,000 | 67,000 | ||||||
$ | 667,500 | $ | 177,000 | |||||
Other
long term liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accrued
retirement costs
|
$ | 774,100 | $ | 462,700 | ||||
Accrued
expenses
|
184,500 | -- | ||||||
$ | 958,600 | $ | 462,700 | |||||
Long-term Debt
|
||||||||
The
components of long-term debt as of December 31, 2007, and 2006 are as
follows:
|
||||||||
December
31,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Installment
notes - collateralized
|
||||||||
by
equipment; interest at 5.25%
|
||||||||
to
9.00%, maturing in 2008-2011
|
$ | 262,400 | $ | 1,232,100 | ||||
Real
estate construction note - collateralized
|
||||||||
by
property, interest at 6.88%
|
5,489,000 | -- | ||||||
5,751,400 | 1,232,100 | |||||||
Less
current portion
|
(5,560,900 | ) | (937,200 | ) | ||||
$ | 190,500 | $ | 294,900 | |||||
Principal
requirements on long-term debt are $5,560,900, $75,000, $78,000, $37,500
and
$-0- for the years ended December 31, 2008 through 2012,
respectively.
|
The
Company has a $5,000,000 line of credit from a commercial bank. The
line of credit has a variable interest rate (7.75% as of December 31,
2007). As of December 31, 2007, none of the line of credit had been
drawn down. The line of credit is collateralized by certain real
property and a corporate aircraft.
-82-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
H. INCOME
TAXES:
The
income tax provision differs from the amounts computed by applying the statutory
federal income tax rate to income from continuing operations before taxes. The
reasons for these differences are as follows:
Year
|
Year
|
|||||||
Ended
|
Ended
|
|||||||
December
31, 2007
|
December
31, 2006
|
|||||||
Consolidated
book income before income tax
|
$ | 88,730,000 | $ | (14,279,400 | ) | |||
Equity
income from non consolidated tax subsidiary
|
$ | 3,551,400 | $ | (88,600 | ) | |||
Add
back losses from non consolidated tax subsidiaries
|
$ | 2,009,700 | $ | 1,962,900 | ||||
Prior
year true-up and rate change
|
$ | (265,100 | ) | $ | (3,470,000 | ) | ||
Increase
(decrease) in valuation allowances
|
$ | (17,201,700 | ) | |||||
Crested's
prior year NOL and AMT credit
|
$ | (12,353,300 | ) | |||||
Permanent
differences
|
$ | (2,549,300 | ) | $ | 1,625,600 | |||
Taxable
income before temporary differences
|
$ | 91,476,700 | $ | (43,804,500 | ) | |||
Expected
federal income tax expense (benefit)35%
|
$ | 32,016,800 | $ | (15,331,600 | ) | |||
Federal
deferred income tax expense (benefit)
|
$ | 14,777,600 | $ | (15,096,600 | ) | |||
Federal
current expense (benefit)
|
17,239,200 | $ | (235,000 | ) | ||||
Total
federal income tax expense (benefit)
|
$ | 32,016,800 | $ | (15,331,600 | ) | |||
Current
state income tax expense net of
|
||||||||
federal
tax benefit
|
350,000 | -- | ||||||
Total
provision (benefit)
|
$ | 32,366,800 | $ | (15,331,600 | ) | |||
Current
income taxes receivable at December 31, 2007 is comprised of $902,900 of federal
income taxes. The amount of current income taxes receivable has been increased
by $1,242,100 benefit from the exercise of pre-123R nonqualified stock options
and warrants which result in an increase to paid in capital. There
were no current taxes payable at December 31, 2006.
The
components of deferred taxes as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 are
as follows:
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
||||||||
Deferred
compensation
|
$ | 436,300 | $ | 589,000 | ||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
38,500 | 879,100 | ||||||
Tax
basis in excess of book
|
200,400 | -- | ||||||
Net
operating loss carry forwards
|
-- | 14,525,100 | ||||||
Tax
credits (AMT credit carryover)
|
-- | 44,200 | ||||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
59,700 | 2,900 | ||||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
734,900 | 16,040,300 | ||||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
||||||||
Book
basis in excess of tax basis
|
(7,604,000 | ) | (179,900 | ) | ||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
-- | (926,400 | ) | |||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
-- | (2,200 | ) | |||||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
(7,604,000 | ) | (1,108,500 | ) | ||||
Net
deferred tax assets/(liabilities)
|
(6,869,100 | ) | 14,931,800 | |||||
Valuation
allowance
|
-- | -- | ||||||
Net
deferred tax assets/(liabilities)
|
$ | (6,869,100 | ) | $ | 14,931,800 | |||
-83-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
A
valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is required when it is more likely
than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be
realized. No valuation allowance is provided at December 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006 as the Company believes that it is more likely than not that
the deferred tax assets will be utilized in future years.
The
tax basis over book in the schedule above relates primarily to the difference in
the book and tax bases of marketable securities available for
sale. The book basis in excess of tax basis in the schedule above
relates primarily to the $7,351,600 difference created form the excess of the
purchase price over the carrying value of the assets of Crested acquire in the
purchase of the remaining minority interest of Crested (Note C). The
decrease in net deferred tax assets was largely the result of the utilization of
net operating losses and the relief of accrued reclamation liabilities resulting
from the Uranium One sale. The Company’s practice is to recognize
interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax
expense. The Company had no accrued interest or penalties at December
31, 2007 or December 31, 2006.
On
January 1, 2007 the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). Pursuant to FIN 48, the
Company identified and evaluated any potential uncertain tax
positions. The Company has concluded that there are no uncertain tax
positions requiring recognition in the financial statements.
The
Internal Revenue Service has audited the Company’s and subsidiaries tax returns
through the year ended May 31, 2000. The Company’s income tax
liabilities are settled through fiscal 2000.
I. SEGMENTS
AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS:
The
Company was only involved in one business segment, commercial activities which
include operations managed by third parties and the sale of real estate lots at
the Company’s Ticaboo property in southern Utah, during the years ended December
31, 2007 and 2006.
J. SHAREHOLDERS’
EQUITY:
During
2007, the Company issued 4,497,051 shares of common stock and released 292,740
previously forfeitable shares of its common stock. Issued
shares consist of 84,995 shares issued for the 2007 ESOP funding requirement,
3,812 shares issued to independent directors, 62,500 shares issued to officers
of the Company pursuant to the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan, 1,109,894 net
shares issued as a result of the exercise of employee options, 359,598 shares
issued from warrants that were exercised and 2,876,252 shares to the minority
shareholders of Crested (See discussion on Crested merger above in Note
C).
During
2007, the Company also cancelled a total of 856,889 shares of its common stock
which was held in treasury. For a discussion of Treasury shares that
were cancelled and Forfeitable shares that were released or cancelled please
refer to the discussion below. In addition to treasury shares and
forfeitable shares that were cancelled, the Company cancelled shares of its
common stock that were held by two limited partnerships. The
partnerships had been organized in 1977 and 1978 for the exploration of
minerals. All limited partners were bought out of their ownership in
the partnerships and the only remaining assets were the shares of the
Company.
-84-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Dividend
On June
22, 2007, the Company declared a one time dividend to shareholders of record on
July 6, 2007 of $0.10 per share or $2,108,300. The Company may
declare dividends in the future but we expect to retain the majority of earnings
and cash to fund investments and business development.
Stock
Buyback Plan
On June
22, 2007, the Company announced a stock buyback plan to purchase up to $5.0
million of its common stock. As of December 31, 2007, the Company had
purchased 228,000 shares at an average price per share of $4.59 or
$1,047,300.
Treasury
Shares
As of
December 31, 2006, the Company reported 497,845 shares of Treasury
stock. These shares were obtained as a result of historical stock
buyback plans, shares owned by consolidated subsidiaries and cancellation of
debt. During 2007, the Company acquired an additional 228,000 shares
of common stock through a stock buyback plan which was initiated by the board of
directors of the Company on June 22, 2007. An additional 80,000
treasury shares were received by the then consolidated subsidiaries of the
Company as a result of the merger of Crested.
As a
result of the liquidation of subsidiaries referenced in Note C, the company
cancelled all shares held by these subsidiaries as well as the treasury shares
it held. The following table presents the treasury shares cancelled
during 2007:
Balance
at
12/31/06
|
Shares
Acquired
During
2007
|
Balance
at
12/31/07
|
||||||||||
Plateau
Resources Limited
|
125,556 | 30,000 | (1) | 155,556 | (2) | |||||||
Sutter
Gold Mining Company, Inc.
|
175,000 | 50,000 | (1) | 225,000 | (3) | |||||||
Yellow
Stone Fuels, Inc.
|
21,868 | -- | 21,868 | (2) | ||||||||
Owned
by U.S. Energy
|
175,421 | -- | 175,421 | |||||||||
2007
Stock Buy Back Plan
|
-- | 228,000 | 228,000 | (4) | ||||||||
497,845 | 308,000 | 805,845 | ||||||||||
Cancellation
of Treasury Shares
|
(805,845 | ) | ||||||||||
-- | ||||||||||||
(1)
Shares received in exchange of Crested shares at time of merger into the
Company.
|
||||||||||||
(2)
Shares distributed to the Company upon dissolution of subsidiary
company.
|
||||||||||||
(3)
Shares delivered to the Company in satisfaction of $1.0 million line of
credit.
|
||||||||||||
(4)
Shares purchased pursuant to a stock purchase plan authorizing the
purchase of up to $5.0 million of the Company's common stock. At
December 31, 2007 $3.9 million was available under the stock buy back
plan.
|
-85-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Forfeitable
Shares
Certain
of the shares previously issued to officers, directors, employees and third
parties were forfeitable if certain conditions were not met. These shares have
historically been reflected outside of the Shareholders' Equity section in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2006. On
June 22, 2007, the shareholders of the Company voted to release 181,060 of these
previously forfeitable shares and an additional 112,680 forfeitable shares that
had fully vested were released in January 2007. Additionally, the
shareholders approved the payment of $806,700 in personal income taxes
attributable to the forfeitable shares released to officers as they are under
agreement not to sell, pledge or in any other way convert the shares during the
term of their employment. The Company also cancelled 4,800 of previously
forfeitable shares which were not earned by a former employee.
The
Company recorded $205,800 of compensation expense for the year ended December
31, 2007 compared to $126,100 and $171,100 for the years ended December 31, 2006
and 2005 respectively.
Sale
of Sutter Gold Shares
During
2007, SGMI issued 7,621,867 shares of its common stock to the Company in payment
of $2,025,700 of debt (See Note C). Additionally, SGMI issued 111,111
shares valued at $33,700, for the purchase of mining properties and issued
15,000 shares as a result of the exercise of employee options.
Stock
Option Plans
The Board
of Directors adopted the U.S. Energy Corp. 1989 Stock Option Plan for the
benefit of the Company’s employees. The Option Plan, as amended and
renamed the 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan (“1998 ISOP”), reserved 3,250,000
shares of the Company’s $.01 par value common stock for issuance under the 1998
ISOP. Options which expired without exercise were available for
reissue until the 1998 ISOP was replaced by the 2001 ISOP. Options
granted under the 1998 ISOP remain exercisable until their expiration date under
the terms of that Plan.
-86-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
During
the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 the following activity occurred
under the 1998 ISOP:
Year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Grants
|
||||||||||||
Qualified
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
Non-Qualified
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
-- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
Price of
Grants
|
||||||||||||
High
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
Low
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
Exercised
|
||||||||||||
Qualified
|
141,687 | 83,529 | 142,907 | |||||||||
Non-Qualified
|
481,566 | 20,109 | 55,234 | |||||||||
623,253 | 103,638 | 198,141 | ||||||||||
Total
Cash Received
|
$ | 546,400 | (1) | $ | - | (2) | $ | 132,600 | (3) | |||
Forfeitures/Cancellations
|
||||||||||||
Qualified
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
Non-Qualified
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
-- | -- | -- | ||||||||||
(1)
In
addition to the cash exercise of options, shares valued at $890,400 were
exchanged for the exercise of 402,780 of the total shares
exercised.
|
||||||||||||
(2)
All
options were exercised by the exchange of 46,863 shares valued at
$254,600.
|
||||||||||||
(3)
In
addition to the cash exercise of options, shares valued at $389,600 were
exchanged for the exercise of 142,907 of the total shares
exercised.
|
In
December 2001, the Board of Directors adopted (and the shareholders approved)
the U.S. Energy Corp. 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "2001 ISOP") for the
benefit of the Company's employees. The 2001 ISOP (amended by
approval of the shareholders in 2004 and 2007) reserves for issuance 25% of the
Company’s shares of common stock issued and outstanding at any
time. The 2001 ISOP has a term of 10 years.
-87-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
During
the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 the following activity occurred
under the 2001 ISOP:
Year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Grants
|
||||||||||||
Qualified
|
1,310,400 | 25,000 | 13,160 | |||||||||
Non-Qualified
|
247,600 | -- | 686,840 | |||||||||
1,558,000 | 25,000 | 700,000 | ||||||||||
Price of
Grants
|
||||||||||||
High
|
$ | 4.97 | $ | 4.09 | $ | 3.86 | ||||||
Low
|
$ | 4.97 | $ | 4.09 | $ | 3.86 | ||||||
Exercised
|
||||||||||||
Qualified
|
342,220 | 169,393 | 225,426 | |||||||||
Non-Qualified
|
454,051 | 79,865 | 79,303 | |||||||||
796,271 | 249,258 | 304,729 | ||||||||||
Total
Cash Received
|
$ | 1,424,100 | (1) | $ | 198,100 | (2) | $ | 173,700 | (3) | |||
Forfeitures/Cancellations
|
||||||||||||
Qualified
|
197,029 | 65,000 | ||||||||||
Non-Qualified
|
49,400 | -- | ||||||||||
246,429 | -- | 65,000 | ||||||||||
(1)
In
addition to the cash exercise of options there were 145,729 shares valued
at $792,600 exchanged for exercises of 328,047 options.
|
||||||||||||
(2)
In
addition to the cash exercise of options there were 132,874 shares
valued
at $687,200 exchanged for exercises of 177,952 options.
|
||||||||||||
(3)
In
addition to the cash exercise of options shares valued at $557,300 were
exchanged
for the exercise of 240,404 of the total shares exercised.
|
-88-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
A summary
of the Employee Stock Option Plans activity in all plans for the year ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 is as follows:
Year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Average
|
Average
|
Average
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
|
Exercise
|
Exercise
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Options
|
Price
|
Options
|
Price
|
Options
|
Price
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
of
the period
|
3,927,880 | $ | 2.92 | 4,255,776 | $ | 2.88 | 4,123,646 | $ | 2.66 | |||||||||||||||
Granted
|
1,558,000 | $ | 4.97 | 25,000 | $ | 4.09 | 700,000 | $ | 3.86 | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited
|
(246,429 | ) | $ | 4.89 | -- | -- | (65,000 | ) | $ | 2.46 | ||||||||||||||
Expired
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(1,419,524 | ) | $ | 2.57 | (352,896 | ) | $ | 2.51 | (502,870 | ) | $ | 2.50 | ||||||||||||
Outstanding
at period end
|
3,819,927 | $ | 3.75 | 3,927,880 | $ | 2.92 | 4,255,776 | $ | 2.88 | |||||||||||||||
Exercisable
at period end
|
2,486,927 | $ | 3.10 | 3,902,880 | $ | 2.91 | 4,017,776 | $ | 2.90 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted
average fair
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
value
of options
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
granted
during
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
the
period
|
$ | 3.28 | $ | 3.38 | $ | 3.64 | ||||||||||||||||||
The
exercise of 1,419,524 options during the year ended December 31, 2007 resulted
in the net issuance of 1,109,894 shares. The options were exercised
due to the payment of cash for 688,697 shares and cashless exercise of 730,827
options as a result of the cancellation of 309,630 shares.
The
exercise of 352,896 options during the year ended December 31, 2006 resulted in
the net issuance of 220,022 shares. The options were exercised due to
the payment of cash for 71,307 shares and cashless exercise of 281,589 options
as a result of the cancellation of 132,874 shares.
The
exercise of 502,870 options during the year ended December 31, 2005 resulted in
the net issuance of 281,641 shares. The options were exercised due to
the payment of cash for 71,859 shares and cashless exercise of 431,011 options
as a result of the cancellation of 221,229 shares.
The
option related compensation expense is recognized over the vest period of the
options based on the Black Scholes model which utilizes anticipated no
forfeitures of Company options as well as volatility in the market price of the
Company’s common stock.
No option
related compensation expense was recognized for options which vested prior to
the adoption of FAS 123R. Prior to the adoption of FAS 123R, the
Company accounted for option compensation pursuant to APB Opinion No.
25. The following table sets forth the option compensation related
expense reported for the years ended December 31, 2006 through the vesting
period of the employee options outstanding at December 31, 2007:
-89-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Option
Related Compensation Expense for the Year Ended December
31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Year
Ended
|
Options
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December
31,
|
Granted
|
Expense
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
Thereafter
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
2004
|
1,272,000 | $ | 273,600 | $ | 273,600 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||||||||||||
2005
|
700,000 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006
|
25,000 | 84,500 | - | 15,300 | 12,100 | 12,000 | 45,100 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
1,558,000 | 5,110,200 | - | 592,100 | 1,371,600 | 1,369,200 | 1,777,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||
3,555,000 | $ | 5,468,300 | $ | 273,600 | $ | 607,400 | $ | 1,383,700 | $ | 1,381,200 | $ | 1,822,400 | ||||||||||||||||
The
following table summarized information about employee stock options outstanding
and exercisable at December 31, 2007:
Options
|
Weighted
|
Options
|
||||||||
Outstanding
|
average
|
Weighted
|
exercisable
|
Weighted
|
||||||
at
|
remaining
|
average
|
at
|
average
|
||||||
Grant
Price
|
December
31,
|
contractual
|
exercise
|
December
31,
|
exercise
|
|||||
Range
|
2007
|
life
in years
|
price
|
2007
|
price
|
|||||
$2.25
|
203,946
|
3.93
|
$ 2.25
|
203,946
|
$ 2.25
|
|||||
$2.26
- $2.40
|
461,832
|
3.03
|
$ 2.40
|
461,832
|
$ 2.40
|
|||||
$2.41
- $2.46
|
591,019
|
6.50
|
$ 2.46
|
591,019
|
$ 2.46
|
|||||
$2.47
- $2.88
|
77,782
|
0.74
|
$ 2.88
|
77,782
|
$ 2.88
|
|||||
$2.89
- $3.86
|
573,768
|
7.78
|
$ 3.86
|
573,768
|
$ 3.86
|
|||||
$3.87
- $3.90
|
575,009
|
3.93
|
$ 3.90
|
575,009
|
$ 3.90
|
|||||
$3.91
- $4.09
|
3,571
|
8.75
|
$ 4.09
|
3,571
|
$ 4.09
|
|||||
$4.10
- $4.97
|
1,333,000
|
9.57
|
$ 4.97
|
-
|
$
-
|
|||||
3,819,927
|
6.70
|
$ 3.75
|
2,486,927
|
$ 3.10
|
||||||
The
following table sets forth the number of options available for grant as well as
the intrinsic value of the options outstanding and exercisable:
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Available
for future grant
|
2,617,810 | 1,166,905 | 775,756 | |||||||||
Intrinsic
value of option exercised
|
$ | 4,227,900 | $ | 994,300 | $ | 1,270,300 | ||||||
Aggregate
intrinsic value of options outstanding
|
$ | 2,852,700 | $ | 8,378,300 | $ | 6,399,800 | ||||||
Aggregate
intrinsic value of options exercisable
|
$ | 2,852,700 | $ | 8,354,300 | $ | 5,942,800 |
-90-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Employee
Stock Ownership Plan
The Board
of Directors of the Company adopted the U.S. Energy Corp. 1989 Employee Stock
Ownership Plan ("ESOP") in 1989, for the benefit of all the Company’s employees.
Employees become eligible to participate in the ESOP after one year of service
which must consist of at least 1,000 hours worked. After the employee
becomes a participant in the plan he or she must have a minimum of 1,000 hours
of service in each plan year to be considered for allocations of funding from
the Company. Employees become 20% vested after three years of service
and increase their vesting by 20% each year thereafter until such time as they
are fully vested after eight years of service.
An
employee’s total compensation paid, which is subject to federal income tax, up
to an annual limit of $225,000, $220,000 and $210,000 for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, is the basis for computing how
much of the total annual funding is contributed into his or her personal
account. An employee’s compensation divided by the total compensation
paid to all plan participants is the percentage that each participant receives
on an annual basis. The Company funds 10% of all eligible
compensation annually in the form of common stock and may fund up to an
additional 15% to the plan in common stock. As of December 31, 2007,
all shares of the Company’s stock that have been contributed to the ESOP have
been allocated. The estimated fair value of shares that are not
vested is approximately $191,200.
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company approved
a contribution of 84,995 shares to the ESOP at the price of $4.25 for a total
expense of $361,300. This compares to contributions to the ESOP
during the year ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 of 70,756 and 56,494 shares to
the ESOP at prices of $4.98 and $4.65 per share, respectively. The
expense for the contributions during the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
were $352,300 and $262,600, respectively.
During
prior years, the Company loaned the ESOP $1,014,300 to purchase 125,000 shares
from the Company and 38,550 shares on the open market. The Company
paid the ESOP 2,350 shares as dividends on the shares the ESOP had
purchased. During the year ended May 31, 1996, 10,089 of these shares
were used to fund the Company's annual funding commitment and reduce the loan to
the Company by $87,300. During a previous year, the loans were also
adjusted by $436,500 to reflect their value at the time. The loans at
December 31, 2007 are reflected as unallocated ESOP contribution of $490,500 in
the equity section of the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are
secured by 155,811 unallocated shares purchased under the loan.
-91-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Warrants
to Others
As of
December 31, 2007, there were 1,445,585 warrants outstanding to purchase shares
of the Company's common stock. The Company values these warrants
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and expenses that value over
various terms based on the nature of the award. Activity for the
periods ended December 31, 2007 for warrants is represented in the following
table:
Year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Average
|
Average
|
Average
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise
|
Exercise
|
Exercise
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
|
Price
|
Warrants
|
Price
|
Warrants
|
Price
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
of
the period
|
1,821,323 | $ | 3.57 | 1,672,326 | $ | 3.44 | 1,505,174 | $ | 3.35 | |||||||||||||||
Granted
|
31,215 | $ | 3.28 | 425,012 | $ | 4.39 | 1,396,195 | $ | 3.70 | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited
|
- | (316,968 | ) | $ | 3.41 | |||||||||||||||||||
Expired
|
(47,355 | ) | $ | 3.72 | (50,000 | ) | $ | 3.63 | (1,713 | ) | $ | 3.00 | ||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(359,598 | ) | $ | 3.47 | (226,015 | ) | $ | 3.84 | (910,362 | ) | $ | 3.65 | ||||||||||||
Outstanding
at period end
|
1,445,585 | $ | 3.58 | 1,821,323 | $ | 3.61 | 1,672,326 | $ | 3.47 | |||||||||||||||
Exercisable
at period end
|
1,445,585 | $ | 3.58 | 1,821,323 | $ | 3.61 | 1,642,326 | $ | 3.49 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted
average fair
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
value
of options
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
granted
during
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
the
period
|
$ | 2.20 | $ | 1.69 | $ | 1.37 | ||||||||||||||||||
During
the year ended December 31, 2007 the Company issued a total of 31,215 new
warrants to previous investors and financing entities pursuant to anti-dilution
provisions in their original warrants. These warrants have exercise
prices ranging from $2.77 per share to $7.02 per share and expire beginning in
October 2007 through April 2010.
-92-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
The
following table summarized information about non employee warrants outstanding
and exercisable at December 31, 2006:
Warrants
|
Weighted
|
Warrants
|
||||||||
Outstanding
|
average
|
Weighted
|
exercisable
|
Weighted
|
||||||
at
|
remaining
|
average
|
at
|
average
|
||||||
Grant
Price
|
December
31,
|
contractual
|
exercise
|
December
31,
|
exercise
|
|||||
Range
|
2007
|
life
in years
|
price
|
2007
|
price
|
|||||
$2.25
- $2.40
|
40,000
|
3.48
|
$ 2.33
|
40,000
|
$ 2.33
|
|||||
$2.46
- $2.88
|
367,455
|
3.92
|
$ 2.65
|
367,455
|
$ 2.65
|
|||||
$3.15
- $3.63
|
596,341
|
0.71
|
$ 3.44
|
596,341
|
$ 3.44
|
|||||
$3.81
- $3.86
|
225,000
|
4.74
|
$ 3.85
|
225,000
|
$ 3.85
|
|||||
$3.90
- $4.23
|
115,000
|
1.96
|
$ 4.12
|
115,000
|
$ 4.12
|
|||||
7.02
|
101,789
|
1.43
|
$ 7.02
|
101,789
|
$ 7.02
|
|||||
1,445,585
|
2.38
|
$ 3.58
|
1,445,585
|
$ 3.58
|
||||||
These
warrants are held by persons or entities other than employees, officers and
directors of the Company.
K. COMMITMENTS,
CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER:
LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
Material
legal proceedings pending at December 31, 2007, and developments in those
proceedings from that date to the date this Annual Report is filed, are
summarized below. Legal proceedings which were not material to the
Company were concluded in the fourth quarter 2007.
Water
Rights Litigation – Lucky Jack Molybdenum Property
Prior to
the transfer of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property from Phelps Dodge Corporation
(“PD”) and Mount Emmons Mining Company (“MEMCO”) to the Company on February 28,
2006, MEMCO filed a number of Statements of Opposition in the Water Court, Water
Division No. 4, State of Colorado to protect its existing water rights against
applications filed by other parties seeking to appropriate or change water
rights or perfect conditional water rights. Subsequent to transfer of
the mine property, Motions for Substitution of Parties (from MEMCO to the
Company) were filed and approved by the Water Court. These cases are
as follows:
1.
|
Concerning the
Application for Water Rights of Virgil and Lee Spann Ranches, Inc.,
Case No. 03CW033, 03CW034, 03CW035, 03CW036 and 03CW037. These
related cases involve the Spann Ranches, Inc.’s Water Court applications
to change the point of diversion through alternative points for the
purpose of rotating a portion of their senior water rights between ditches
to maximize beneficial use in the event of a major downstream senior
call. MEMCO filed Statements of Opposition to ensure that the
final decrees to be issued by the Water Court contain terms and conditions
sufficient to protect MEMCO’s water rights from material
injury. These cases are pending and the Company is awaiting
proposed decrees from Applicant Spann Ranches, Inc. for
consideration.
|
-93-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
2.
|
Concerning the
Application for Water Rights of the Town of Crested Butte, Case No.
02CW63. This case involves an application filed by the Town of
Crested Butte to provide for an alternative point of
diversion. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition to ensure that
the final decree to be issued by the Water Court contains terms and
conditions sufficient to protect MEMCO’s water rights from material
injury. The Town of Crested Butte and the Company have reached
a settlement to protect the Company’s water rights pursuant to a proposed
final decree, which will be submitted with a Stipulation signed by the
parties to the Water Court for its
approval.
|
3.
|
Concerning the Application
of the United States of
America
in the Gunnison River, Gunnison County, Case
No. 99CW267. This case involves an application filed by the
United States of America to appropriate 0.033 cubic feet per second of
water for wildlife use and for incidental irrigation of riparian
vegetation at the Mt. Emmons Iron Bog Spring, located in the vicinity of
the Lucky Jack property. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition
to protect proposed mining operations against any adverse impacts by the
water requirements of the Iron Bog on such
operations. This case is pending while the parties attempt to
reach a settlement on the proposed decree terms and
conditions.
|
4.
|
Concerning the
Application for Water Rights of the United States of
America
for Quantification of Reserved Right
for Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park,
Case No. 01CW05. This case involves an application filed by the
United States of America to make absolute conditional water rights claimed
in the Gunnison River in relation to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
National Park for, and to quantify in-stream flows for the protection and
reproduction of fish and to preserve the recreational, scenic and
aesthetic conditions. MEMCO and over 350 other parties filed
Statements of Opposition to protect their existing water
rights. USECC and most other Opposers have taken the position
that the flows claimed by the United States should be subordinated to the
historical operations of the federally owned and operated Aspinall Unit,
and are subject to the provisions contained in the Aspinall Unit
Subordination Agreement between the federal government and water districts
which protect junior water users in the Upper Gunnison River
Basin. This case is pending while the parties negotiate terms
and conditions for incorporation into Stipulations among the parties
and into the future final decree to be issued by the Water
Court. Future Water Court proceedings in this case will involve
quantification of the in-stream flows claimed for the
Black Canyon Park.
|
Moratorium
Related to the Crested Butte Watershed
On August
7, 2007, the Town of Crested Butte, Colorado issued a temporary moratorium on
development activities within its watershed that were not ongoing at the
effective date of the moratorium. The Company believes the Lucky Jack
project should not be affected by this moratorium and they are continuing all
ongoing activities while reviewing and evaluating the matter.
The
Company and Kobex intend to work with the Town to proceed with the necessary
rehabilitation activities, in a manner which will be consistent with Ordinance
23 and other applicable rules, regulations, and statutes. However,
the timing of expected revisions to the Watershed Protection District Ordinance,
and the nature of such revisions, is not predicted. As a result, it
is possible that unexpected delays, and/or increased costs, may be encountered
in developing a new mine plan for the Lucky Jack property.
-94-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Quiet
Title Litigation – Sutter Gold Mining Inc.
In 2004,
USECC Gold Limited Liability Company (a predecessor of SGMI) as plaintiff filed
an action (USECC Gold
Limited Liability Company vs. Nevada-Wabash Mining Company, et al, Case
No. 04CV3419) in Superior Court of California, County of Amador) seeking to
quiet title as vested in plaintiff to two patented mining claims at the Sutter
Gold project. All but one of the approximately 54 defendants
(dissolved private corporations and other entities, their stockholders and/or
estates of deceased stockholders) defaulted. Plaintiff settled this
litigation with the remaining defendant for $50,000 in 2007.
ASSET RETIREMENT
OBLIGATIONS
During
the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company sold all of its uranium properties
in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Arizona to Uranium One (See Note
E). All the prior reclamation obligations associated with these
properties were assumed by Uranium One. The only remaining
reclamation liabilities at December 31, 2007 were those related to the Lucky
Jack molybdenum property and the SGMI gold property.
Lucky
Jack
The Lucky
Jack molybdenum property is located on fee property within the boundary of U.S.
Forest Service (“USFS”) land. Although mining of the mineral resource
will occur on the fee property, associated ancillary activities will occur on
USFS land. The Company and Kobex will be submitting a Plan of
Operations to the USFS in 2008 for the USFS approval, which approval is required
before construction can begin and mining and processing may
occur. Under the procedures mandated by National Environmental
Protection Act (“NEPA”), the USFS will prepare an environmental analysis in the
form of an Environmental Assessment and/or and Environmental Impact Statement to
evaluate the predicted environmental and social economic impacts of the proposed
development and mining of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property. The
NEPA process provides for public review and comment of the proposed
plan.
The USFS
is the lead regulatory agency in the NEPA process, and coordinates with the
various Federal and State agencies in the review and approval of the Plan of
Operations. Various Colorado state agencies will continue to have
primary jurisdiction over certain areas. For example, enforcement of
the Clean Water Act in Colorado is delegated to the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment and a water discharge permit under the
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) is required before the
USFS can approve the Plan of Operations. The Company currently has a
NPDES Permit from the State of Colorado for the operation of the water treatment
plant at the Lucky Jack molybdenum property; however this permit may need to be
updated. In addition, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining
and Safety issues mining and reclamation permits for mining activities, pursuant
to the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act, and otherwise exercises supervisory
authority over mining in the state. As part of obtaining a permit to
mine, the Company and Kobex will be required to submit a detailed reclamation
plan for the eventual mine closure, which must be reviewed and approved by the
agency. In addition, the Company and Kobex will be required to
provide to the agency financial assurance that the reclamation plan will be
achieved (by bonding and/or insurance) before the mining permit will be
issued.
-95-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Obtaining
and maintaining the various permits for the mining operations at the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property will be complex, time-consuming, and
expensive. Changes in a mine’s design, production rates, quality of
material mined, and many other matters, often require submission of the proposed
changes for agency approval prior to implementation. In addition,
changes in operating conditions beyond the Company’s control, or changes in
agency policy and Federal and state law, could further complicate getting
changes to the mine’s operation approved.
Although
the Company is confident that the Plan of Operations for the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property will ultimately be approved by the USFS, the timing and
cost, and ultimate success of the mining operation cannot be
predicted. The reclamation liability at December 31, 2007 for the
Lucky Jack molybdenum property was $110,100.
Sutter
Gold Mining Inc.
SGMI's
mineral properties are currently on shut down status and have never been in
production. There has been minimal surface disturbance on the SGMI
properties. Reclamation obligations consist of closing the mine entry
and removal of a mine shop. The reclamation obligation to close the
property has been set by the State of California at $23,200 which is covered by
a cash reclamation bond. This amount was recorded by SGMI as a
reclamation liability as of December 31, 2007.
401(K)
PLAN
The Board
of Directors of the Company adopted the U.S. Energy Corp. 401(K) Plan ("401(K)")
in 2004. The Company matches 50% of an employee’s salary deferrals up
to a maximum contribution per employee of $4,000 annually. The
Company expensed $59,900, $62,300 and $52,800 for the years ended December 31,
2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively related to these contributions.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
COMPENSATION
In
December 2001, the Board of Directors adopted (and the shareholders approved)
the 2001 Stock Award Plan to compensate six of its executive
officers. The Stock Award Plan was amended on June 22, 2007 by a vote
of the shareholders. Under the Plan, 20,000 shares may be issued
annually to each officer during his employment. During the years
ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 the Company issued 62,500, 57,500 and
60,000 shares of stock to these officers, respectively. While in the
Company’s employ, the Officers have agreed not to sell the shares granted under
the 2001 Stock Award Plan. In consideration of this agreement the
Company has agreed to pay all taxes due on the shares granted to the
Officers.
The
Company is committed to pay the surviving spouse or dependant children of the
former Chairman and Founder, who passed away on September 4, 2006, one years’
salary and 50% of that amount annually for an additional four years
thereafter. During 2007, the Company paid $116,000 under this plan
and will pay $85,000 on an annual basis from date of death for an additional
four years.
-96-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
On
October 20, 2005 the Board of Directors of the Company and Crested adopted an
Executive Retirement Policy for the Chairman/CEO, Chairman Emeritus,
President/COO, CFO/Treasurer/V.P. Finance, Senior Vice President and General
Counsel. Under the terms of the Retirement Plan, the retired
executive will receive payments equaling 50% of the greater of (i) the amount of
compensation the Executive Officer received as base cash pay on his/her final
regular pay check or (ii) the average annual pay rate, less all bonuses, he/she
received over the last five years of his/her employment with
Company. To be eligible for this benefit, the executive officer must
serve in one of the designated executive offices for 15 years, reach the age of
60 and be an employee of the Company on December 31, 2010. The
compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $564,600
and $419,400. The total accrued liability at December 31, 2007 and
2006 for executive retirement was $927,000 and $462,700,
respectively. During 2007, the Board of Directors voted unanimously
to fund the retirement benefit for the currently employed
officers. The funding is held in a separate trust account that is
managed by an independent trustee and is subject only to the claims of creditors
in the event of insolvency of the Company. At December 31, 2007, the
Company had funded the executive retirement account with the amount calculated
by a third party actuary, of $375,500. Additional amounts will be
deposited annually until each executive’s 60th
birthday.
The
Company has also established a mandatory retirement age of 65 unless the board
specifically requests the services of an employee officer beyond that
age. Certain officers and employees have employment agreements with
the Company.
The
employees of the Company are not given raises on a regular
basis. Historically in consideration of this and in appreciation of
the work they perform bonuses are paid to the employees, officers and directors
at the conclusion of major transactions. The recommendation for
bonuses are made by the Chairman and ratified, first by the Compensation
Committee and second by the full board prior to being paid. During
2007, the board of directors, at the recommendation of the Compensation
Committee, consisting of independent directors, adopted an annual
performance-based cash bonus plan. Any bonuses earned in 2008 will be
accrued quarterly, based on the Committee’s quarterly evaluation of goal
attainment, and paid in 2009.
OPERATING
LEASES
The
Company is the lessor of portions of the office buildings and building
improvements that it owns. The Company occupies the majority of its
main office building. The leases are accounted for as operating
leases and expire at various periods through May 2021, and provide for minimum
monthly receipts of $4,200 through December 2008.
The total
costs of the office buildings and building improvements totaled $5,182,400 and
$4,869,600 as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and accumulated depreciation
amounted to $2,612,700 and $2,506,700 as of December 31, 2007 and 2006,
respectively. Rental income under the agreements was $136,000,
$187,300 and $238,200 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively.
Future
minimum receipts for non-cancelable operating leases are as
follows:
Years
Ending
|
||
December
31,
|
Amount
|
|
2008
|
$67,100
|
|
2009
|
39,800
|
-97-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
L. DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS:
On June
1, 2005, the Company closed on the sale of their interests in RMG to Enterra
Energy Trust. The sale agreement stated that the effective date of
the sale to Enterra was April 1, 2005. Therefore, the revenues and
expenditures presented for 2005 as discontinued operations are for the three
month period ending March 31, 2005. The financial statements for all
of the periods presented have been revised to present these operations as
discontinued.
Year
ending December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Gain
on sale of discontinued segment
|
||||||||||||
Gain
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 15,768,500 | ||||||
Taxes
paid
|
-- | -- | (235,000 | ) | ||||||||
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 15,533,500 | |||||||
Gain
(loss) from dicontinued operations
|
||||||||||||
Rocky
Mountain Gas
|
||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | 1,110,100 | ||||||
Expenditures
|
-- | -- | (1,309,000 | ) | ||||||||
Other
|
-- | -- | (127,200 | ) | ||||||||
$ | -- | $ | - | $ | (326,100 | ) | ||||||
Canyon
Homesteads
|
||||||||||||
Revenues
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||
Expenditures
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
Other
|
-- | -- | -- | |||||||||
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | |||||||
Total
gain (loss) from dicontinued operations
|
$ | -- | $ | - | $ | 15,207,400 | ||||||
-98-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
M.
SELECTED
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||||||||||
SELECTED
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
December
31,
|
September
30,
|
June
30,
|
March
31,
|
|||||||||||||
2007
|
2007
|
2007
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 245,800 | $ | 606,800 | $ | 253,100 | $ | 72,000 | ||||||||
Operating
loss
|
$ | (2,863,200 | ) | $ | (2,381,700 | ) | $ | (8,867,300 | ) | $ | (2,596,200 | ) | ||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
$ | (1,634,900 | ) | $ | (3,271,600 | ) | $ | 95,303,000 | $ | (1,666,500 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations, net of tax
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||||
(Provision
for) benefit from income taxes
|
$ | 771,000 | $ | 2,521,500 | $ | (36,007,600 | ) | $ | 348,300 | |||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$ | (863,900 | ) | $ | (750,100 | ) | $ | 59,295,400 | $ | (1,318,200 | ) | |||||
Gain
(loss) per share, basic
|
||||||||||||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 2.95 | $ | (0.07 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 2.95 | $ | (0.07 | ) | ||||||
Basic
weighted average shares outstanding
|
21,791,468 | 20,558,882 | 20,087,999 | 19,413,931 | ||||||||||||
Gain
(loss) per share, diluted
|
||||||||||||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 2.65 | $ | (0.07 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 2.65 | $ | (0.07 | ) | ||||||
Diluted
weighted average shares outstanding
|
21,791,468 | 20,558,882 | 22,378,861 | 19,413,931 | ||||||||||||
-99-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
December
31,
|
September
30,
|
June
30,
|
March
31,
|
|||||||||||||
2006
|
2006
|
2006
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 207,400 | $ | 281,100 | $ | 148,300 | $ | 176,600 | ||||||||
Operating
loss
|
$ | (4,283,900 | ) | $ | (6,476,000 | ) | $ | (2,967,400 | ) | $ | (2,943,400 | ) | ||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
$ | (4,024,400 | ) | $ | (2,933,700 | ) | $ | (6,236,200 | ) | $ | (1,085,100 | ) | ||||
Discontinued
operations, net of tax
|
$ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||||
Benefit
from income taxes
|
$ | 15,331,600 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$ | 11,307,200 | $ | (2,933,700 | ) | $ | (6,236,200 | ) | $ | (1,085,100 | ) | |||||
Gain
(loss) per share, basic
|
||||||||||||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$ | 0.60 | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.34 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
$ | 0.60 | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.34 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | ||||||
Basic
weighted average shares outstanding
|
18,991,008 | 18,367,198 | 18,300,530 | 18,127,158 | ||||||||||||
Gain
(loss) per share, diluted
|
||||||||||||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$ | 0.53 | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.34 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
$ | 0.53 | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.34 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | ||||||
Diluted
weighted average shares outstanding
|
21,178,257 | 18,367,198 | 18,300,530 | 18,127,158 | ||||||||||||
-100-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
December
31,
|
September
30,
|
June
30,
|
March
31,
|
|||||||||||||
2005
|
2005
|
2005
|
2005
|
|||||||||||||
(Restated)
|
(Restated)
|
(Restated)
|
(Restated)
|
|||||||||||||
Operating
revenues
|
$ | 157,500 | $ | 167,100 | $ | 183,500 | $ | 341,400 | ||||||||
Operating
loss
|
$ | (980,400 | ) | $ | (1,481,600 | ) | $ | (2,420,900 | ) | $ | (1,184,000 | ) | ||||
Loss
from continuing operations
|
$ | (4,503,000 | ) | $ | 1,228,600 | $ | (1,819,100 | ) | $ | (1,272,400 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations, net of tax
|
$ | -- | $ | (188,100 | ) | $ | 15,721,600 | $ | (326,100 | ) | ||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (4,503,000 | ) | $ | 1,040,500 | $ | 13,902,500 | $ | (1,598,500 | ) | ||||||
Loss
per share, basic
|
||||||||||||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$ | (0.26 | ) | $ | 0.07 | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations
|
$ | -- | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 1.02 | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||||||
$ | (0.26 | ) | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.90 | $ | (0.11 | ) | |||||||
Basic
weighted average shares outstanding
|
17,624,085 | 17,229,336 | 15,352,966 | 14,398,093 | ||||||||||||
Loss
per share, diluted
|
||||||||||||||||
Continuing
operations
|
$ | (0.25 | ) | $ | 0.07 | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | |||||
Discontinued
operations
|
$ | -- | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 1.00 | $ | (0.02 | ) | ||||||
$ | (0.25 | ) | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.88 | $ | (0.11 | ) | |||||||
Diluted
weighted average shares outstanding
|
18,066,825 | 17,672,076 | 15,795,706 | 14,398,093 |
N. SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
Release
of Restricted Investments
The
Company was unable to close the proposed real estate purchase for potential tax
deferred treatment with the proceeds of the Ticaboo property
sale. The $1,794,600 held by a third party administrator and held as
a restricted investment at December 31, 2007 was therefore released during
January 2008 (See Note E).
Stock
Buyback Plan
The
Company purchased an additional 161,260 shares of its common stock pursuant to
the stock buyback plan (See Note J) at an average purchase price of $4.36 per
share during January 2008.
-101-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER
31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
(continued)
Other
On March
7, 2008, the Board of Directors accepted the recommendation of the Compensation
Committee, and approved payment of a $500,000 cash bonus to Robert Scott Lorimer
(a director and the Chief Financial Officer), for past extraordinary services
provided to the Company in the acquisition of and preservation of uranium
assets, which work was integral to having the assets available for sale to sxr
Uranium One Inc. in 2007. Mr. Lorimer was not present during the
discussion by the compensation committee or full board and did not vote on the
resolutions. The Board of Directors determined that such bonus was
appropriate in light of the extraordinary demands made upon the CFO over a
period of many years, requiring many months of work in addition to performance
of his regular duties to the Company. The Board of Directors
determined that the amount of such bonus was the same as previously paid (in
2006 and 2007) to the (now deceased) Chief Executive Officer John L. Larsen, and
the (now retired) General Counsel Daniel P. Svilar; the Company also paid on
behalf of such individuals the income tax owed by them resulting from receipt of
the bonuses. The bonus for Mr. Lorimer is to be paid quarterly in the
amount of $62,500, beginning March 31, 2008 and ending December 31, 2009, and
the Company shall pay, on behalf of Mr. Lorimer, the income tax which he will
owe upon receipt of each bonus installment.
Also on
March 7, 2008, the Board of Directors accepted a recommendation of the
Compensation Committee, and approved a $100 increase in the monthly compensation
paid to the Chairmen of the Audit and Compensation Committees, effective as of
March 7, 2008.
-102-
ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Changes
in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
Effective
February 2, 2007, the Company engaged Moss Adams LLP to act as the Company’s
principal independent accountant to audit the company’s financial statements for
the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. The Board of Directors of
the Company approved the decision to engage Moss Adams LLP.
On
January 19, 2007, the Company received a letter (dated January 10, 2007) from
Epstein, Weber & Conover, PLC (“EWC”), stating that EWC had combined with
Moss Adams LLP, that EWC therefore resigned as the registered independent
accounting firm for the Company, and that the client-auditor relationship had
ceased. EWC advised that all partners of EWC have become partners of
Moss Adams.
EWC’s
audit report on the companies’ financial statements for the year ended December
31, 2005 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor was
it qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting
principles. There have not been any disagreements between the
Company, and EWC, on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure, or auditing scope of procedure.
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls
and Procedures. We are required to maintain disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the
Exchange Act_ that are assigned to ensure that required information is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the required timeframe, as specified
in the rules set forth by the SEC. Our disclosure controls and
procedures are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosures.
Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls
and procedures as of December 31, 2007 and, based on this evaluation, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2007.
Management’s Annual Report on
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Management is
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and
15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process
designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, and effected by our Board, management and other personnel, to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.
Internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made
only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (3)
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a
material effect on our financial statements.
-103-
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Forward looking statements regarding
the effectiveness of internal controls during future periods are subject to the
risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or
that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may
deteriorate.
Management
assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as
of December 31, 2007. In making this assessment, management used the
criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. Based
on our assessment, we believe that, as of December 31, 2007, our internal
control over financial reporting was effective based on those
criteria.
Our
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, has been
audited by Moss Adams LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm who
also audited our consolidated financial statements. Moss Adams LLP’s
report on our internal control over financial reporting appears on page 49
hereof.
Changes in Internal Control over
Financial Reporting. There has been no change in our internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December
31, 2007 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION
The
Company has authorized payment of a cash bonus to its Chief Financial Officer,
which authorization was made by the Board of Directors on March 7,
2008. See subsequent event footnote to the financial statements in
this report.
-104-
PART
III
In the
event a definitive proxy statement containing the information being incorporated
by reference into this Part III is not filed within 120 days of December 31,
2007, we will file such information under cover of a Form 10-K/A.
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
The
information required by ITEM 10 with respect to directors and certain executive
officers is incorporated herein by reference to our Proxy Statement for the
Meeting of Shareholders to be held in June 2008, under the captions Proposal 1:
Election of Directors, Filing of Reports Under Section 16(a), and Business
Experience and Other Directorships of Directors and Nominees.
The
Company has adopted a Code of Ethics. A copy of the Code of Ethics
will be provided to any person without charge upon written request addressed to
Steven R. Youngbauer, Secretary, 877 North 8th West,
Riverton, Wyoming 82501.
INFORMATION
CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS.
The
following are the two full time executive officers of USE who were not directors
at December 31, 2007.
Robert Scott Lorimer, age 57,
has been the Chief Accounting Officer for USE for more than the past five years;
Mr. Lorimer also has been Chief Financial Officer since May 25, 1991, Treasurer
since December 14, 1990, and Vice President Finance since April
1998. He serves in these positions at the will of the board
of directors. There are no understandings between Mr. Lorimer and any
other person, pursuant to which he was named as an officer, and he has no family
relationship with any of the other executive officers or directors of
USE. In January 2008, the board of directors elected Mr. Lorimer as a
director to replace Harold F. Herron, who upon his early retirement from USE,
also resigned as a director. Mr. Lorimer also serves on the Advisory
Board for First Interstate Bank. During the past five years, Mr.
Lorimer has not been involved in any Reg. S-K Item 40(f) listed
proceeding.
Steven R. Youngbauer, age 57,
has been General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for USE since January 23,
2007. He serves at the will of the board of
directors. There are no understandings between Mr. Youngbauer and any
other person pursuant to which he was named an officer or General
Counsel. He has no family relationships with any of the other
executive officer or directors of USE. During the past five years, Mr.
Youngbauer has not been involved in any Reg. S-K Item 401(f)
proceeding.
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The
information required by ITEM 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy
Statement for the Meeting of Shareholders to be held in June 2008, under the
captions Executive Compensation and Director's Fees and Other
Compensation.
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICAL OWNERS
AND
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED MATTERS.
The
information required by ITEM 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy
Statement for the Meeting of Shareholders to be held in June 2008, under the
caption "Principal Holders of Voting Securities."
-105-
ITEM 13. CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIP AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
The
information required by ITEM 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the Proxy
Statement for the Meeting of Shareholders to be held in June 2008, under the
caption Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
(1) - (4)
Moss Adams LLP, billed us for the years ended December 31, 2007, and December
31, 2006, respectively, for the audit of the financial statements for those
years and other audit-related work.
Year
Ending December 31
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Audit
fees (a)
|
$ | 158,700 | $ | 123,000 | ||||
Audit
related fees (b)
|
$ | 33,400 | $ | 8,400 | ||||
Tax
fees (c)
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
All
other fees
(d)
|
$ | 25,200 | $ | - | ||||
$ | 217,300 | $ | 131,400 | |||||
(a) Includes
fees for audit of the annual financial statements and review of quarterly
financial information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC").
(b) For
assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the performance
of the audit or review of the financial statements, which fees are not included
in the Audit Fees category.
(c) For
tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning services, relating to federal and
state tax returns as necessary.
(d) For
services in respect of other reports required to be filed by the SEC and other
agencies including proxy statement review, review of S-4 for Crested merger and
various proforma financial statements in relation to the sale of assets to
Uranium One.
(5)(i)
The audit committee approves the terms of engagement before we engage the audit
firm for audit and non-audit services, except as to engagements for services
outside the scope of the original terms, in which instances the services have
been provided pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures, established by
the audit committee. These pre-approval policies and procedures are
detailed as to the category of service and the audit committee is kept informed
of each service provided. These policies and procedures, and the work
performed pursuant thereto, do not include any delegation to management of the
audit committee's responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
This
approval process was used with respect to the engagement of Moss Adams LLP for
the audit of the 2007 financial statements and related services for the
quarterly reviews in 2007.
-106-
(5)(ii)
The percentage of services provided for Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All
Other Fees for 2007 (and 2006) are as follows:
Year
Ending December 31
|
|||
2007
|
2006
|
||
Audit
fees
|
73.0%
|
93.6%
|
|
Audit
related fees
|
15.4%
|
6.4%
|
|
Tax
fees
|
0.0%
|
0.0%
|
|
All
other fees
|
11.6%
|
0.0%
|
PART
IV
ITEM
15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES,
REPORTS
AND
FORMS 8-K.
|
|
(a)
Financial Statements and Exhibits
|
|
(1)
The following financial statements are filed as a part of the Report in
Item 8:
|
|
Page
|
|
No.
|
|
Consolidated
Financial Statements U.S. Energy Corp. and Subsidiary
|
48-49
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Moss Adams
LLP
|
50
|
Report
of (Former) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Epstein, Weber
& Conover
|
51
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets - December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
|
52-53
|
Consolidated
Statement of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005
|
54-55
|
Consolidated
Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005
|
56-58
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and
2005
|
59-61
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
62-102
|
(2)
All other schedules have been omitted because the required information in
inapplicable or is shown in the notes to financial
statements.
|
-107-
(3)
Exhibits Required to be Filed
|
||
Exhibit
No.
|
Title of
Exhibit
|
Sequential
Page
No.
|
3.1
|
Restated
Articles of Incorporation
|
[2]
|
3.1(a)
|
Articles
of Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation
|
[4]
|
3.1(b)
|
Articles
of Amendment (Second) to Restated Articles of Incorporation (establishing
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock)
|
[9]
|
3.1(c)
|
Articles
of Amendment (Third) to Restated Articles of Incorporation (increasing
number of authorized shares)
|
[14]
|
3.1(d)
|
Articles
of Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation (establishing Series P
Preferred Stock)
|
[5]
|
3.1(e)
|
Articles
of Amendment to Restated Articles of Incorporation (providing that
directors may be removed by the shareholders only for
cause)
|
[3]
|
3.2
|
Bylaws,
as amended through October 14, 2005
|
[6]
|
4.1
|
Amendment
to 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan
|
[11]
|
4.2
|
2001
Incentive Stock Option Plan (amended in 2003)
|
[7]
|
4.3-4.10
|
[intentionally
left blank]
|
|
4.11
|
Rights
Agreement dated as of September 19, 2001, amended as of September 30,
2005, between U.S. Energy Corp. and Computershare Trust Company, Inc. as
Rights Agent. The Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of
Incorporation creating the Series P Preferred Stock are
included as an exhibit to the Rights Agreement, as well as the
form of Right Certificate and Summary of Rights
|
[12]
|
4.12-4.20
|
[intentionally
left blank]
|
|
4.21
|
2001
Officers' Stock Compensation Plan
|
[18]
|
4.22-4.30
|
[intentionally
left blank]
|
|
10.1
|
Asset
Purchase Agreement with sxr Uranium One Inc.
|
[14]
|
10.2
|
Form
of Production Payment Royalty Agreement (an exhibit to the Asset Purchase
Agreement with sxr Uranium One Inc)
|
[14]
|
10.3
|
Plan
and Agreement of Merger between U.S. Energy Corp. and Crested
Corp.
|
[21]
|
10.4
|
Voting
Agreement between Crested Corp., U.S. Energy Corp., and certain other
shareholders of Crested Corp.
|
[22]
|
-108-
10.6
|
Purchase
and Sale Agreement (without exhibits) - Bell Coast Capital, n/k/a/ Uranium
Power Corp. (December 2004)
|
[8]
|
10.6(a)
|
Amendment
to Purchase and Sale Agreement with Uranium Power Corp.
|
[13]
|
10.7
|
Mining
Venture Agreement (without exhibits) - Uranium Power Corp. (April
2005)
|
[8]
|
10.8
|
Agreement
with Kobex Resources Ltd. for the Lucky Jack Property
|
[19]
|
10.9
|
Amendment
to Kobex Agreement
|
[20]
|
14.0
|
Code
of Ethics
|
[6]
|
16.0
|
Concurrence
letter of former accountants
|
[15]
|
21.1
|
Subsidiaries
of Registrant
|
[11]
|
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
|
*
|
*
Filed herewith
|
By
Reference
|
|
[1]
|
Intentionally
left blank.
|
[2]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the like-numbered exhibit to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 1990, filed September 14,
1990.
|
[3]
|
Incorporated
by reference from exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed June
26, 2006.
|
[4]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the like-numbered exhibit to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 1992, filed September 14,
1992.
|
[5]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the Registrant’s Form S-3 registration statement
(333-75864), filed December 21, 2001.
|
[6]
|
Incorporated
by reference from exhibit 14 to the Registrant's Form 10-K, filed March
30, 2005.
|
[7]
|
Incorporated
by reference from exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed April 15,
2005.
|
[8]
|
Incorporated
by reference from like-numbered to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed April 15,
2005.
|
[9]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the like-numbered exhibit to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 1998, filed September 14,
1998.
|
-109-
[10]
|
Incorporated
by reference from exhibit 2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-k, filed June 7,
2005.
|
[11]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the like-numbered exhibit to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended on May 31, 2001, filed August 29,
2001, and amended on June 18, 2002 and September 25,
2002.
|
[12]
|
Incorporated
by reference to exhibit number 4.1 to the Registrant's Form 8A/A, filed
November 17, 2005.
|
[13]
|
Incorporated
by reference from exhibit (b) to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed January
17, 2006.
|
[14]
|
Incorporated
by reference from exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 to the Registrant's Form 8-K
filed February 23, 2007.
|
[15]
|
Incorporated
by reference from exhibit to the Registrant’s Form 8-K/A filed February 1,
2007.
|
[16]-[17]
|
Intentionally
left blank.
|
[18]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the like-numbered exhibit to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2002, filed September 13,
2002.
|
[19]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the exhibit to the Form 8-K filed October 10,
2006.
|
[20]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the exhibit to the Form 8-K filed December 7,
2007.
|
[21]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the S-4/A filed October 22, 2007.
|
[22]
|
Incorporated
by reference from the S-4/A filed October 22,
2007.
|
(b)
|
Reports
on Form 8-K. In the last quarter of 2007, the Registrant filed 2 Reports
on Form 8-K: October 30, 2007 for Item 8.01 events, and
November 27, 2007 for an Item 2.01 event.
|
(c)
|
See
paragraph a(3) above for exhibits.
|
(d)
|
Financial
statement schedules, see above. No other financial statements are required
to be filed.
|
-110-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. (Registrant)
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
||
KEITH
G. LARSEN, Chief Executive Officer
|
||||
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following person on behalf of the Registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
||
KEITH
G. LARSEN, Director, Chairman and CEO
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Scott Lorimer
|
||
ROBERT
SCOTT LORIMER
|
||||
Principal
Financial Officer/
|
||||
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Mark J. Larsen
|
||
MARK
J. LARSEN, President and Director
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Allen S. Winters
|
||
ALLEN
S. WINTERS, Director
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
H. Russell Fraser
|
||
H.
RUSSELL FRASER, Director
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Michael T. Anderson
|
||
MICHAEL
T. ANDERSON, Director
|
||||
Date:
March 13, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Michael H. Feinstein
|
||
MICHAEL
H. FEINSTEIN, Director
|
||||
-111-