US ENERGY CORP - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
Quarterly
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of
1934
|
For
the quarter ended September 30, 2007 or
|
|
o
|
Transition
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of
1934
|
For
the transition period from ___________ to
____________
|
Commission
file number 0-6814
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
(Exact
Name of Company as Specified in its
Charter)
|
Wyoming
|
83-0205516
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
|
877
North 8th
West, Riverton, WY
|
82501
|
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
|
Company's
telephone number, including area code:
|
(307)
856-9271
|
Not
Applicable
|
Former
name, address and fiscal year, if changed since last
report
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
YES o NO x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports to Section
13 or
Section 15(d) of the Act.
YES o NO x
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 x NO o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of
“accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
act.
Large
accelerated filer o Accelerated
filer o Non-accelerated
filer x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES o NO x
APPLICABLE
ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS
DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports
required to be filed by Section 12, 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed
by a
court.
YES o NO o
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
|
Outstanding
Shares at November 13, 2007
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value
|
21,087,396
|
-2-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. and SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
Page
No.
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Financial
Statements.
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2007 (unaudited) and
December
31, 2006 (unaudited)
|
4-5
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)
|
6
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three and Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)
|
7-9
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
10-23
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
24-35
|
ITEM
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
36
|
ITEM
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
36
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
37-38
|
ITEM
1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
38-41
|
ITEM
2.
|
Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
41-42
|
ITEM
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
42
|
ITEM
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders
|
42
|
ITEM
5.
|
Other
Information
|
42
|
ITEM
6.
|
Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
|
42-43
|
Signatures
|
44
|
|
Certifications
|
See
Exhibits
|
-3-
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Financial Statements
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ |
6,821,600
|
$ |
16,973,500
|
||||
Marketable
securities
|
||||||||
Held
to maturity - treasury bills
|
71,274,000
|
--
|
||||||
Trading
securities
|
--
|
123,400
|
||||||
Available
for sale securities
|
574,900
|
1,148,500
|
||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
||||||||
Trade
|
68,000
|
156,500
|
||||||
Reimbursable
project costs
|
781,500
|
188,400
|
||||||
Dissolution
of subsidiaries
|
218,600
|
--
|
||||||
Note
receivable
|
--
|
560,500
|
||||||
Assets
held for sale
|
2,932,200
|
11,506,000
|
||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
253,500
|
14,321,600
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
175,400
|
166,500
|
||||||
Total
current assets
|
83,099,700
|
45,144,900
|
||||||
PROPERTIES
AND EQUIPMENT:
|
24,322,400
|
11,563,500
|
||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation,
|
||||||||
depletion
and amortization
|
(4,561,700 | ) | (5,454,200 | ) | ||||
Net
properties and equipment
|
19,760,700
|
6,109,300
|
||||||
OTHER
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
457,700
|
610,200
|
||||||
Deposits
and other
|
5,214,300
|
37,000
|
||||||
Total
other assets
|
5,672,000
|
647,200
|
||||||
Total
assets
|
$ |
108,532,400
|
$ |
51,901,400
|
||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-4-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ |
3,367,200
|
$ |
1,115,000
|
||||
Accrued
compensation expense
|
761,800
|
1,190,200
|
||||||
Dividends
payable
|
--
|
--
|
||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
1,569,700
|
--
|
||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
78,600
|
937,200
|
||||||
Liabilities
held for sale
|
--
|
7,375,800
|
||||||
Refundable
deposits
|
--
|
800,000
|
||||||
Other
current liabilities
|
228,100
|
177,000
|
||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
6,005,400
|
11,595,200
|
||||||
LONG-TERM
DEBT, net of current portion
|
228,400
|
294,900
|
||||||
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
|
131,300
|
124,400
|
||||||
OTHER
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
|
1,051,000
|
462,700
|
||||||
MINORITY
INTERESTS
|
8,391,900
|
4,700,200
|
||||||
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
||||||||
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; 21,161,805
|
||||||||
and
19,659,591 shares issued net of
|
||||||||
treasury
stock, respectively
|
211,600
|
196,600
|
||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
79,152,900
|
72,990,700
|
||||||
Accumulated
surplus (deficit)
|
16,017,000
|
(39,101,900 | ) | |||||
Treasury
stock at cost, 725,845 and 497,845
|
||||||||
shares,
respectively
|
(1,970,800 | ) | (923,500 | ) | ||||
Unrealized
(loss) gain on marketable securities
|
(195,800 | ) |
306,000
|
|||||
Unallocated
ESOP contribution
|
(490,500 | ) | (490,500 | ) | ||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
92,724,400
|
32,977,400
|
||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$ |
108,532,400
|
$ |
51,901,400
|
||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-5-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
months ended September 30,
|
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
$ |
582,500
|
$ |
35,000
|
$ |
766,600
|
$ |
137,800
|
||||||||
Management
fees and other
|
24,300
|
246,100
|
165,300
|
468,200
|
||||||||||||
606,800
|
281,100
|
931,900
|
606,000
|
|||||||||||||
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
81,400
|
85,200
|
250,400
|
221,500
|
||||||||||||
Mineral
holding costs
|
574,200
|
1,078,900
|
2,369,800
|
2,262,300
|
||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
2,332,900
|
5,593,000
|
12,156,800
|
10,509,000
|
||||||||||||
2,988,500
|
6,757,100
|
14,777,000
|
12,992,800
|
|||||||||||||
LOSS
BEFORE INVESTMENT AND
|
||||||||||||||||
PROPERTY
TRANSACTIONS
|
(2,381,700 | ) | (6,476,000 | ) | (13,845,100 | ) | (12,386,800 | ) | ||||||||
OTHER
INCOME & (EXPENSES):
|
||||||||||||||||
Gain
on sales of assets
|
139,800
|
240,000
|
1,962,000
|
3,063,500
|
||||||||||||
Loss
on sale of marketable securities
|
(2,227,000 | ) | (860,500 | ) | (8,318,400 | ) | (860,500 | ) | ||||||||
Gain
on foreign exchange
|
(86,600 | ) |
--
|
430,000
|
--
|
|||||||||||
Gain
on sale of uranium assets
|
--
|
--
|
111,728,200
|
--
|
||||||||||||
Loss
from valuation of derivatives
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
(630,900 | ) | |||||||||||
Loss
from dissolution of subsidiaries
|
(78,700 | ) |
--
|
(78,700 | ) | (3,845,800 | ) | |||||||||
Gain
(loss) on sale of investment
|
--
|
10,869,800
|
--
|
10,842,300
|
||||||||||||
Settlement
of litigation
|
--
|
(7,000,000 | ) |
--
|
(7,000,000 | ) | ||||||||||
Dividends
|
34,600
|
136,600
|
40,200
|
141,600
|
||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
1,194,900
|
168,200
|
2,062,000
|
418,200
|
||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(14,100 | ) | (40,500 | ) | (63,800 | ) | (97,600 | ) | ||||||||
(1,037,100 | ) |
3,513,600
|
107,761,500
|
2,030,800
|
||||||||||||
INCOME
(LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST,
|
||||||||||||||||
AND
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
|
(3,418,800 | ) | (2,962,400 | ) |
93,916,400
|
(10,356,000 | ) | |||||||||
MINORITY
INTEREST IN (GAIN) LOSS OF
|
||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
SUBSIDIARIES
|
147,200
|
28,700
|
(3,551,400 | ) |
76,300
|
|||||||||||
INCOME
(LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION
|
||||||||||||||||
BEFORE
INCOME TAXES
|
(3,271,600 | ) | (2,933,700 | ) |
90,365,000
|
(10,279,700 | ) | |||||||||
INCOME
TAXES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Current
provision for
|
1,995,200
|
--
|
(18,625,100 | ) |
--
|
|||||||||||
Deferred
(provision for) benefit from
|
526,400
|
--
|
(14,512,700 | ) |
--
|
|||||||||||
2,521,600
|
--
|
(33,137,800 | ) |
--
|
||||||||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS)
|
$ | (750,000 | ) | $ | (2,933,700 | ) | $ |
57,227,200
|
$ | (10,279,700 | ) | |||||
PER
SHARE DATA
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
earnings (loss) per share
|
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ |
2.86
|
$ | (0.56 | ) | |||||
Diluted
earnings (loss) per share
|
$ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.16 | ) | $ |
2.61
|
$ | (0.56 | ) | |||||
BASIC
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
||||||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
20,558,882
|
18,367,198
|
20,024,465
|
18,283,573
|
||||||||||||
DILUTED
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
||||||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
20,558,882
|
18,367,198
|
21,901,936
|
18,283,573
|
||||||||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-6-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$ |
57,227,200
|
$ | (10,279,700 | ) | |||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss)
|
||||||||
to
net cash used in operating activities:
|
||||||||
Minority
interest in loss of
|
||||||||
consolidated
subsidiaries
|
3,551,400
|
(76,300 | ) | |||||
Depreciation
|
342,100
|
380,700
|
||||||
Accretion
of asset
|
||||||||
retirement
obligations
|
6,900
|
578,400
|
||||||
Initial
valuation of asset
|
||||||||
retirement
obligation
|
--
|
83,400
|
||||||
Noncash
interest income
|
(1,274,000 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
14,512,700
|
--
|
||||||
Income
tax payable
|
1,569,700
|
--
|
||||||
Gain
on sale of assets to sxr
|
(111,728,100 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Gain
on sale of assets
|
(1,962,000 | ) | (3,063,500 | ) | ||||
Gain
on foreign exchange
|
(443,300 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Loss
on valuation of Enterra units
|
--
|
3,845,800
|
||||||
Loss
on valuation of derivatives
|
--
|
630,900
|
||||||
Gain
on sale of Pinnacle Resources
|
--
|
(10,842,300 | ) | |||||
Loss
on sales of marketable securities
|
8,318,400
|
860,500
|
||||||
Proceeds
from the sale of trading securities
|
--
|
8,304,300
|
||||||
Warrant
extension and repricing
|
156,500
|
484,700
|
||||||
Noncash
compensation
|
1,133,000
|
1,481,200
|
||||||
Noncash
services
|
--
|
185,500
|
||||||
Net
changes in assets and liabilities:
|
488,400
|
1,295,300
|
||||||
NET
CASH USED IN
|
||||||||
OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
|
(28,101,100 | ) | (6,131,100 | ) | ||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-7-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of marketable securities
|
92,250,700
|
491,600
|
||||||
Acquisition
of unproved oil & gas properties
|
(2,894,100 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Proceeds
from sale of uranium assets
|
14,022,700
|
--
|
||||||
Acquisition
of unproved mining claims
|
(259,200 | ) | (644,800 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
on sale of property and equipment
|
1,294,200
|
2,410,400
|
||||||
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(5,586,700 | ) | (599,800 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of investments
|
--
|
13,800,000
|
||||||
Purchase
of treasury bills
|
(70,000,000 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Purchase
of real estate for development
|
(6,595,200 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Net
change in restricted investments
|
--
|
8,100
|
||||||
Net
change in notes receivable
|
560,500
|
(20,200 | ) | |||||
Net
change in investments in affiliates
|
(79,500 | ) |
30,600
|
|||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||
BY
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
22,713,400
|
15,475,900
|
||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
$ |
2,284,100
|
$ |
915,900
|
||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock
|
342,000
|
3,173,700
|
||||||
Deferred
taxes from stock options
|
1,415,400
|
--
|
||||||
Restricted
cash for credit facility
|
(4,725,000 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Payment
of cash dividend
|
(2,108,300 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Proceeds
from long term debt
|
164,100
|
184,300
|
||||||
Repayments
of long term debt
|
(1,089,200 | ) | (327,000 | ) | ||||
Purchase
of treasury stock
|
(1,047,300 | ) |
--
|
|||||
NET
CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
(4,764,200 | ) |
3,946,900
|
|||||
NET
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN
|
||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(10,151,900 | ) |
13,291,700
|
|||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
16,973,500
|
6,998,700
|
||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT
END OF PERIOD
|
$ |
6,821,600
|
$ |
20,290,400
|
||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-8-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES:
|
||||||||
Income
tax paid
|
$ |
15,640,000
|
$ |
--
|
||||
Interest
paid
|
$ |
63,800
|
$ |
97,600
|
||||
NON-CASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock to acquire
|
||||||||
mining
claims
|
$ |
33,700
|
$ |
--
|
||||
Receipt
of marketable securities from
|
||||||||
the
sale of assets
|
$ |
99,400,600
|
$ |
--
|
||||
Acquisition
of assets
|
||||||||
through
issuance of debt
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
355,800
|
||||
Satisfaction
of receivable - employee
|
||||||||
with
stock in company
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
30,600
|
||||
Conversion
of Enterra shares
|
||||||||
to
tradable units
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
13,880,100
|
||||
Issuance
of stock warrants in
|
||||||||
conjunction
with agreements
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
727,300
|
||||
Unrealized
loss/gain
|
$ |
195,800
|
$ |
42,200
|
||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-9-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1) Basis
of Presentation
The
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2007, the Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Cash
Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, have been prepared
by the Company without audit. The Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheet at December 31, 2006 was derived from financial statements audited
by Moss
Adams, LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated on their report
for the
year ended December 31, 2006, (which report is not included in this Form
10-Q
Report). In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying condensed
financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal
recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position
of the
Company as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the results of
operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
and
cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006.
Certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America have been condensed or omitted. It is
suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the
Company's December 31, 2006 Form 10-K. The results of operations for
the periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 are not necessarily indicative
of
the operating results for the full year.
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to
make
estimates based on certain assumptions. These estimates and
assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements,
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period.
2) Principles
of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements of the Company and subsidiaries at September
30, 2007 include the accounts of the Company, the accounts of its majority-owned
or controlled subsidiaries Crested Corp. (“Crested”) (70.1%), USECC Joint
Venture ("USECC"), a consolidated joint venture which is equally owned by
the
Company and Crested, through which the bulk of their operations are conducted,
Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (“Sutter”) (54.4%) and Plateau Resources Limited, Inc.
(“Plateau”) (100%). The consolidated financial statements of the Company and
subsidiaries at December 31, 2006 and the Statement of Operations for the
nine
months ended September 30, 2006 also included the accounts of two additional
controlled subsidiaries Four Nines Gold, Inc. ("FNG") (50.9%) and Yellow
Stone
Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) (35.9%). Both Four Nines Gold Inc. and Yellow
Stone Fuels, Inc. were dissolved during the quarter ended September 30,
2007. The Company received $198,400 cash, carried as an account
receivable at September 30, 2007, as a result of the dissolution of Four
Nines
Gold and $44,600 in cash, which also was carried as an account receivable
at
September 30, 2007, as a result of the dissolution of YSFI. The
Company also purchased 21,868 shares of it’s common stock valued at a five day
Volume Weighted Average Price ("VWAP") of $4.40 per share from YSFI prior
to
YSFI being dissolved and three pieces of equipment from FNG that were appraised
by a third party and valued at $59,000.
Investments
in joint ventures and 20% to 50% owned companies are accounted for using
the
equity method. Because of management control and debt to the Company
which may be converted to equity, YSFI was consolidated into the financial
statements of the Company. Investments of less than 20% are accounted
for by the cost method. All material inter-company profits,
transactions and balances have been eliminated.
-10-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
3) Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
FIN
48 In June 2006, the FASB issued 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 model recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the
financial statement recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions
taken
or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires that the
Company recognize in its financial statements, the impact of an uncertain
tax
position, if it is not 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 are
effective beginning January 1, 2007 with 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 had no
significant impact on the financial statements of the Company at September
30,
2007.
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 are currently evaluating the impact of
adopting SFAS 159 on our financial position, cash flows, and results of
operations.
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.
4) Stock
Based Compensation
Stock
Options - The Company accounts for all stock-based compensation
pursuant to SFAS 123R, “Share Based Payment” which requires the recognition of
the fair value of stock-based compensation in operations. Stock-based
compensation primarily consists of stock options. Stock options are
granted to employees at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of
the
Company’s stock at the dates of grant.
Historically,
options vested fully at time of grant and expire 90 days after the employee
voluntarily terminates their employment with the Company and twelve months
after
retirement, disability or death. During the most recent 12 months the
Company has altered the vesting plans for new option grants to have them
vest
over three to seven years. The Company recognizes the stock-based
compensation expense over the requisite service period of the individual
grantees, which generally equals the vesting period. The Company
provides newly issued shares to satisfy stock option exercises. See
Note 13.
-11-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Forfeitable
Shares – In connection with the retirement of an officer of the Company
in January 2007, 112,680 previously forfeitable shares were released to the
former officer pursuant to the Stock Bonus Plan. On June 22, 2007 the
shareholders of the Company voted to release the remaining 180,060 similar
forfeitable shares to various officers and employees. The Board of
Directors cancelled an additional 4,800 shares of previously forfeitable
shares
which had been issued to an employee who left the employment of the
Company. The shareholders additionally authorized the payment of
taxes on the forfeitable shares distributed. See Note
20.
5) Properties
and Equipment
The
components of Properties and Equipment at September 30, 2007, consist of
land,
buildings and equipment.
Accumulated
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
|
||||||||||||
Depletion
and
|
Net
|
|||||||||||
Cost
|
Depreciation
|
Book
Value
|
||||||||||
Oil
& Gas properties
|
$ |
2,894,100
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
2,894,100
|
||||||
Mining
properties
|
823,600
|
-
|
823,600
|
|||||||||
Buildings,
land and equipment
|
20,604,700
|
(4,561,700 | ) |
16,043,000
|
||||||||
Totals
|
$ |
24,322,400
|
$ | (4,561,700 | ) | $ |
19,760,700
|
|||||
The
Company evaluates assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate
that recorded values may not be recoverable. There were no
impairments for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
6) Marketable
Securities
The
Company accounts for its marketable securities as (1) held-to-maturity, (2)
available-for-sale and (3) trading. The Company holds short-term
securities which have maturities of greater than three months but less than
one
year from the date of purchase. These securities are classified as
held-to-maturity based on the Company's intent to hold such securities to
the
maturity date. All held-to-maturity securities are U.S. Government
securities and are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair market
value. Income related to these securities is reported as a component
of interest income. 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. If a decline in fair value of
held-to-maturity securities is determined to be other than temporary, the
investment is written down to fair value. Based on the Company's intent to
sell
the securities, its equity securities are reported as trading
securities.
-12-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
At
September 30, 2007, the Company owned held-to-maturity, available-for-sale
securities and trading.
Unrealized
|
||||||||||||
Cost
|
Value
|
Gain/(Loss)
|
||||||||||
Held
to maturity - treasury bills
|
$ |
71,274,000
|
||||||||||
Available
for sale securities
|
||||||||||||
Kobex
shares
|
$ |
703,600
|
$ |
339,000
|
$ | (364,600 | ) | |||||
Premier
shares
|
195,300
|
235,900
|
40,600
|
|||||||||
$ |
898,900
|
$ |
574,900
|
$ | (324,000 | ) | ||||||
7)
Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unrealized
gains and losses on investments are excluded from net income but are reported
as
comprehensive income on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets under
Shareholders’ equity. The following table illustrates the effect on
net income (loss) if the Company had recognized comprehensive
income:
Nine
months ending September 30,
|
|||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||
Net
gain/(loss)
|
$ |
57,227,200
|
$ | (10,279,700 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive
loss from the
|
|||||||||
unrealized
loss on marketable securities
|
(324,000 | ) | (127,000 | ) | |||||
Reclassification
adjustment for gains
|
|||||||||
included
in net income
|
(305,100 | ) |
--
|
||||||
Deferred
income taxes on
|
|||||||||
marketable
securities
|
127,300
|
--
|
|||||||
Other
comprehensive loss
|
(501,800 | ) | (127,000 | ) | |||||
Comprehensive
gain/(loss)
|
$ |
56,725,400
|
$ | (10,406,700 | ) | ||||
-13-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
8) 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:
Three
Months
|
Nine
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
|
Ended
|
|||||||
September
30, 2007
|
September
30, 2007
|
|||||||
Consolidated
book income before income tax
|
$ | (3,271,600 | ) | $ |
90,365,000
|
|||
Equity
income from non consolidated tax sub
|
$ | (160,100 | ) | $ |
3,551,400
|
|||
Add
back losses from non consolidated tax subs
|
$ |
391,300
|
$ |
1,545,400
|
||||
Prior
year true-up and rate change
|
$ | (265,100 | ) | $ | (265,100 | ) | ||
Permanent
differences
|
$ | (1,755,600 | ) | $ | (1,517,300 | ) | ||
Taxable
income before temporary differences
|
$ | (5,061,100 | ) | $ |
93,679,400
|
|||
Expected
federal income tax expense (benefit)35%
|
$ | (1,771,500 | ) | $ |
32,787,800
|
|||
Federal
deferred income tax expense (benefit)
|
$ | (526,400 | ) | $ |
14,512,700
|
|||
Federal
current expense (benefit)
|
(1,245,200 | ) | $ |
18,275,100
|
||||
Total
federal income tax expense (benefit)
|
(1,771,600 | ) | $ |
32,787,800
|
||||
Current
state income tax expense net of
|
||||||||
federal
tax benefit
|
(750,000 | ) |
350,000
|
|||||
Total
provision (benefit)
|
$ | (2,521,600 | ) | $ |
33,137,800
|
|||
Current
taxes payable at September 30, 2007 are comprised of $1,559,700 of federal
income taxes and $10,000 of state income taxes. The amount of current taxes
payable has been reduced by $1,415,400 benefit from the exercise of nonqualified
stock options and warrants which result in an increase to paid in
capital. There were no current taxes payable at December 31,
2006.
-14-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
components of deferred taxes as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006
are
as follows:
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
||||||||
Deferred
compensation
|
$ |
468,900
|
$ |
589,000
|
||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
37,900
|
879,100
|
||||||
Allowances
for bad debts
|
-
|
|||||||
Tax
basis in excess of book
|
202,000
|
-
|
||||||
Net
operating loss carry forwards
|
14,525,100
|
|||||||
Tax
credits (AMT credit carryover)
|
44,200
|
|||||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
253,500
|
2,900
|
||||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
962,300
|
16,040,300
|
||||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
||||||||
Book
basis in excess of tax basis
|
251,100
|
179,900
|
||||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
926,400
|
|||||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
2,200
|
|||||||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
251,100
|
1,108,500
|
||||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
711,200
|
14,931,800
|
||||||
Valuation
allowance
|
||||||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$ |
711,200
|
14,931,800
|
|||||
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 September 30, 2007
and December 31, 2006 as the Company believes that it is more likely than
not
that the deferred tax assets will be utilized.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2007, net current deferred tax assets
decreased by $14,068,100 and net non-current deferred tax assets decreased
by
$152,500. The total net change in deferred tax assets was a decrease
of $14,220,600 The Company also recognized other comprehensive income of
$292,100 resulting from the tax benefit related to the mark to market of
assets
held for resale. Accordingly the total deferred income tax expense for the
nine
months ended September 30, 2007 was $14,512,700. 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.
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
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 September 30, 2007 or December 31, 2006.
-15-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
Internal Revenue Service has audited, and closed, the tax years for the Company
through the year ended May 31, 2000.
9) Sale
of Marketable Securities
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company sold (to a Canadian
financial institution) 6,607,605 shares of sxr Uranium One for net proceeds
(after commission and bulk sale discount) of $90,724,000. The Company
recorded a loss of $8,997,600 on the sale of the sxr Uranium One
shares.
The
Company also sold 1,500,000 shares of UPC during the nine months ended September
30, 2007. The Company received $1,452,400 in net cash proceeds and recorded
a
net gain of $774,700 on the sale of the UPC shares. The Company also
recorded a consolidated loss on YSFI’s sale of its shares of Enterra Energy
Trust of $95,500 prior to YSFI being dissolved during the quarter ended
September 30, 2007.
10) Earnings
Per Share
The
Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with
the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings
per
Share". Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding during the
period. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for the incremental
shares
attributed to outstanding options and warrants to purchase common stock,
if
dilutive. These options and warrants totaled 5,867,729 and 5,763,711
at September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
11) Long
term debt
At
September 30, 2007 long term debt consists of debt for the purchase of equipment
and insurance policies at various interest rates and due dates:
Current
Portion of Long Term Debt
|
$ |
78,600
|
||
Long
Term Portion of Debt
|
228,400
|
|||
$ |
307,000
|
|||
12) Asset
Retirement Obligations
The
Company accounts for the reclamation of its mineral properties pursuant to
SFAS
No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligation.” Under the
provisions of this statement, the Company records the estimated fair value
of
the reclamation liability on its mineral properties as of the date that the
liability is incurred with a corresponding increase in the property’s book
value. Actual costs could differ from those estimates. The Company
deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation from the asset retirement
obligations during the quarter in which it occurs. The reclamation
liabilities are reviewed each quarter to determine whether estimates for
the
total asset retirement obligation are sufficient to complete the reclamation
work required.
-16-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement
obligations (unaudited):
Nine
months ending September 30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Balance
December 31,
|
$ |
124,400
|
$ |
5,902,200
|
||||
Addition
to Liability
|
--
|
83,400
|
||||||
Accretion
Expense
|
6,900
|
578,400
|
||||||
Balance
September 30,
|
$ |
131,300
|
$ |
6,564,000
|
||||
13) Shareholders’
Equity
Stock
Option Plans
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 USE's key employees. The 2001 ISOP reserves for
issuance shares of the Company’s common stock equal to 25% of the Company’s
shares of common stock issued and outstanding at any time. The 2001
ISOP has a term of 10 years.
On
July
27, 2007 the Compensation Committee of the Company granted 1,558,000 stock
options to employees and officers of the Company under the 2001
ISOP. These options vest over three years (358,000) and five years
(1,200,000) and are exercisable at the closing price on July 27, 2007 or
$4.97
per share.
The
weighted average remaining contractual term and aggregate intrinsic value
of
options outstanding at September 30, 2007 was 7.05 years and $3,581,200,
respectively. At September 30, 2007, 1,558,000 of the options granted
were not vested. During the quarter and nine months ending September
30, 2007, the Company recognized $326,000 and $334,900, respectively in
compensation expense related to employee options and will recognize an
additional $4,768,100 over the remaining vesting period of five
years. The Company computes the fair values of its options granted
using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The options issued in 2007
were valued under Black Scholes using a risk free interest rate of 4.82%,
expected life of 10 years and expected volatility of 48.8%. To
estimate expected lives of options for this valuation, it was assumed options
will be exercised at the end of their expected lives. All options are
initially assumed to vest. 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.
Warrants
to Others
From
time
to time the Company issues stock purchase warrants to non-employees for
services.
-17-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
following table represents the activity in employee stock options and
non-employee stock purchase warrants for the nine months ended September
30,
2007:
September
30, 2007
|
||||||||||||||||
Employee
Stock Options
|
Stock
Purchase Warrants
|
|||||||||||||||
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
|||||||||||||||
Average
|
Average
|
|||||||||||||||
Exercise
|
Exercise
|
|||||||||||||||
Options
|
Price
|
Warrants
|
Price
|
|||||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning
|
||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
balance at December 31, 2006
|
3,927,880
|
$ |
2.92
|
1,821,323
|
$ |
3.57
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
1,558,000
|
$ |
4.97
|
31,215
|
$ |
3.29
|
||||||||||
Forfeited
|
(25,000 | ) | $ |
4.97
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
|||||||||
Expired
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||||
Exercised
|
(1,259,542 | ) | $ |
2.58
|
(186,147 | ) | $ |
3.13
|
||||||||
Outstanding
at September 30, 2007
|
4,201,338
|
$ |
3.77
|
1,666,391
|
$ |
3.61
|
||||||||||
Exercisable
at September 30, 2007
|
2,643,338
|
$ |
3.07
|
1,666,391
|
$ |
3.61
|
||||||||||
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life - Years
|
7.05
|
2.3
|
||||||||||||||
Aggregate
intrinsic value of options / warrants outstanding
|
$ |
3,581,200
|
$ |
1,615,800
|
||||||||||||
Common
Stock
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company issued 1,502,214 shares
of
common stock and released 292,740 previously forfeitable shares of its common
stock. Issued shares consist of 3,812 shares issued to
independent directors, 42,500 shares issued to officers of the Company pursuant
to the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan, 977,015 net shares issued as a result
of
the exercise of employee options, 186,147 shares issued as the result of
the
exercise of warrants. The 292,740 previously forfeitable shares were
released due to the retirement of an officer and a vote by the shareholders
on
June 22, 2007 to release all remaining forfeitable shares. An
additional 4,800 forfeitable shares were cancelled due to the cessation of
employment of an employee prior to his retirement, disability or death. The
forfeitable shares are expensed at the trading value of the shares on the
date
of issuance. At the time of release of the forfeitable shares any
additional expense is recorded using the market price at the time of release
and
the initial grant price.
The
2001
Incentive Stock Ownership Plan allows employees to exercise options by
surrendering shares he or she owns for the exercise of
options. Employees exercised a total of 689,590 options by
surrendering 282,527 shares which resulted in a net 407,063 shares
being issued as a result of employee exercise of options through the surrender
of previously owned shares. Additionally, employees, a retired
officer and the estate of a deceased officer exercised 569,952 options by
paying
$1,646,100 cash. The net number of shares issued through the
surrender of previously owned shares, 407,063, and the cash exercise of 569,952
options resulted in the issuance of 977,015 shares as a result of the exercise
of employee options.
-18-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
following table details the changes in common stock during the nine months
ended
September 30, 2007:
Additional
|
||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
|||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2006
|
19,659,591
|
$ |
196,600
|
$ |
72,990,700
|
|||||||
Stock
issued to outside directors
|
3,812
|
-
|
18,000
|
|||||||||
2001
stock compensation plan
|
42,500
|
400
|
228,200
|
|||||||||
Exercise
of options
|
977,015
|
9,800
|
1,684,300
|
|||||||||
Exercise
of warrants
|
186,147
|
1,800
|
588,200
|
|||||||||
Value
of company warrants issued and
|
||||||||||||
extended
|
-
|
-
|
116,300
|
|||||||||
Expense
of employee options
|
||||||||||||
vesting
|
-
|
-
|
346,000
|
|||||||||
Forfeitable
stock released to a former
|
||||||||||||
employee
|
112,680
|
1,200
|
660,200
|
|||||||||
Forfeitable
stock released to current
|
||||||||||||
employees
|
180,060
|
1,800
|
1,105,600
|
|||||||||
Deferred
taxes on FAS 123R compensation
|
-
|
-
|
1,415,400
|
|||||||||
21,161,805
|
$ |
211,600
|
$ |
79,152,900
|
||||||||
Equity
Compensation
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 the Company recorded compensation
expense of $574,600 in the form of common stock or options. Of this
compensation $228,600 was paid to officers pursuant to the shareholder
approved
Stock Bonus Plan, $346,000 recognized under FAS 123(R) as the expense
related to
the vesting of employee options.
14) Real
Estate Investment
On
May
10, 2007, the Company through its wholly owned subsidiary, Remington Village,
LLC (“Remington”) acquired approximately 10.15 acres of land located in
Gillette, Wyoming for a purchase price of $1,247,700. The Company has
now also successfully obtained entitlements and permits necessary to construct
a
216 unit multifamily housing complex on the property. The Board of
Directors has approved an equity investment in the property of $7.5
million. As of September 30, 2007, the Company planned to hold this
development as a rental property. Through September 30, 2007 a total
of $6.6 million had been expended on the acquisition of the land and
construction of the project. Construction costs to completion are
budgeted to be $26,011,000.
-19-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
On
August
31, 2007 the Company obtained construction financing from a commercial bank
in
the amount of $18.5 million. The construction loan matures on March
1, 2009, bears interest at 2.25% over 30 day LIBOR and required a 0.75%
origination fee. The Company can make a one time extension election
under the terms of the promissory note to extend the due date to September
1,
2009. Collateral for the promissory note is the Remington property, a
guarantee by USE 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.
The
equity contribution by the Company for the construction loan is $7.5 million
or
approximately 29% of the total build cost. 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 $4.5 million
in
escrow with the commercial bank. At September 30, 2007, a total of
$981,700 had been drawn from this account. During September 2007, the
Company had $3,129,400 recorded as an accounts payable relating to the
construction of Remington. Under the terms of the USECC Joint
Venture, Crested will be responsible to USE for one-half of all development
expense.
Our
real
estate investment in multi-family housing is subject to market changes in
the
housing industry as well as market prices for natural gas and
coal. As the multi-family housing project currently under
construction is not yet complete, an assessment of the significance of the
market risk for rental properties and minerals cannot be assessed at September
30, 2007. It is projected that the property will begin to be occupied
during the first quarter of 2008 and completed during the fourth quarter
of
2008. At that time, the market risk for rental properties as well as
the forecast for natural gas and coal production will be analyzed to determine
if there will be an impact on the value of the constructed multi-family
housing.
15) Crested
Acquisition
On
January 23, 2007, the Company and Crested entered into a plan and agreement
of
merger (the “merger agreement”) for the proposed acquisition of the minority
shares of Crested (approximately 29.1% was not owned by the Company at the
time
of the acquisition proposal was made which had changed to 29.9% as of September
30, 2007 due to the exercise of some Crested options) and the subsequent
merger
of Crested into the Company. The merger agreement was approved by all
directors of both companies. The exchange ratio of 1 of the Company’s
shares for each 2 Crested shares (not owned by the Company) was negotiated
between the special committees of independent directors of both companies,
and
approved by the full boards of both companies on December 20,
2006. On October 25, 2007 the Company’s Form S-4 for the merger was
cleared for mailing to the shareholders of Crested. The annual
meeting for the vote of Crested shareholders is set for November 26,
2007.
Management
believes that the merger of Crested into the Company will enhance shareholder
value due to consolidation of assets, simplification of reporting requirements
and the application of all resources to one company. It is
anticipated that the merger will occur during the fourth quarter of
2007.
-20-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
16) Sutter
Gold Mining, Inc.
On
March
14, 2007, Sutter reached a Settlement Agreement with the Company, Crested
and
USECC concerning: 1) an accumulated debt obligation by Sutter of approximately
$2,025,700 at December 31, 2006 for expenditures made by USECC on behalf
of
Sutter was settled by Sutter issuing to the Company and Crested 7,621,867
shares
of Sutter common stock to the Company and Crested, one half to each
and 2) a Contingent Stock Purchase Warrant between Sutter, the Company and
Crested settled by Sutter issuing a 5% net profits interest royalty to the
Company and Crested (reducing to 1% after $4.6 million has been paid under
the
5% NPIR). In addition, the Company and Crested agreed to provide a $1
million line of credit ($500,000 each) to Sutter at 12% annual interest,
drawable and repayable at any time in tranches of $50,000 or more by
Sutter. At September 30, 2007 Sutter had borrowed $363,500 under the
line of credit. The line of credit is collateralized by Sutter’s
California properties. The Company and Crested have the sole option
to have Sutter repay the debt in cash or Sutter stock at a 10% discount to
the
10 day VWAP before payment. Prepayment without penalty is
allowed. Terms of the credit agreement were negotiated and approved
by the independent directors of Sutter and the Company.
17) Uranium
One Asset Purchase Agreement Closing
On
April
30, 2007, the Company and certain of its private subsidiary companies, completed
the sale of their uranium assets by closing the February 22, 2007 Asset Purchase
Agreement (the “APA”) with Uranium One Inc. (“Uranium One”, Toronto Stock
Exchange, “UUU”), and certain of its private subsidiary
companies. Please see footnote 9 above concerning proceeds from sale
of Uranium One stock as of September 30, 2007.
The
net
gain on the sale of the uranium assets to sxr Uranium One is as
follows:
Proceeds
from sale of assets to 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
|
|||
Uranium
One purchase of UPC position
|
5,020,900
|
|||
Reimbursable
Costs
|
1,585,100
|
|||
Receipt
of Uranium One common stock
|
99,400,600
|
|||
114,132,400
|
||||
Cost
of sale of assets to 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
|
|||
Provision
for income taxes
|
41,771,700
|
|||
Net
gain on sale of assets to Uranium One
|
$ |
69,956,500
|
||
-21-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
18) Cash
Dividend on Common Stock
On
June
28, 2007, U.S. Energy Corp. announced that it would pay a one time special
dividend of $0.10 per share to each common shareholder of record on July
6,
2007. The dividend, in the total amount of $2,108,300 was paid on
July 16, 2007.
19) Common
Stock Buy Back Program
On
June
22, 2007 the Board of Directors of the Company approved a share buy back
program
for up to $5 million in common stock. The buy back program is being
administered exclusively through a brokerage firm and is subject to blackout
periods. Through September 30, 2007 the Company had purchased 228,000
shares at an average price of $4.54 per share.
20) Payment
of Cash Bonus, and Related Matters
On
May 2,
2007, the Company, with the approval of its board of directors and upon the
recommendation of the compensation committee (independent directors), paid
a
$4,887,000 gross cash bonus to all employees for extraordinary service related
to the April 30, 2007 sale of the uranium assets to Uranium One.
Also
on
May 2, 2007, the Company, with the approval of its board of directors and
upon
the recommendation of the compensation committee, paid a total of $649,500
in
taxes owed by officers and employees, upon the proposed release to them on
May
2, 2007 by the Company, of a total of 177,600 forfeitable shares of common
stock
of U.S. Energy Corp., and 2,460 dividend shares, for a total release of 180,060
shares. The Company also reimbursed the estate of John L Larsen for
$213,800 of taxes recently paid by the estate upon release of forfeitable
shares
to the estate following Mr. Larsen’s passing in September 2006; and reimbursed
Daniel P. Svilar $162,300 for taxes he paid following release of forfeitable
shares to him upon his retirement in January 2007. These matters were
ratified by the shareholders at the June 22, 2007 annual meeting and the
shares
have been released.
21) Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Property - Kobex Resources, Ltd.
On
April
3, 2007, the Company and Kobex Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”) (a British Columbia
company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “KBX”), signed a
formal Exploration, Development and Mine Operating Agreement for the permitting,
development and production of the Mt. Emmons “Lucky Jack” Molybdenum
Property. The agreement grants Kobex the exclusive option to acquire
up to a 50% undivided interest in patented and unpatented claims located
near
Crested Butte, Colorado, which are held by the Company, for $50
million. The $50 million to be spent will be for all Project-related
expenditures, the cost for a bankable feasibility study, and option payments
to
the Company. The balance between money spent on expenditures and
option payments, if any, and $50 million, will be paid to the Company in
cash. At September 30, 2007, Kobex had expended a total of $5,435,300
on the Lucky Jack Project. During the nine months ended September 30,
2007 the Company invoiced Kobex $2,356,100 for costs it had paid on the property
during that period. Kobex had reimbursed the Company $1,652,000 of
these costs at September 30, 2007 and paid an additional $602,000
during October 2007.
-22-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Kobex
also delivered 285,632 shares of its common stock valued at $750,000 pursuant
to
the Exploration, Development and Mine Operating Agreement. During the
quarter ended September 30, 2007, Kobex paid a finders fee of $463,800 to
the
party who made the introduction of Kobex to the Company on the Lucky Jack
project. The Company agreed to pay one half of the finders fee in
five equal installments of $46,375 in either cash or common stock of
Kobex. The Company made the first installment during the quarter
ended September 30, 2007 by surrendering to Kobex 17,700 of its common shares
previously delivered to the Company. The next installment will be due
on March 9, 2008 and each year thereafter until March 9, 2011.
On
August
7, 2007, the Town of Crested Butte 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 they are continuing
all
ongoing activities while reviewing and evaluating the matter. The
Company, Crested, and Kobex intend to work with the Town to proceed with
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, 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.
22) Oil
and Gas Exploration Activities
U.S.
Energy Corp. has signed an Exploration and Area of Mutual Interest agreement
with a Gulf Coast (United States) oil and gas exploration and production
company. U.S. Energy Corp. 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. Approximately $3 million has been paid
under
the agreement to date. Two prospects have already been leased, and
exploration and development activities are expected to commence in the later
part of the fourth quarter 2007 or the first quarter of 2008.
U.S.
Energy Corp. 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 the
anticipated three to five year program.
23) Subsequent
Event
On
October 25, 2007 the Company sold its commercial real estate operations in
southern Utah to Uranium One for $2.7 million and recognized approximately
$840,000 in profit from the sale. After the sale of these properties
the Company has no further holdings of real estate or commercial operations
in
Utah. The Company agreed to indemnify Uranium One on certain title
issues not covered by the Title Insurance Policy that may arise in the future
until a new lease is signed between the School and Institutional Trust Lands
Administration of Utah and Uranium One.
-23-
ITEM
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.
The
following is Management's Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) of the
significant factors which have affected our liquidity, capital resources
and
results of operations during the periods included in the accompanying financial
statements. For a detailed explanation of the Company's Business
Overview, it is suggested that Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2007 be read in conjunction with the Company's Form 10-K for
the
year ended December 31, 2006. The discussion contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Due to uncertainties
in our business, actual results may differ materially from the discussion
below.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Report on Form 10-Q includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning
of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("the Exchange
Act"). All statements other than statements of historical fact
included in this Report are forward-looking statements. In addition,
whenever words like "expect", "anticipate”, or "believe" are used, the Company
is making forward looking statements. Actual results may vary
materially from the forward-looking statements and there is no assurance
that
the assumptions used will ultimately be realized.
Overview
of Business
U.S.
Energy Corp. (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 also has been
engaged in the past in commercial real estate, on a limited basis, in connection
with acquiring mineral properties which included commercial real
estate.
The
Company manages its operations through a joint venture, the USECC Joint Venture
("USECC"), with one of its subsidiary companies, Crested Corp. ("Crested")
of
which it owns a consolidated 70.1% interest. The narrative discussion
of this MD&A refers only to the Company but includes the consolidated
financial statements of Crested, USECC, Sutter Gold Mining, Inc. ("Sutter")
and
Plateau Resources Limited, Inc. ("Plateau"). The Company has entered
into partnerships through which it either joint ventured or leased properties
with non-related parties for the development and production of certain of
its
mineral properties. The Company had no production from any of its
mineral properties during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2007.
Recent
Developments
Sale
of Uranium Assets
On
April
30, 2007, the Company sold all of its uranium assets, with the exception
of a 4%
Net Profits Royalty on the Green Mountain uranium property in Wyoming, to
sxr
Uranium One Inc. (“Uranium One”). Uranium One is listed on the
Toronto Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the symbol
“UUU”. At closing, the Company received (a) $1,585,100 in
reimbursable costs relating to work performed on the uranium properties,
(b)
$5,020,900 as a result of Uranium One purchasing of the Uranium Power Corp.
(“UPC”) position in the properties and (c) 6,607,605 shares of Uranium One
common stock valued at the date of closing at $99,400,600. The
Company sold all of the Uranium One shares during the second and third quarters
of 2007 for which it received $90,724,000. The Company also received
the cash and collateral bonds posted for asset retirement obligations relating
to the uranium properties.
-24-
Pursuant
to the terms of the Uranium One contract, the Company will also receive
$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, 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. The
Company also retained a 4% Net Profits Royalty on the Green Mountain uranium
property in central Wyoming; this property is owned and operated by Rio Tinto,
Inc.
Acquisition
of Crested
The
boards of directors of the Company and Crested have approved a recommendation
of
the Special Committees of both boards, consisting of outside directors of both
companies, to merge Crested into the Company. The exchange ratio is
one share of the Company’s common stock for every two shares of
Crested. It is anticipated that the merger will be concluded, if
approved by the Crested shareholders, during the fourth quarter of 2007. (See
Note 15 above)
On
July
31, 2007, U.S. Energy Corp. (“USE”) and its majority owned subsidiary Crested
Corp. (“Crested”) signed an amendment to the plan and agreement of merger (the
“merger agreement”) for the proposed acquisition of the minority shares of
Crested (approximately 29.1% at the time of the acquisition proposal was made
which changed to 29.9% as of September 30, 2007 due to the exercise of some
Crested options) not owned by USE (approximately 71%), and the subsequent merger
of Crested into USE.
The
amendment (i) extends the deadline for merger approval to December 31, 2007;
and
(ii) provides that Crested will pay the income tax which will be owed by each
holder of a non-qualified stock option upon exercise thereof, and forfeitable
shares, provided that each such holder executes and delivers to USE an agreement
(a “lockup agreement”) not to sell (until retirement, death or disability) any
of the USE stock they receive in the merger, in exchange for the Crested stock
acquired on exercise of the Crested non-qualified stock option. USE
has agreed to vote the shares of the Company it owns with the majority of the
minority of the Company shareholders. Officers and directors of the
Company and USE have agreed to vote in favor of the merger.
Stock
Buy Back Plan
The
Board
of Directors of the Company approved a share buy back program for up to $5
million in common stock. The buy back program is being administered
exclusively through an individual brokerage firm and is subject to blackout
periods. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had purchased 228,000
shares of its common stock under the terms of this plan at an average purchase
price of $4.54 per share.
Dividend
On
July
16, 2007, the Company paid a one time cash dividend to all common shareholders
of record on July 6, 2007. The total amount paid out for the dividend
was $2,108,300.
Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Property – Kobex Resources, Ltd.
On
April
3, 2007, the Company and Kobex Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”) (a British Columbia
company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “KBX”) signed a
formal Exploration Development and Mine Operating Agreement for the permitting
and development of the Mt. Emmons, “Lucky Jack”, molybdenum
property.
-25-
Pursuant
to the April 3, 2007 agreement, Kobex is required to expend $16,000,000 in
expenditures on the property through December 2010. On July 6, 2007,
Kobex announced its budget for its first year of operations through April of
2008 would be $14,200,000. Kobex will not own an interest in the
Lucky Jack property until it has expended $15,000,000 at which time it will
own
15%. After spending an additional $35,000,000, the ownership interest
for Kobex will be 50%. At the Company’s sole discretion, Kobex also
may acquire an additional 15% at the Company’s option after it obtains a 50%
interest if certain terms and conditions are met. As of September 30,
2007, Kobex had expended $5,435,300 since it began participating in the costs
of
the project.
Historical
records filed by predecessor owners of the 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 22.5 million tons at a grade of 0.701% MoS2 was also
reported. No assurance can be given that these quantities of MoS2
exist. The average
market price for MoS2 at September
30,
2007 was $31.75 per pound.
On
August
7, 2007, the Town of Crested Butte 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 they are continuing all
ongoing activities while reviewing and evaluating the matter. The
Company, Crested, and Kobex intend to work with the Town to proceed with
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 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.
Oil
and Gas Development
The
Company has signed an Exploration and Area of Mutual Interest agreement with
a
Gulf Coast (United States) oil and gas exploration and production
company. As a result of this agreement, 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. Approximately $3 million has been paid under the agreement to
date. Two prospects have already been leased, and exploration and
development activities are expected to commence in the first quarter of
2008.
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 the
anticipated three to five year program.
Remington
Village
On
May
10, 2007, the Company through its subsidiary, Remington Village, LLC
(“Remington”) acquired approximately 10.15 acres of land located in Gillette,
Wyoming. The Company is in the process of constructing 216 multi-family housing
units on the property. Construction costs to completion are budgeted
to be $26,011,000. Under the terms of the USECC Joint Venture,
Crested will be responsible to USE for one-half of all development
expense. See Note 14 above.
Mineral
Prices
Uranium
- The price of uranium concentrates has increased from a five year low of $9.88
per pound in November 2002 to $75 per pound on September 30, 2007 (Ux
Weekly).
-26-
Gold
- The five year low for gold was $310.70 per ounce in October
2002. The price for gold on September 30, 2007 was $742.80 per ounce
(Metal Prices.com).
Molybdenum
- The five year low for molybdic oxide was $3.00 per pound in November
2002. The average price for molybdic oxide was $31.75 per pound on
September 30, 2007. (Metal Prices.com).
Results
of Operations
Three
and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 compared with the Three and Nine Months
Ended September 30, 2006
The
sale
of uranium assets to Uranium One resulted in net income before minority interest
and income taxes of $93,916,400 for the nine months ended September 30,
2007. This is an increase in earnings before taxes of $104,272,400
from the reported loss of $10,356,000 for the nine months ended September 30,
2006. During the quarter ended September 30, 2007 the Company
recognized a loss before income taxes of $3,271,600 as compared to a loss of
$2,933,700 for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. Net earnings
after taxes for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007 were
$57,227,200 and a loss of $750,000 respectively or a gain of $2.86 per share
basic, $2.61 diluted per share, for the nine months and a loss of $0.04 per
share for the three months ended September 30, 2007.
Operating
revenues for the nine and three months ended September 30, 2007 increased by
approximately $325,900 over the comparative periods ended September 30,
2006. The reason for the increase during the nine months and quarter
ended September 30, 2007 was primarily due to the Company selling residential
lots at the Company’s commercial real estate property in southern Utah for
$663,400. This increase in operating revenues was offset by
reductions in non-recurring fees earned from mineral companies for due diligence
work which was completed during September 2006 in the amount of
$250,000. The Company projects an increase in future periods,
beginning during the first quarter of 2008, from real estate
operations. The Company likewise expects commencement of revenues
during the fourth quarter of 2008 from oil and gas wells it expects to drill
during the first quarter of 2008.
Operating
costs and expenses increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2007
by
$1,784,200 over those recorded during the nine months ended September 30,
2006. The increase came as a result of increased activity on the
Company’s mineral claims, $107,500, the vast majority of which were sold to
Uranium One and General and Administrative expenses which increased by
$1,647,800 primarily as a result of employee compensation. Components
of that compensation are (1) a cash bonus of $4,887,000 gross cash bonus to
all
employees for extraordinary service related to the April 30, 2007 sale
of uranium assets to Uranium One; (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 $649,500 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.
Operating
Costs and Expenses for the Quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to
the
quarter ended September 30, 2006 decreased by $3,768,600. Converse to
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 both mineral holding costs and general
and administrative costs decreased during the quarter ended September 30,
2007. Mineral property costs and expenses decreased during the
quarter ended September 30, 2007 due primarily to the uranium mineral properties
being sold to Uranium One in April of 2007. General and
Administrative costs and expenses decreased during the quarter ended September
30, 2007, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2006 due to a bonus being
paid to employees during the quarter in 2006 of $3,013,000 while no similar
bonus was paid during the quarter ended September 30, 2007.
-27-
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company recorded $1,962,000 from
the gain on the sale of assets as compared to a gain on the sale of assets
of
$3,063,500 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006. This
reduction of $1,001,500 was as a result of a reduction in the payments received
from UPC during the nine months ended September 30, 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. An offset to the reduction of UPC payments was the receipt of
285,632 shares of Kobex common stock valued at $750,000. These 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
shares of Uranium One 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 of
the Uranium One shares (6,607,605 shares) at an average net sales price of
$13.68 per share resulted in a loss of $8,997,600 during the nine months ended
September 30, 2007 of. 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, and UPC and the Enterra units resulted in a net loss from the
sale of marketable securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2007
of
$8,318,400. Sales of marketable securities during the nine months
ended September 30, 2006 consisted of the sale of Enterra Energy Trust units
and
resulted in a net loss of $860,500.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 the Company recorded gain based on
foreign exchange rates of $430,000 and a loss of $86,600 during the quarter
ended September 30, 2007. The nine month gain was as a result of the
sale of the sale of Uranium One common stock, $321,000; the receipt of
additional shares of Sutter common stock in payment of debt to USECC,
$109,000.
The
sale
of the Company’s uranium assets to Uranium One resulted in a net gain before
taxes of $111,728,200 during nine months ended September 30,
2007. (See Note 17 above) Interest income increased by
$1,643,800 and $1,026,700 during the nine and three months ended September
30,
2007 respectively over the comparative periods of the prior year. The
increase is due to larger amounts of cash invested in interest bearing accounts
and securities.
During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 the Company recorded a gain
from the sale of its investment in Pinnacle Gas Resources, Ltd. of
$10,842,300. The Company also settled a litigation expense relating
to the return of the Lucky Jack property from Phelps Dodge in the amount of
$7,000,000. There were no similar revenues or expensed during the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2007.
-28-
The
Company recorded a minority interest in the loss of consolidated subsidiaries
of
$147,200 for the three months ended September 30, 2007. This amount
of minority interest in the loss of consolidated subsidiaries during the quarter
came as a result of the reduction of the Company’s ownership of Crested during
the quarter ended September 30, 2007. Previously the Company’s
ownership of Crested for year to date earnings had been reported at a higher
ownership percentage. The Company reported minority interest in the
gain of consolidated subsidiaries for the nine months ended September 30, 2007
of $3,551,400. The minority interest gain in consolidated
subsidiaries recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was
primarily the minority interest gain of $3,555,900 of Crested. This
amount was offset by a net minority loss during the nine months ended September
30, 2007 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 in consolidation have been fully reinstated through
September 30, 2007.
During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 the Company recorded losses
from the valuation of derivatives and the exchange of the Enterra
units. The Enterra units were sold prior to the nine months ended
September 30, 2007 so there was no similar activity during the nine months
ended
September 30, 2007.
The
net
gain of $57,227,200 during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 resulted
in
positive retained earnings for the Company of $16,017,000 from a accumulated
deficit at December 31, 2006 of $39,101,900.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
liquidity position of the Company is the best it has ever been during its forty
year history. At September 30, 2007, the Company had $78,095,600 in
cash on hand and Government Treasury Bills. Current assets at
September 30, 2007 were $83,099,700 as compared to current liabilities of
$6,005,400. The Company therefore had working capital at September
30, 2007 of $77,094,300 and a current ratio of 13.8 to 1.
The
Company reported two assets held for sale as of September 30,
2007. Those assets were the Ticaboo town site in southern Utah in the
amount of $1,819,700 and a used corporate aircraft with a net book value of
$1,112,500. The Ticaboo town site was sold on October 25, 2007 to
Uranium One for $2,700,000 and the proceeds from this transaction have been
placed in a 1031 exchange escrow account. Although a firm price
cannot be established as of the date of this report for the corporate aircraft,
management of the Company believes that it will be sold within the next twelve
months.
Current
liabilities at September 30, 2007 consisted primarily of income taxes payable
of
$1,569,700, accounts payable of $3,367,200 and accrued compensation of
$761,800. The current portion of long term debt was
$78,600. This debt, along with the long term portion of the Company’s
debt at September 30, 2007 of $228,400, result in total debt owed by the Company
of $307,000. All accounts payable at September 30, 2007 were current
under the payment terms of the Company. The accounts payable balance
primarly consists of amounts due to the general contractor for capital
construction expenses related to the Company’s real estate development project,
Remington Village (“Remington”), in the amount of $3,129,400.
Cash
and
cash equivalents decreased by $10,151,900 as a result of the Company investing
cash proceeds from the sale of Uranium One shares into Government Treasury
Bills
which are classified as marketable securities; the payment of a cash dividend,
the purchase of treasury shares; the purchase of oil and gas properties; the
Remington real estate development property; the purchase of a corporate aircraft
and other equipment; and the payment of income taxes. The Company
held $71,274,000 in Government Treasury Bills at September 30, 2007 and
considers them very liquid. These investments are considered
Marketable Securities and are not cash equivalents as they have maturity dates,
from date of purchase, in excess of 90 days.
-29-
Operations
and Financing Activities consumed $28,101,100 and $4,764,200 respectively during
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 while Investing Activities provided
$22,713,400. Cash consumed in operations was expended on General and
Administrative expenses, the payment of $15,640,300 of income tax estimates
and
the bonus paid to employees at the close of the Uranium One sale discussed
above
in Note 20.
Cash
provided by investing activities came primarily as a result of the sale of
uranium assets in the amount of $14,022,700; the sale of marketable securities
of $92,250,700 (shares of Uranium One); the sale of property and equipment,
$1,294,200; and the collection of a note receivable of $560,500 that related
to
a short term real estate loan during the fourth quarter of 2006. The
sale of uranium assets relates to cash received from UPC for their interest
in a
joint contract with the Company; a payment received from Uranium One to purchase
UPC’s contract obligations to the Company and the return of bond deposits as a
result of the sale of uranium assets to Uranium One. These increases
in cash from investing activities are offset by the purchase of Government
Treasury Bills, $70,00,000; the purchase of unproven oil and gas properties,
$2,894,100; the purchase of Remington, $6,595,200; and the purchase of property,
plant and equipment, $5,586,700, which included a corporate
aircraft. The Company also purchased certain mining claims for
$259,200 which were ultimately sold to Uranium One.
Cash
provided by financing activities came as a result of the issuance of common
stock for which the Company received $2,284,100. The issuance of
these shares was the result of the exercise of 569,952 options held by employees
and 186,147 warrants held by third parties. One of the Company’s
subsidiaries, Crested, received $342,000 as the result of the exercise of
200,000 options. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the
Company retired $1,089,200 in long term debt which primarily related to a
corporate aircraft. The Company also used $2,108,300 to pay a $0.10
per share dividend during the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2007.
The payment of this dividend was a one time dividend and it is not known when
or
if another dividend will be paid. Under the terms of a stock buy back
program the Company purchased 228,000 shares of its common stock during the
three months ended September 30, 2007 for a net purchase price of
$1,047,300. The Company was required by the commercial bank providing
the construction financing for Remington to deposit $4,725,000 in an interest
bearing account as additional collateral for the construction
loan. Upon the retirement of the construction loan the deposit will
be returned to the Company.
Capital
Resources
Kobex
Resources Ltd. Agreement
On
April
3, 2007, the Company signed a formal Exploration, Development and Mine Operating
Agreement providing Kobex an option to acquire up to a 50% interest in the
Lucky
Jack molybdenum property. Prior to Kobex expending $15 million it
will not own an interest in the Lucky Jack property. At such time as
Kobex sends $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 the balance
of
2007 and into the near term. As of September 30, 2007, Kobex had
expended $5,435,300 on the project.
-30-
The
principal financial benefit to be realized in 2007 and thereafter by the Company
(if Kobex meets its contractual obligations) is that Kobex will fund
substantially all costs and expenses which otherwise would have to be funded
by
the Company (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.
Cash
on Hand
As
discussed above, the Company has monetized certain of its 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. The Company has invested its cash surplus in interest
bearing accounts and 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 at
the time of this report. 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, the 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 Company has pledged its corporate headquarters and one
of its corporate aircraft as collateral for the line of credit.
Other
Due
to
the current levels of the market prices for gold and molybdenum, management
of
the Company believes that sufficient capital will be available to develop its
mineral properties from strategic industry partners, debt financing, cash on
hand, and the sale of equity or a combination thereof.
Capital
Requirements
The
Company believes that the current market prices for gold and molybdenum are
at
levels that warrant further exploration and development of the Company’s mineral
properties. The successful development and production of these
properties could enhance the liquidity and financial position of the
Company. It is not possible to predict the future price of minerals
and the ultimate economic liability of our projects.
The
direct capital requirements of the Company during the fourth quarter of 2007
are
its general and administrative costs, the balance of a $1,000,000 letter of
credit to Sutter (see note 16 above), development of the Company’s interest in
recently acquired oil and gas properties, the development of the Remington
property, a stock buyback program, and the potential purchase of other
assets.
Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Property
As
a
result of the Exploration, Development and Mine Operating agreement entered
into
on April 3, 2007 with Kobex, it is not anticipated that the Company will have
to
expend its capital resources on the Lucky Jack project during the balance of
2007. Budgeted cash outlays by the Company to fund operations at
Lucky Jack are reimbursed by Kobex. At September 30, 2007, Kobex owed
the Company $781,500. Kobex has paid all the amounts due to the
Company within 30 days of being invoiced and at the time of this report is
current on its obligations to the Company. There have been no billing
or operation disputes between Kobex and the Company.
-31-
Oil
and Gas Development
The
Company signed an Exploration and Area of Mutual Interest agreement with a
Gulf
Coast (United States) oil and gas exploration and production
company. 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 September 30, 2007, $2,894,100 had
been paid under the agreement. Two prospects have already been
leased, and exploration and development activities are expected to commence
in
the first quarter of 2008.
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 the
anticipated three to five year program.
Sutter
Gold Mining Inc. Properties
The
Company and has agreed to provide Sutter with a $1,000,000 credit facility
at
12% interest for a term of two years. The credit facility will be
able to be drawn down over time in $50,000 increments and is repayable at the
option of the Company either in cash or common stock of Sutter. The
grant of the line of credit was subject to the approval of the TSX for the
issuance of 7,621,868 shares of Sutter’s common stock to repay the Company and
Crested for an existing $2,025,700 in debt as of December 31,
2006. Approval of the issuance of the shares was received on May 4,
2007 at which time the credit facility became available to Sutter. As
of September 30, 2007, the Company had extended $363,500 to Sutter under the
credit facility. The balance under the line of credit to Sutter as of
September 30, 2007 was $636,500. The Company may elect, at its sole
option, to receive payment of the line of credit in cash, common stock of Sutter
or by the return of the Company’s and Crested’s common stock that Sutter
owns. Management of the Company does not anticipate extending any
further credit to Sutter. To fund its additional development and
capital infrastructure commitments, Sutter will have to locate an industry
partner, sell a portion or all of its position in the gold properties or seek
equity or commercial financing.
Real
Estate
On
January 8, 2007, the Company, through its wholly owned limited liability
company, Remington Village, LLC, signed a Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate
to purchase approximately 10.15 acres of land located in Gillette, Wyoming
for
$1,247,700. The Company closed on the property on May 10,
2007. The Company also signed a Development Agreement with P.E.G.
Development, LLC to obtain the entitlements and oversee the development of
the
property. Total land purchase and construction costs is estimated to
be $26.1 million. At September 30, 2007 the Company had expended
$6,595,200 on the project.
On
August
31, 2007 the Company obtained construction financing from a commercial bank
in
the amount of $18.5 million. The construction loan matures on March
1, 2009, bears interest at 2.25% over 30 day LIBOR and required a 0.75%
origination fee. The Company can make a one time extension election
under the terms of the promissory note to extend the due date to September
1,
2009. Collateral for the promissory note is the Remington property, a
guarantee by USE 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.
The
equity contribution by the Company for the construction loan is $7.5 million
or
approximately 29% of the total build cost. 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 $4.5 million
in
escrow with the commercial bank. At September 30, 2007, a total of
$981,700 had been drawn from this account. During September 2007, the
Company had $3,129,400 recorded as an accounts payable relating to the
construction of Remington. Under the terms of the USECC Joint
Venture, Crested will be responsible to USE for one-half of all development
expense.
-32-
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 Sutter and Lucky Jack properties.
The
asset
retirement obligation for Sutter at September 30, 2007 is $23,500 which is
covered by a cash bond. It is not anticipated that any cash resources
will be used for asset retirement obligations at Sutter during the year ending
December 31, 2007.
The
asset
retirement obligation for the Lucky Jack molybdenum property at September 30,
2007 is $108,100. It is not anticipated that this reclamation work
will occur in the near term.
Equity
Transactions
Stock
Buy Back Program. The Board of Directors of the Company
approved a share buy back program for up to $5 million in common
stock. The buy back program became effective June 22, 2007, is being
administered exclusively through an individual brokerage firm and is subject
to
blackout periods. Through September 30, 2007, the Company had
repurchased 228,000 shares of its common stock for $1,047,300 leaving an
additional $3,952,700 for the purchase of shares of the Company under the
plan.
Other
The
Company is evaluating several mineral and real estate projects in which it
may
invest. Additionally, the Company is researching several other
opportunities to deploy its capital outside of the minerals
business. At September 30, 2007 none of these acquisition targets had
advanced past the evaluation stage.
Contractual
Obligations
Contractual
obligations at September 30, 2007 consist of debt to third parties of $307,000
and asset retirement obligations of $131,300. The debt will be paid
over a period of five 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:
Payments
due by period
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Less
|
One
to
|
Three
to
|
More
than
|
|||||||||||||||||
than
one
|
Three
|
Five
|
Five
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total
|
Year
|
Years
|
Years
|
Years
|
||||||||||||||||
Long-term
debt obligations
|
$ |
307,000
|
$ |
78,600
|
$ |
228,000
|
$ |
400
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
131,300
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
131,300
|
|||||||||||||||
Totals
|
$ |
438,300
|
$ |
78,600
|
$ |
228,000
|
$ |
400
|
$ |
131,300
|
||||||||||
-33-
Critical
Accounting Policies
Principles
of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements of the Company and
subsidiaries at September 30, 2007 include the accounts of the Company, the
accounts of its majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries, Crested (70.1%),
USECC Joint Venture ("USECC"), a consolidated joint venture which is equally
owned by the Company and Crested, through which the bulk of their operations
are
conducted Sutter (54.4%), and Plateau (100%). During the quarter
ended September 30, 2007, Four Nines Gold, Inc. ("FNG") (50.9%) and Yellow
Stone
Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) (35.9%) were dissolved. These subsidiary or
controlled companies were previously consolidated. The Company’s
ownership of FNG and YSFI prior to dissolution was 50.9% and 35.9%,
respectively.
Investments
in joint ventures and 20% to 50% owned companies are accounted for using the
equity method. Because of management control and debt to the Company
which may be converted to equity, investments of less than 20% are accounted
for
by the cost method. All material inter-company profits, transactions
and balances have been eliminated.
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 operating cash and cash
equivalents in bank deposit accounts which exceed federally insured
limits. The Company invests its non operating cash in Federal
Treasury Bills. At September 30, 2007, 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.
Accounts
and Notes Receivable - The majority of the Company's accounts receivable
are due from industry partners for work related to its Lucky Jack project which
the Company has paid, real estate rentals and management fees. The
Company determines any required allowance by considering a number of factors
including length of time trade accounts receivable are past due and the
Company's previous loss history. The Company provides allowances for
account and note receivable balances when they become uncollectible, and
payments subsequently received on such receivables and notes are credited to
the
allowance for doubtful accounts. At September 30, 2007 there was no
provision for doubtful accounts.
Marketable
Securities - The Company accounts for its marketable securities as (1)
trading, (2) available-for-sale or (3) held-to-maturity. Based on the
Company's intent to sell the securities, its equity securities are reported
as a
trading security. 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. If a decline in fair value of
held-to-maturity securities is determined to be other than temporary, the
investment is written down to fair value.
Mineral
Claims and Oil and Gas Properties - We follow the full cost method
of accounting for all 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 and probable reserves are amortized
by
applying the unit-of-production method using estimates of proved and probable
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.
-34-
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
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.
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.
The
Company re-acquired by foreclosure sale the Ticaboo town site (“Ticaboo”)
located in southern Utah near Lake Powell during 2006. Ticaboo
includes a motel, restaurant and lounge, convenience store, recreational boat
storage and service facility, and improved residential and mobile home
lots. Most of these properties were acquired when the Shootaring Mill
was acquired in 1993.
The
Company has classified Ticaboo as a current asset, Real Estate Held for
Sale. The carrying value of $1.8 million represents the cost basis of
the asset after the re-acquisition and the write off of the corresponding note
receivable. Ticaboo is under contract to be sold to Uranium One and
management has made the determination that it is more likely than not that
the
property will be sold during the fourth quarter of 2007. Please see
Note 23 above.
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.
-35-
ITEM
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
Market
risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the operating results,
financial position, or liquidity of the Company due to adverse changes in market
prices and rates. We are not exposed to material market risk due to changes
in
interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We do not hold investments
in debt securities nor do we hold assets or transact business in foreign
currencies.
Our
cash
equivalents and Government Treasury Bills are exposed to financial market risk,
including changes in interest rates. We typically do not attempt to reduce
or
eliminate our market exposures on these investment securities because of their
short-term duration. We believe that the fair value of our investment portfolio
or related income would not be significantly impacted by either a 100 basis
point increase or decrease in interest rates due mainly to the short-term nature
of the major portion of our investment portfolio.
Our
real
estate investment in multi-family housing is subject to market changes in the
housing industry as well as market prices for natural gas and
coal. As the multi-family housing project currently under
construction is not yet complete, an assessment of the significance of the
market risk for rental properties and minerals cannot be assessed at September
30, 2007. It is projected that the property will begin to be occupied
during the first quarter of 2008 and completed during the fourth quarter of
2008. At that time, the market risk for rental properties as well as
the forecast for natural gas and coal production will be analyzed to determine
if there will be an impact on the value of the constructed multi-family
housing.
ITEM
4. Controls and Procedures
The
Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have
reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 240.13a-15(e)) as of the end
of
the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the
Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer have concluded
that the Company’s current disclosure controls and procedures are effective to
ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports
it
files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and
reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange
Commission’s rules and forms. There was no change in the Company’s
internal controls that occurred during the period covered by this report that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to affect, the Company’s
internal controls over financial reporting.
-36-
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Legal Proceedings
Material
legal proceedings pending at September 30, 2007, and developments in those
proceedings from that date to the date this Quarterly Report is filed, are
summarized below. The status of the legal proceedings, which were
pending during the year has either not changed, been settled or is otherwise
immaterial. Except for matters involving water rights, the Company
and Crested are not parties to any pending legal proceeding. SGMI is
defending a quite title action to which the Company and Crested are not
parties.
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 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.
|
2.
|
Concerning
the Application for Water Rights of the Town of Crested
Butte,Case No. 02CW63. This case involved 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 USECC
reached a settlement and signed a Stipulation to protect USECC’s water
rights pursuant to a proposed final decree. This Stipulation
has been signed by the Water Referee and was approved by the Water
Court
on September 5, 2007. This case is now
closed.
|
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.
|
-37-
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. On August 3, 2007, the Parties signed a
Stipulation recognizing USECC and most other Opposers position is
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 Stipulation has been submitted to the Water Court
for approval. USECC’s water rights will be protected by this
Stipulation and there is no need for USECC to be an active participant
in
future proceedings in this case, which will involve quantification
of the
in-stream flows claimed the United States of America for the Black
Canyon
Park.
|
Sutter
Gold Mining Inc. - Quiet Title Litigation
In
2004,
USECC Gold Limited Liability Company (a predecessor of Sutter) 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) has
defaulted. Plaintiff and the remaining defendant continue to have
settlement discussions. If a settlement is not reached, a trial on
this mater is tentatively scheduled for November, 2007.
Sutter
is
confident that plaintiff would prevail on the merits in the event of
trial. The subject property includes a portion of the existing
decline prior to intercepting the mineralized resource at the Sutter Gold
project. The remaining defendant claims a one-fifth interest in one
of the two patented mining claims. If settlement discussions are not
successful, and if plaintiff does not prevail at trial, defendant may be
entitled to seek remedies related to the property, possibly including filing
a
partition action. The outcome of such post-trial proceedings (if
commenced by defendant following an outcome adverse to plaintiff at trial)
after
filing a petition action cannot be predicted, but management does not expect
any
outcome to ultimately adversely affect Sutter’s plan of operations or financial
condition.
ITEM
1A. Risk Factors
The
following risk factors should be considered in evaluating the information in
this Form 10-Q. The reader should also consider risk factors
discussed in our annual report for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed on
Form 10-K.
Risks
Associated with Entry into New Areas of Business.
The Company is entering into the multifamily housing business which has risks
associated with it relating to a future decline in available renters and
fluctuations in the local real estate market as well as local employment which
is tied to the market price for natural gas and coal. As the
multifamily housing unit has not yet been built, and a down turn in the real
estate market in Gillette, Wyoming is not foreseen, management believes that
the
risk during the construction and initial occupation phase of the project will
not have a material impact on the Company’s financial
statements. However, significant risk from a cash flow (and therefore
debt service) perspective may develop in this sector after the initial
occupation phase is completed, depending on occupancy and rent
rates.
-38-
The
Company is re-entering the oil and gas exploration business as of September
30,
2007. The cost of drilling, availability of take away capacity and
oil and gas prices are risks that the Company will be exposed to. At
the time of the filing of this report the Company is not able to assess the
risk
due to the early stage of the project.
Possible
Need for Added Capital. Historically, working
capital needs have been primarily met from receipt of funds from liquidating
investments, selling partial interests in mineral properties and selling
equity. Although the Company received significant cash proceeds from
the sale of the uranium properties in April 2007, and has received additional
cash from selling the Uranium One shares, the development and production of
mineral properties is very capital intensive. The Luck Jack Property
will take significant amounts of capital to place it into
production. We may seek equity and/or debt financing for this
purpose, which may result in dilution to current shareholders.
No
recurring business revenues and uncertainties associated with transaction-based
revenues. Presently the Company does not have an
operating business with recurring revenues. Receipt of funds from
selling interests in mineral properties, or liquidating investments in mineral
properties (or the subsidiaries which hold properties) is unpredictable as
to
timing, structure, and profitability. For example, we began
activities in the coalbed methane sector in 1999 by starting up
RMG. RMG used, rather than provided, capital until it was sold to
Enterra Energy Trust in June 2005. In 2003, we acquired stock in
Pinnacle by RMG’s contribution of properties into Pinnacle, but we did not
realize a return on the transaction until September 2006.
Working
capital on hand is expected to be sufficient to fund general and administrative
expenses, and conduct exploration and a limited amount of development work
on
the mineral properties as well as other business ventures we are pursuing,
including multifamily housing. Although the Company currently has
working capital, it will need to continue to seek funding from industry partners
or sell equity or debt to develop all the projects. Also, it is
anticipated the necessary capital for developing the Lucky Jack Molybdenum
Property will be available through Kobex to obtain mining and other permits,
further delineate the mineral resources underground, and plan the mining and
processing operation. However, additional capital (the costs of which
would be shared by the Company and Kobex) will be necessary to put the property
into production.
The
interest retained by the Company in the Lucky Jack molybdenum property is not
expected to generate recurring revenues for several years. In addition, the
mine
plan of Phelps Dodge Corporation (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. That
opposition will likely continue, and may result in unexpected delays and
increased costs to get a new mine plan approved.
Uncertainties
in the value of the mineral
properties. While we believe that the 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 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 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.
-39-
We
have
not yet obtained final feasibility studies on any of the 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 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 its 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. Our
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, the Company might decide not to move forward
with the project.
We
must
comply with numerous environmental regulations on a continuous basis, to comply
with United States environmental laws, including the 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 project) 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.
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.
We
depend on key personnel. We have a very limited staff
and executive group. These persons are knowledgeable of our mineral
properties and have experience in dealing with the exploration of mineral
properties as well as the financing of them. The loss of key
employees would adversely impact our business, as finding replacements is
difficult as a result of competition for experienced personnel in the minerals
industry.
We
will seek additional business activities.
Our interests in SGMI and
the Lucky Jack
Property are the primary mineral properties owned by us (indirect in the case
of
SGMI) after the sale of the uranium assets to Uranium One. We intend
to acquire other mineral interests, and pursue other business activities such
as
real estate development and oil and gas exploration. Other than real
estate investment opportunities and a contract to explore for gas and oil with
a
major industry partner, we don’t currently have any agreements in place for
other business opportunities.
-40-
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, 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 April 30, 2007 sale of our uranium assets to Uranium One, we
received investment securities (our stock in Uranium One) with a value in excess
of 40% of the value of our total assets.
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 are taking actions to comply with this 40% limit
from
the present time through April 30, 2008. These actions may include 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 exclusion were available to us, we would have to keep within the 40%
limit through April 30, 2010. In any event, we would 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.
Proposed
Federal Legislation
The
U.S.
Congress from time to time has considered proposed revisions to the General
Mining Law, including as recently as in 2007. If these proposed
revisions were 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.
ITEM
2. Changes in Securities and Use of
Proceeds
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company issued 1,502,214 shares
of
common stock and released 292,740 previously forfeitable shares of its common
stock. Issued shares consist of 3,812 shares issued to independent
directors, 42,500 shares issued to officers of the Company pursuant to the
2001
Stock Compensation Plan, 977,015 net shares issued as a result of the exercise
of employee options, 186,147 shares as the result of the exercise of
warrants. 292,740 previously forfeitable shares were released due to
the retirement of an officer and a vote by the shareholders on June 22, 2007
to
release all remaining forfeitable shares. An additional 4,800
forfeitable shares were cancelled due to the cessation of employment of an
employee prior to his retirement, disability or death.
-41-
The
2001
Incentive Stock Ownership Plan allows employees to exercise options by
surrendering shares he or she owns for the exercise of
options. Employees exercised a total of 1,259,542 options by
surrendering 282,527 shares they owned which resulted in the issuance of 689,590
shares of stock or a net amount of 407,063 shares being issued from the exercise
of options through the surrender of owned shares. Employees and the
estate of a deceased officer also exercised 569,952 options by paying
$1,646,100.
On
June
22, 2007 the Board of Directors of the Company approved a share buy back program
for up to $5 million in common stock. The following table sets forth
the activity under the stock buy back plan during the quarter ended September
30, 2007:
Number
|
Average
|
Total
shares
|
Maximum
|
|||||||||||||
of
shares
|
per
share
|
purchased
|
value
of shares
|
|||||||||||||
Period
|
purchased
|
price
|
under
plan
|
to
be purchased
|
||||||||||||
July
1, through July 31, 2007
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
-
|
$ |
5,000,000
|
||||||||||
August
1, through August 31, 2007
|
100,000
|
$ |
4.70
|
100,000
|
$ |
4,530,000
|
||||||||||
September
1, through September 30, 2007
|
128,000
|
$ |
4.51
|
228,000
|
$ |
3,952,700
|
||||||||||
Totals
|
228,000
|
$ |
4.54
|
|||||||||||||
On
July
27, 2007 the Compensation Committee of the Company granted 1,558,000 stock
options to employees and officers of the Company under the 2001
ISOP. These options vest over three (358,000) and five years
(1,200,000) and are exercisable at the closing price on July 27, 2007 or $4.97
per share.
ITEM
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not
Applicable
ITEM
4. Submission of Matter to a Vote of
Shareholders
None
ITEM
5. Other Information
Not
Applicable
ITEM
6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a)
|
Exhibits.
|
||
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) / Rule
15d-15(e)
|
||
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) / Rule
15(e)/15d-15(e)
|
||
32.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted
by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
||
32.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted
by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
-42-
(b)
|
Reports
on Form 8-K. The Company filed three reports on Form
8-K for the quarter ended September 30, 2007. The events
reported were as follows:
|
||
1.
|
The
report filed on July 5, 2007, under Item 8.01 referenced the cash
dividend, stock buy back program and Exploration and Area of Mutual
Interest Agreement.
|
||
2.
|
The
report filed on July 30, 2007, under Item 8.01 referenced final sale
of
sxr Uranium One stock.
|
||
3.
|
The
report filed on August 6, 2007, under Item 1.01 referenced the First
Amendment to Plan and Agreement of
Merger.
|
-43-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has
duly
caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto
duly authorized.
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||
(Company)
|
||||
Date:
November 13, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
||
KEITH
G. LARSEN,
|
||||
Chairman
and CEO
|
||||
Date:
November 13, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Scott Lorimer
|
||
ROBERT
SCOTT LORIMER
|
||||
Principal
Financial Officer and
|
||||
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
-44-