US ENERGY CORP - Quarter Report: 2007 June (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
Quarterly
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of
1934
|
For
the quarter ended June 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 August 14, 2007
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value
|
20,911,619
|
-2-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. and SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
Page
No.
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Financial
Statements.
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2007 and December
31, 2006
(unaudited)
|
4-5
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six months
Ended
June 30, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)
|
6-7
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended
June 30,
2007 and 2006 (unaudited)
|
8-9
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
10-22
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
23-33
|
ITEM
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
33-34
|
ITEM
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
34
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
34-36
|
ITEM
1A.
|
Rick
Factors
|
36-37
|
ITEM
2.
|
Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
37
|
ITEM
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
37
|
ITEM
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders
|
38
|
ITEM
5.
|
Other
Information
|
38
|
ITEM
6.
|
Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
|
39
|
Signatures
|
40
|
|
Certifications
|
See
Exhibits
|
-3-
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Financial Statements
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
June
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ |
8,948,400
|
$ |
16,973,500
|
||||
Marketable
securities
|
||||||||
Held
to maturity - treasury bills
|
70,330,100
|
--
|
||||||
Available
for sale securities
|
22,464,800
|
1,148,500
|
||||||
Trading
securities
|
94,300
|
123,400
|
||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
||||||||
Trade
|
27,800
|
156,500
|
||||||
Reimbursable
project costs
|
631,200
|
188,400
|
||||||
Sale
of marketable securities
|
6,223,300
|
--
|
||||||
Note
receivable
|
--
|
560,500
|
||||||
Assets
held for sale
|
--
|
9,686,300
|
||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
1,413,500
|
14,321,600
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
184,000
|
166,500
|
||||||
Total
current assets
|
110,317,400
|
43,325,200
|
||||||
INVESTMENTS:
|
27,000
|
27,000
|
||||||
PROPERTIES
AND EQUIPMENT:
|
14,429,400
|
11,563,500
|
||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation,
|
||||||||
depletion
and amortization
|
(5,635,900 | ) | (5,454,200 | ) | ||||
Net
properties and equipment
|
8,793,500
|
6,109,300
|
||||||
OTHER
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
54,500
|
610,200
|
||||||
Real
estate held for development
|
1,549,700
|
--
|
||||||
Real
estate held for resale
|
1,819,700
|
1,819,700
|
||||||
Deposits
and other
|
653,700
|
10,000
|
||||||
Total
other assets
|
4,077,600
|
2,439,900
|
||||||
Total
assets
|
$ |
123,215,500
|
$ |
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
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
June
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ |
298,200
|
$ |
1,115,000
|
||||
Accrued
compensation expense
|
955,500
|
1,190,200
|
||||||
Dividends
payable
|
2,131,900
|
--
|
||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
19,906,200
|
--
|
||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
129,600
|
937,200
|
||||||
Liabilities
held for sale
|
--
|
7,375,800
|
||||||
Refundable
deposits
|
--
|
800,000
|
||||||
Other
current liabilities
|
231,900
|
177,000
|
||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
23,653,300
|
11,595,200
|
||||||
LONG-TERM
DEBT, net of current portion
|
247,500
|
294,900
|
||||||
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
|
129,300
|
124,400
|
||||||
OTHER
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
|
401,400
|
462,700
|
||||||
MINORITY
INTERESTS
|
8,361,900
|
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; 20,829,628
|
||||||||
and
19,659,591 shares issued net of
|
||||||||
treasury
stock, respectively
|
208,300
|
196,600
|
||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
77,503,800
|
72,990,700
|
||||||
Retained
earnings (accumulated deficit)
|
16,743,400
|
(39,101,900 | ) | |||||
Treasury
stock at cost, 497,845 shares
|
(923,500 | ) | (923,500 | ) | ||||
Unrealized
(loss) gain on marketable securities
|
(2,619,400 | ) |
306,000
|
|||||
Unallocated
ESOP contribution
|
(490,500 | ) | (490,500 | ) | ||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
90,422,100
|
32,977,400
|
||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$ |
123,215,500
|
$ |
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 June 30,
|
Six
months ended June 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
$ |
151,100
|
$ |
48,000
|
$ |
184,100
|
$ |
102,800
|
||||||||
Management
fees and other
|
102,000
|
100,300
|
141,000
|
222,100
|
||||||||||||
253,100
|
148,300
|
325,100
|
324,900
|
|||||||||||||
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate operations
|
3,100
|
66,100
|
169,000
|
136,300
|
||||||||||||
Mineral
holding costs
|
998,900
|
682,300
|
1,795,600
|
1,183,400
|
||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
8,118,400
|
2,367,300
|
9,824,000
|
4,916,000
|
||||||||||||
9,120,400
|
3,115,700
|
11,788,600
|
6,235,700
|
|||||||||||||
LOSS
BEFORE INVESTMENT AND
|
||||||||||||||||
PROPERTY
TRANSACTIONS
|
(8,867,300 | ) | (2,967,400 | ) | (11,463,500 | ) | (5,910,800 | ) | ||||||||
OTHER
INCOME & (EXPENSES):
|
||||||||||||||||
Gain
on sales of assets
|
1,821,200
|
408,600
|
1,822,200
|
2,823,500
|
||||||||||||
Loss
on sale of marketable securities
|
(6,828,800 | ) |
--
|
(6,091,400 | ) |
--
|
||||||||||
Gain
on foreign exchange
|
516,600
|
--
|
516,600
|
--
|
||||||||||||
Gain
on sale of uranium assets
|
111,728,200
|
--
|
111,728,200
|
--
|
||||||||||||
Loss
from valuation of derivatives
|
--
|
(45,500 | ) |
--
|
(630,900 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss
from Enterra share exchange
|
--
|
(3,848,600 | ) |
--
|
(3,845,800 | ) | ||||||||||
Loss
on sale of investment
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
(27,500 | ) | |||||||||||
Dividends
|
2,700
|
2,200
|
5,600
|
5,000
|
||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
641,100
|
198,700
|
867,100
|
250,000
|
||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
6,100
|
(27,600 | ) | (49,700 | ) | (57,100 | ) | |||||||||
107,887,100
|
(3,312,200 | ) |
108,798,600
|
(1,482,800 | ) | |||||||||||
INCOME
(LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST,
|
||||||||||||||||
PROVISION
FOR INCOME TAXES
|
99,019,800
|
(6,279,600 | ) |
97,335,100
|
(7,393,600 | ) | ||||||||||
MINORITY
INTEREST IN (GAIN) LOSS OF
|
||||||||||||||||
CONSOLIDATED
SUBSIDIARIES:
|
(3,716,800 | ) |
43,400
|
(3,698,600 | ) |
47,600
|
||||||||||
INCOME
(LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION
|
||||||||||||||||
FOR
INCOME TAXES
|
95,303,000
|
(6,236,200 | ) |
93,636,500
|
(7,346,000 | ) | ||||||||||
INCOME
TAXES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Current
provision for
|
(20,620,300 | ) |
--
|
(20,620,300 | ) |
--
|
||||||||||
Deferred
provision for
|
(15,387,300 | ) |
--
|
(15,039,000 | ) |
--
|
||||||||||
(36,007,600 | ) |
--
|
(35,659,300 | ) |
--
|
|||||||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS)
|
$ |
59,295,400
|
$ | (6,236,200 | ) | $ |
57,977,200
|
$ | (7,346,000 | ) | ||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-6-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
months ended June 30,
|
Six
months ended June 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
PER
SHARE DATA
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
earnings (loss) per share
|
$ |
2.95
|
$ | (0.34 | ) | $ |
2.94
|
$ | (0.40 | ) | ||||||
Diluted
earnings (loss) per share
|
$ |
2.65
|
$ | (0.34 | ) | $ |
2.63
|
$ | (0.40 | ) | ||||||
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
20,087,999
|
18,300,530
|
19,752,827
|
18,213,107
|
||||||||||||
Diluted
|
22,378,861
|
18,300,530
|
22,036,586
|
18,213,107
|
||||||||||||
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)
|
||||||||
Six
months ended June 30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$ |
57,977,200
|
$ | (7,346,000 | ) | |||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss)
|
||||||||
to
net cash used in operating activities:
|
||||||||
Minority
interest in gain (loss) of
|
||||||||
consolidated
subsidiaries
|
3,698,600
|
(47,600 | ) | |||||
Depreciation
|
229,200
|
269,300
|
||||||
Accretion
of asset retirement obligations
|
4,900
|
385,600
|
||||||
Initial
valuation of asset
|
||||||||
retirement
obligation
|
--
|
83,400
|
||||||
Income
tax payable
|
19,906,200
|
--
|
||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
15,039,000
|
--
|
||||||
Gain
on sale of assets to sxr
|
(111,728,200 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Gain
on sale of assets
|
(1,822,200 | ) | (2,823,500 | ) | ||||
Gain
on foreign exchange
|
(516,400 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Loss
on valuation of Enterra units
|
--
|
3,845,800
|
||||||
Loss
on valuation of derivatives
|
--
|
630,900
|
||||||
Loss
on sale of marketable securities
|
6,091,500
|
27,500
|
||||||
Proceeds
from the sale of trading securities
|
--
|
1,295,500
|
||||||
Warrant
extension and repricing
|
116,300
|
484,700
|
||||||
Noncash
compensation
|
207,500
|
600,700
|
||||||
Noncash
services
|
--
|
18,900
|
||||||
Net
changes in assets and liabilities:
|
(2,076,200 | ) | (37,800 | ) | ||||
NET
CASH USED IN
|
||||||||
OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
|
(12,872,600 | ) | (2,612,600 | ) | ||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of marketable securities
|
62,497,000
|
94,700
|
||||||
Acquisition
of unproved oil & gas properties
|
(2,747,400 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Proceeds
from sale of uranium assets
|
14,022,700
|
--
|
||||||
Acquisition
of unproved mining claims
|
(257,200 | ) | (21,100 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
on sale of property and equipment
|
1,027,000
|
2,263,100
|
||||||
Purchase
of real estate for development
|
(1,549,700 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Purchase
of equipment
|
(103,000 | ) | (306,600 | ) | ||||
Purchase
of treasury bills
|
(70,330,100 | ) |
--
|
|||||
Net
change in restricted investments
|
--
|
(49,000 | ) | |||||
Net
change in notes receivable
|
560,500
|
(20,700 | ) | |||||
Net
change in investments in affiliates
|
85,300
|
65,400
|
||||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||
BY
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
3,205,100
|
2,025,800
|
||||||
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)
|
||||||||
Six
months ended June 30,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
$ |
1,783,300
|
$ |
915,900
|
||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock
|
--
|
3,173,700
|
||||||
Deferred
taxes from stock options
|
714,100
|
--
|
||||||
Proceeds
from long term debt
|
164,100
|
184,400
|
||||||
Repayments
of long term debt
|
(1,019,100 | ) | (177,900 | ) | ||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
1,642,400
|
4,096,100
|
||||||
NET
INCREASE IN
|
||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(8,025,100 | ) |
3,509,300
|
|||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
16,973,500
|
6,998,700
|
||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT END OF PERIOD
|
$ |
8,948,400
|
$ |
10,508,000
|
||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES:
|
||||||||
Income tax paid
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
--
|
||||
Interest paid
|
$ |
49,700
|
$ |
57,100
|
||||
NON-CASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Acquisition
of assets
|
||||||||
through
issuance of debt
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
355,800
|
||||
Satisfaction
of receivable - employee
|
||||||||
with
stock in company
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
30,600
|
||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock to acquire
|
||||||||
mining claims
|
$ |
33,700
|
$ |
--
|
||||
Receipt
of marketable securities from
|
||||||||
the sale of assets
|
$ |
99,400,600
|
$ |
--
|
||||
Conversion
of Enterra shares
|
||||||||
to tradable units
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
13,880,100
|
||||
Issuance
of stock warrants in
|
||||||||
conjunction with agreements
|
$ |
--
|
$ |
727,300
|
||||
Unrealized
loss/gain
|
$ |
2,619,400
|
$ |
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 June 30, 2007, the Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended
June
30, 2007 and 2006 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for
the six months ended June 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 June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the results of operations
for
the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, and 2006 and cash flows for
the
six months ended June 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 June 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 include
the
accounts of the Company, the accounts of its majority-owned or controlled
subsidiaries Crested Corp. (“Crested”) (70.9%), 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%), Plateau Resources Limited, Inc. (“Plateau”) (100%),
Four Nines Gold, Inc. ("FNG") (50.9%) and Yellow Stone Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”)
(35.9%).
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 is 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 June 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 are currently
evaluating the impact that the adoption of this statement will have 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.
-11-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)Generally,
options fully vest immediately and expire 90 days after the employee voluntarily
terminates their employment with the Company and twelve months after retirement,
disability or death. 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. There
were no option awards granted in the six months ended June 30,
2007. The weighted average remaining contractual term and aggregate
intrinsic value of options outstanding at June 30, 2007 was 5.45 years and
$7,074,300, respectively. At June 30, 2007, all but 25,000 options
that had been issued were vested and exercisable. During the six
months ending June 30, 2007, the Company recognized $8,900 in compensation
expense related to these 25,000 options and will recognize an additional
$75,600
over the remaining vesting period of the options of 6.5 years. The
Company computes the fair values of its options granted using the Black-Scholes
pricing model using a risk free interest rate of 4.53%, expected life of
4.8
years and expected volatility of 71.02%. 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. See Note 14 for additional information on options held by
employees.
Forfeitable
Shares – In connection with the retirement of an officer of the Company
in January 2007, 112,680 previously forfeitable shares were released pursuant
to
the Stock Bonus Plan. On June 22, 2007 the shareholders of the
Company voted to release the remaining 180,060 to 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 employ of the Company. The shareholders additionally
authorized the payment of taxes on the release of the forfeitable
shares. See Note 18.
5)
Properties and Equipment
The
components of Properties and Equipment at June 30, 2007, consist of land,
buildings and equipment.
Accumulated
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
|
||||||||||||
Depletion
and
|
Net
|
|||||||||||
Cost
|
Depreciation
|
Book
Value
|
||||||||||
Oil
& Gas properties
|
$ |
2,747,400
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
2,747,400
|
||||||
Mining
properties
|
821,600
|
-
|
821,600
|
|||||||||
Buildings,
land and equipment
|
10,860,400
|
(5,635,900 | ) |
5,224,500
|
||||||||
Totals
|
$ |
14,429,400
|
$ | (5,635,900 | ) | $ |
8,793,500
|
|||||
The
Company evaluates assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate
that recorded values may not be recoverable. There were no
impairments for the six months ended June 30, 2007.
-12-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)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.
At
June
30, 2007, the Company owned held to maturity, available-for-sale securities
and
trading.
Market
|
Unrealized
|
|||||||||||
Cost
|
Value
|
Loss
|
||||||||||
Held
to maturity - treasury bills
|
$ |
70,330,100
|
||||||||||
Available
for sale securities
|
||||||||||||
sxr
shares
|
$ |
25,689,800
|
$ |
21,768,900
|
$ |
3,920,900
|
||||||
Kobex
shares
|
750,000
|
641,100
|
108,900
|
|||||||||
Premier
shares
|
54,800
|
54,800
|
--
|
|||||||||
$ |
26,494,600
|
$ |
22,464,800
|
$ |
4,029,800
|
|||||||
Trading
securities
|
||||||||||||
Enterra
Units
|
$ |
94,300
|
||||||||||
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:
Six
months ending June 30,
|
|||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||
Net
income/(loss)
|
$ |
57,977,200
|
$ | (7,346,000 | ) | ||||
Comprehensive
loss from the
|
|||||||||
unrealized
loss on marketable securities
|
(4,335,800 | ) | (55,900 | ) | |||||
Deferred
income taxes on
|
|||||||||
stock
options
|
1,410,400
|
--
|
|||||||
Comprehensive
income/(loss)
|
$ |
55,051,800
|
$ | (7,401,900 | ) | ||||
-13-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)8)
Income Taxes
The
income tax provision is different 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
|
Six
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
|
Ended
|
|||||||
June
30, 2007
|
June
30, 2007
|
|||||||
Consolidated
book income before income tax
|
$ |
95,303,000
|
$ |
93,636,500
|
||||
Add
back equity loss from non consolidated tax sub
|
$ |
3,729,700
|
3,711,500
|
|||||
Add
back losses from non consolidated tax subs
|
$ |
1,154,100
|
1,154,100
|
|||||
Permanent
differences
|
$ | (451,200 | ) |
238,300
|
||||
Taxable
income before temporary differrences
|
$ |
99,735,600
|
$ |
98,740,400
|
||||
Expected
federal income tax expense (benefit)35%
|
$ |
34,907,600
|
$ |
34,559,300
|
||||
Deferred
income tax expense (benefit)
|
$ |
15,039,000
|
$ |
15,039,000
|
||||
Current
expense (benefit)
|
19,868,600
|
19,520,300
|
||||||
Total
federal income tax expense (benefit)
|
34,907,600
|
34,559,300
|
||||||
Current
state income tax expense net of
|
||||||||
federal
tax benefit
|
1,100,000
|
1,100,000
|
||||||
Total
provision (benefit)
|
$ |
36,007,600
|
$ |
35,659,300
|
||||
Current
taxes payable at June 30, 2007 are comprised of $19,520,300 of federal income
taxes and $1,100,000 of state income taxes. The amount of current taxes payable
is reduced by $714,100 benefit from the exercise of nonqualified stock options
and warrants which result in an increase to paid in capital. This
results in a current taxes payable of $19,906,200 at June 30,
2007. 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 June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 are
as
follows:
June
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
||||||||
Deferred
compensation
|
$ |
260,700
|
$ |
589,000
|
||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
37,100
|
879,100
|
||||||
Allowances
for bad debts
|
-
|
|||||||
Tax
basis in excess of book
|
1,410,400
|
-
|
||||||
Net
operating loss carry forwards
|
14,525,100
|
|||||||
Tax
credits (AMT credit carryover)
|
44,200
|
|||||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
3,100
|
2,900
|
||||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
1,711,300
|
16,040,300
|
||||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
||||||||
Book
basis in excess of tax basis
|
(243,300 | ) | (179,900 | ) | ||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
(926,400 | ) | ||||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
(2,200 | ) | ||||||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
(243,300 | ) | (1,108,500 | ) | ||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
1,954,600
|
14,931,800
|
||||||
Valuation
allowance
|
||||||||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
$ |
1,954,600
|
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 therefore provided at June 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 in future years.
During
the six months ended June 30, 2007, net current deferred tax assets decreased
by
$12,908,100 and net non-current deferred tax assets decreased by
$555,700. The total net change in deferred tax assets was a decrease
of $13,463,800. The Company also recognized other comprehensive income of
$1,575,200 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 six months ended June 30, 2007 was $15,039,000. The decrease in net deferred
tax assets was largely the result of the utilization of net operating losses
and
the accrued reclamation liabilities resulting from the sxr 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. As a
result, the adoption of FIN 48 had no impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
-15-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)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 June 30, 2007 or December 31, 2006.
The
Internal Revenue Service has audited the Company’s and subsidiaries tax returns
through the year ended May 31, 2000. The Company’s income tax
liabilities are settled through fiscal 2000.
9)
Sale of Marketable Securities
During
the six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company sold (to a Canadian financial
institution) 4,900,000 shares of sxr Uranium One for net proceeds (after
commission and bulk sale discount) of $66,873,700. An additional
$6,223,300 was received July 2007 as a result of the settlement of a portion
of
this sale of securities which occurred in late June 2007. The Company
recorded a loss of $6,837,100 on the sale of the sxr Uranium One
shares.
The
Company also sold 1,500,000 shares of UPC during the six months ended June
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.
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 4,736,131
and 5,578,261 at June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Employee stock
options have a weighted average exercise price of $2.99 and $2.23 per share,
respectively at June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006. Stock purchase
warrants have a weighted average exercise price of $3.57 at June 30,
2007 and $3.63 at June 30, 2006.
11)
Long term debt
At
June 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
|
$ |
129,600
|
||
Long
Term Portion of Debt
|
247,500
|
|||
$ |
377,100
|
|||
-16-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)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.
The
following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement
obligations (unaudited):
Balance
December 31, 2006 and 2005 Respectively
|
$ |
124,400
|
$ |
5,902,200
|
||||
Addition
to Liability
|
--
|
83,400
|
||||||
Accretion
Expense
|
4,900
|
385,600
|
||||||
Balance
June 30, 2007 and 2006 Respectively
|
$ |
129,300
|
$ |
6,371,200
|
||||
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.
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 six months ended June 30,
2007:
June
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
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
31,215
|
$ |
3.29
|
||||||||||
Forfeited
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||||
Expired
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
-
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||||
Exercised
|
(962,302 | ) | $ |
2.68
|
(84,385 | ) | $ |
3.41
|
||||||||
Outstanding
at June 30, 2007
|
2,965,578
|
$ |
2.99
|
1,768,153
|
$ |
3.57
|
||||||||||
Exercisable
at June 30, 2007
|
2,940,578
|
$ |
2.99
|
1,768,153
|
$ |
3.57
|
||||||||||
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life - Years
|
5.45
|
3.61
|
||||||||||||||
Aggregate
intrinsic value of options / warrants outstanding
|
$ |
7,074,300
|
$ |
5,922,500
|
||||||||||||
Common
Stock
During
the six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company issued 877,297 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, 22,500 shares issued to officers of the Company pursuant
to the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan, 766,600 net shares issued as a result
of
the exercise of employee options, 84,385 shares issued 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. 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 total expense related to the final
release of the forfeitable shares for the three and six months ended June
30,
2007 was $19,100.
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 962,302 options by
surrendering 195,702 shares which resulted in the issuance of 462,776 shares
of
stock or a net amount of 267,074 shares being issued from the exercise of
options through the surrender of owned shares. Employees and the
estate of a deceased officer also exercised 499,526 options by paying $1,504,300
to the Company.
-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 six months
ended
June 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
|
22,500
|
200
|
115,200
|
|||||||||
Exercise
of options
|
766,600
|
7,700
|
1,487,700
|
|||||||||
Exercise
of warrants
|
84,385
|
800
|
287,100
|
|||||||||
Value
of company warrants issued and extended
|
-
|
-
|
116,300
|
|||||||||
Expense
of employee options vesting
|
-
|
-
|
8,900
|
|||||||||
Forfeitable
stock release 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
|
-
|
-
|
714,100
|
|||||||||
20,829,628
|
$ |
208,300
|
$ |
77,503,800
|
||||||||
14) Real
Estate Investment
On May 10, 2007, the Company through its wholly owned subsidiary, Remington
Village, LLC 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. It is estimated that the
construction cost of this multifamily complex will be approximately $26.2
million. The Board of Directors has approved up to a 30% equity
investment in the property for a total of $7.6 million and has directed the
management of the Company to seek construction financing in the amount of
$18.5
million for the project from a conventional lender. Further, the
board of directors has authorized up to $3,889,000 to purchase the property
and
commence site work until the conventional financing is in place. This
amount has been committed thus far to purchase the property and commence
site
work, which is underway. The Company has expended $1,549,700 through
June 30, 2007.
-19-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)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% is not owned by the Company) 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.
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
2007.
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 by delivering
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. 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
Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) before payment (subject to Exchange
approval). 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 sxr Uranium One Inc. (“Uranium One,” headquartered in
Toronto, Canada (Toronto Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange,
“SXR”)), and certain of its private subsidiary companies. Please see
footnote 9 above concerning proceeds from sale of Uranium One stock as of
June
30, 2007.
-20-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)The
net
gain on the sale of the uranium assets to sxr Uranium One is as
follows:
Proceeds
from sale of assets to sxr Uranium One
|
||||
Release
of refundable deposit
|
$ |
750,000
|
||
Relief
from Asset Retirement Obligations
|
6,527,200
|
|||
Relief
from accrued holding costs on uranium mill
|
848,600
|
|||
sxr
Uranium One purchase of UPC position
|
5,020,900
|
|||
Reimbursable
Costs
|
1,585,100
|
|||
Receipt
of sxr Uranium One common stock
|
99,400,600
|
|||
114,132,400
|
||||
Cost
of sale of assets to sxr Uranium One
|
||||
Mining
Claims
|
1,535,500
|
|||
Property
Plant and Equipment - net
|
692,500
|
|||
Pro-ration
of property taxes
|
3,300
|
|||
Accrued
costs from January 1, 2007 to April 30, 2007
|
172,900
|
|||
2,404,200
|
||||
Net
gain before income taxes
|
111,728,200
|
|||
Provision
for income taxes
|
41,771,700
|
|||
Net
gain on sale of assets to sxr Uranium One
|
$ |
69,956,500
|
||
18) 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 proposed 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-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Continued)19) 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 “Kobex”), 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
June
30, 2007 Kobex owed the Company $631,200 in reimbursable project
costs. Kobex paid this amount in July 2007 and is current on its
obligations to the Company. Kobex also delivered 285,632 shares of
its common stock valued at $750,000 pursuant to the Exploration, Development
and
Mine Operating Agreement.
20) 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 was paid on July 16, 2007.
21) Common
Stock Buy Back Program
The
Board
of Directors of U.S. Energy Corp. has approved a share buy back program for
up
to $5 million in common stock. The buy back program, effective
immediately, will be handled exclusively through an individual brokerage
firm
and will be subject to blackout periods.
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 will 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 should 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
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.
-22-
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 six months ended June
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, and generally
only in connection with acquiring mineral properties which included commercial
real estate.
The
Company manages its operations through a joint venture, USECC Joint Venture
("USECC"), with one of its subsidiary companies, Crested Corp. ("Crested")
of
which it owns a consolidated 70.9% 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"),
Plateau Resources Limited, Inc. ("Plateau"), and other
subsidiaries. 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 six months ended June 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
“SXR”. 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 also received the cash and collateral bonds posted for asset retirement
obligations relating to the uranium properties. Through July 31,
2007, the Company had received $7,326,100 in returned cash bonds and also
the
release of its corporate headquarters which had also been pledged for certain
asset retirement obligations. (See Form 8K filed on May 7,
2007)
-23-
As
of
June 30, 2007 the Company sold 4,900,000 of the Uranium One shares for which
it
received $60,714,300 during the quarter ended June 30, 2007 and $6,159,400
during July 2007. The Company sold the remaining 1,707,606 shares of
Uranium One during July 2007 and received an additional
$23,529,300. The Company also received $321,000 as a result of a
benefit from the foreign currency exchange rate. The total received
by the Company through July 2007 from the sale of Uranium One common stock
was
$90,724,000.
In
summary the Company received a total of $97,330,000 from the sale of the
Company’s uranium assets to Uranium One through July
2007. ($1,585,100 in reimbursable costs, $5,020,900 from the buy out
of the UPC position and $90,724,000 from the sale of Uranium One
Stock). This, plus the release of the reclamation bonds of $7,326,100
positions the Company in its strongest cash and liquidity position in its
forty
year history.
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.
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 “Kobex”) signed a
formal Exploration Development and Mine Operating Agreement for the permitting
and development of the Mt. Emmons, “Lucky Jack”, molybdenum
property.
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%. Kobex also may acquire an additional 15% at
the Company’s option after it obtains a 50% interest. As of June 30,
2007 Kobex had expended $1,429,100 since it began participating in the costs
of
the project.
Historical
records filed with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the 1990’s for the
application of patented mineral claims, identify 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 June
30, 2007
was $32.75 per pound. Although no future cost of production can be
made nor the market price predicted at time of production, at current market
prices it is believed that the property could be very profitable for the
Company.
-24-
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 will 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 should
commence in the later part of the fourth quarter 2007 or 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.
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 merger 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)
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, effective June 22,
2007, will be handled exclusively through an individual brokerage firm and
will
be subject to blackout periods.
Dividend
On
June
28, 2007, U.S. Energy Corp. announced a one time special dividend of $0.10
per
share to each common shareholder of record on July 6, 2007. The
dividend was paid on July 16, 2007.
Mineral
Prices
Uranium
- The price of uranium concentrates has increased from a five year low of
$9.75
per pound in September 2002 to $120.00 per pound on July 30, 2007 (Ux
Weekly).
Gold
- The five year low for gold was $302.10 per ounce in April 2002. The
price for gold on July 30, 2007 was $664.10 per ounce (Metal
Prices.com).
Molybdenum
- The five year low for molybdic oxide was $2.68 per pound in April
2002. The average price for molybdic oxide was $31.75 per pound on
July 27, 2007. (Metal Prices.com).
-25-
Results
of Operations
Three
and Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 compared with the Three and Six Months
Ended
June 30, 2006
The
sale
of uranium assets to Uranium One resulted in net income before taxes of
$93,636,500 and $95,303,000 for the six and three months ended June 30, 2007
respectively. This is an increase in earnings before taxes of
$100,982,500 and $101,539,200 respectively from the reported losses of the
six
and three months ended June 30, 2006. The net earnings after taxes
for the six and three months ended June 30, 2007 were $57,977,200 and
$59,295,400 respectively or $2.94 and $2.95 per share basic and $2.63 and
$2.65
per share diluted.
Operating
revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were comparable to those
recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2006. Revenues from
real estate operations during the six months ended June 30, 2007 increased
by
$81,300 over operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2006 due
to
increased revenues relating to real estate operations in southern
Utah.
Operating
costs and expenses increased during the six months ended June 30, 2007 by
$5,552,900 over those recorded during the six months ended June 30,
2006. The increase came as a result of increased activity on the
Company’s mineral claims, $612,200, the vast majority of which were sold to
Uranium One and General and Administrative expenses which increased by
$4,908,000 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
the
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)
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.
During
the six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recorded $1,822,200 from
the
gain on the sale of assets as compared to a gain on the sale of assets of
$2,823,500 during the six months ended June 30, 2006. This reduction
of $1,001,300 was as a result of a reduction in the payments received from
UPC
during the six months ended June 30, 2007 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
4,900,000 the Uranium One shares at an average net sales price of $13.65
per
share resulted in a loss of during the quarter ended June 30, 2007 of
$6,837,100. Included in this net loss are commissions and a bulk
discount of $1,799,000. The balance is due to a reduction in the
market price of the Uranium One shares. At June 30, 2007 the Company
had an additional 1,707,606 shares of Uranium One common stock which were
all
sold in July 2007.
-26-
Along
with the sale of the Uranium One common stock, the Company sold its remaining
shares of UPC common stock during the six months ended June 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 $29,000 loss on the market valuation of shares of
Enterra Energy Trust (“Enterra”) held by one of its subsidiaries. The
sales of the Uranium One, UPC and the market value adjustment of the Enterra
shares resulted in a net loss from the sale of marketable securities during
the
six months ended June 30, 2007 of $6,091,400. There were no sales of
marketable securities during the six months ended June 30, 2006.
During
the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 the Company recorded gains based
on
foreign exchange rates of $516,600. This gain was as a result of the
sale of the sale of Uranium One common stock, $394,200; the receipt of
additional shares of Sutter common stock in payment of debt to USECC, $108,400;
and the conversion of Sutter expenditures paid in Canada of
$14,000.
The
sale
of the Company’s uranium assets to Uranium One resulted in a net gain before
taxes of $111,728,200 during both the three and six months ended June 30,
2007. (See Note 17 above)
The
Company recorded a minority interest in the gain of consolidated subsidiaries
of
$3,698,600 for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and $3,716,800 for the
quarter
then ended. The minority interest gains increased when compared to
minority interest losses of $47,600 and $43,400 during the six and three
months
ended June 30, 2006 respectively. The minority interest gain in
consolidated subsidiaries recorded during the six months ended June 30, 2007
was
primarily the minority interest gain of $3,711,500 of Crested. This
amount was offset by a minority loss during the six months ended June 30,
2007
of $12,900 from two small consolidated subsidiaries. On a
consolidated basis, all previous minority interest losses of Crested that were
absorbed by the USE in consolidation have been fully reinstated through June
30,
2007.
During
the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 the Company recorded losses
from
the valuation of derivatives and the exchange of Enterra shares. The
Enterra shares were sold prior to the six months ended June 30, 2007 so there
was no similar activity during the six months ended June 30, 2007.
The
net
gain of $57,977,200 during the six months ended June 30, 2007 resulted in
positive retained earnings for the Company of $16,743,400 from a accumulated
deficit at December 31, 2007 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 June 30, 2007, the Company had $79,278,500 in cash
on hand and Government Treasury Bills as well as $22,464,800 in marketable
securities. Current assets at June 30, 2007 were $110,317,400 as
compared to current liabilities of $23,653,300. The Company therefore
had working capital at June 30, 2007 of $86,664,100 and a current ratio of
4.7
to 1.
Current
liabilities at June 30, 2007 consisted primarily of income taxes payable
of
$19,906,200, dividends payable of $2,131,900 and accrued compensation relating
the retirement policy for executives of $955,500. The current portion
of long term debt was $129,600. This along with the long term portion
of the Company’s debt at June 30, 2007 of $247,500 result in total debt owed by
the Company of $377,100. All accounts payable at June 30, 2007 were
current under the payment terms of the Company.
-27-
Cash
and
cash equivalents decreased by $8,025,100 only 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
Company held $70,330,100 in Government Treasury Bills at June 30, 2007 and
considers them very liquid. Pursuant to FAS 95 these investments are
considered Marketable Securities as they have maturity dates, from date of
purchase, in excess of 90 days. The Company can sell these Government
Treasury Bills at any time cash is required without penalty.
Operations
during the six months ended June 30, 2007 consumed $12,872,600 while Investing
activities and Financing activities provided $3,205,100 and $1,642,400
respectively. Cash consumed in operations was expended on traditional
General and Administrative expenses and the bonus paid to employees at the
close
of the Uranium One sale discussed above in Note 18.
Cash
provided by investing activities came primarily as a result of the sale of
uranium assets, $14,022,700, the sale of marketable securities of $62,497,000,
the sale of property and equipment, $1,027,000 and the collection of a note
receivable of $560,500. These increases in cash from investing
activities are offset by the purchase of Government Treasury Bills, $70,330,100,
real estate for development, $1,549,700, property and equipment, $103,000,
the
purchase of unproven oil and gas properties, $2,747,400 and development and
acquisition of mining claims, $257,200.
Cash
provided by financing activities came as a result of the issuance of common
stock for which the Company received $1,783,300. The issuance of
these shares was the result of the exercise of 499,526 options held by employees
and 84,385 warrants held by third parties. During the six
months ended June 30, 2007, the Company retired $1,019,100 in long term debt
which primarily related to a corporate aircraft.
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 65% 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.
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 may 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
construction 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.
-28-
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 real estate 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.
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 of the four.
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. Management of the Company anticipates these metals prices
will remain at levels which will allow the properties to be produced
economically. The successful development and production of these
properties could greatly 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 third and fourth quarter
of 2007 are its general and administrative costs, 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 real estate properties,
a stock buyback program, one time cash dividend and the purchase of various
assets and potential acquisitions.
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 June 30, 2007, Kobex owed the
Company $631,200. Kobex has paid all the amounts due to the Company
within 30 days of being invoiced and is current on its obligations to the
Company. There have been no billing or operation disputes between
Kobex and the Company.
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 will be drilled over
the
next three to five years. Through June 30, 2007, $2,747,400 had been
paid under the agreement. Two prospects have already been leased, and
exploration and development activities should commence in the latter part
of the
fourth quarter 2007 or 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.
-29-
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 June 30, 2007, 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
$1,268,800. The Company closed on the property on May 10,
2007. The Company also signed a Development Agreement with P.E.G.
Development, LLC to assist in the evaluation of the property and to obtain
the
entitlements, engineering and architecture necessary to construct
multifamily housing on the property. The cost to obtain entitlements,
engineering and architecture is estimated to be approximately
$698,000. Total land purchase and construction costs is estimated to
be $26.1 million. At June 30, 2007, the board of directors of the
Company had authorized the expenditure of up to $3,889,000 for the purchase
of
the land, payment of the entitlements and the commencement of site
work.
The
Company is currently evaluating opportunities of to finance a portion of
the
development of the multifamily housing project which include commercial
construction loans and industry partners. As of the filing of this
report no final determination on the actual construction financing terms
had
been made. In the event that the Company develops the multifamily
property currently under evaluation, and finances the construction through
commercial banking, it is anticipated that the Company will be required to
put
up $7,600,000 in equity and may be required to put up to an additional
$4,725,000 as a deposit with the commercial bank. The deposit of
$4,725,000 would be held as collateral but would earn interest at the same
rate
as the Company receives on its Treasury Bills. It is expected that
construction financing in the amount of $18,500,000 will be obtained in the
third quarter of 2007 and that the project will be completed within 18 months
of
inception.
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 June 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 June 30,
2007 is
$106,100. It is not anticipated that this reclamation work will occur
in the near term.
-30-
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, effective June 22, 2007, will be handled
exclusively through an individual brokerage firm and will be subject to blackout
periods.
Dividend The
Board of Directors of the Company authorized a one time $0.10 dividend to
be
paid to all shareholders of record on July 6, 2007 which was paid on July
16,
2007. The total amount of the dividend was $2,131,900.
Other
The
Company purchased a used airplane in August 2007 to replace its current
corporate airplane. The cost of the airplane, with refurbishments,
was approximately $5.3 million. The corporate airplane that the
Company used previously is for sale and is anticipated to sell for between
$1.2
and $1.5 million.
The
Company purchased a used plane in August 2007. The cost of the plane,
with refurbishments was approximately $5.3 million. The corporate
plane that the Company had used previously is for sale and is anticipated
to
sell for between $1.2 and $1.5 million.
The
Company is evaluating several mineral projects in which it may
invest. Additionally, the Company is researching several other
opportunities to deploy its capital outside of the minerals
business. At June 30, 2007 none of these acquisition targets had
advanced past the research stage.
Contractual
Obligations
Contractual
obligations at June 30, 2007 consist of debt to third parties of $377,100
and
asset retirement obligations of $129,300. 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
|
$ |
377,100
|
$ |
129,600
|
$ |
245,800
|
$ |
1,700
|
$ |
--
|
||||||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
129,300
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
129,300
|
|||||||||||||||
Totals
|
$ |
506,400
|
$ |
129,600
|
$ |
245,800
|
$ |
1,700
|
$ |
129,300
|
||||||||||
Critical
Accounting Policies
Principles
of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements of the Company and
subsidiaries include the accounts of the Company, the accounts of its
majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries, Crested (70.9%), 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
(49.6%), Plateau (100%), Four Nines Gold, Inc. ("FNG") (50.9%) and Yellow
Stone
Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) (35.9%).
-31-
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 is 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.
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 June 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 exploratory drilling programs, 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 June 30, 2007 there was no provisions 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
Claimsand 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.
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.
-32-
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 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. Management believes that the fair value of the assets
received in foreclosure approximates the carrying value of the note
receivable.
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.
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.
At
June
30, 2007 the Company held 1,707,606 shares of Uranium One common
stock. These shares were subject to market changes but were sold in
July of 2007, eliminating the risk.
-33-
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.
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.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Legal Proceedings
Except
for matters involving water rights, the Company is not a party to any pending
legal proceeding. Sutter is defending a quiet title action, to which
the Company is not a party.
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, the
Company awaiting proposed decrees from Applicant Spann Ranches,
Inc. for
consideration.
|
-34-
2.
|
Concerning
the Application for Water Rights of the Town of Crested Butte,
Case No. 02CW63. This case involves an application
filed by the Town of Crested Butte to provide for an alternative
point of
diversion. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition to ensure that
the final decree to be issued by the Water Court contains terms
and
conditions sufficient to protect MEMCO’s water rights from material
injury. The Town of Crested Butte and USECC have 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 has been submitted to the Water
Court for
its approval.
|
3.
|
Concerning
the Application of the United States of America in the
Gunnison River,
Gunnison County, Case No.
99CW267. This case involves an application filed by the
United States of America to appropriate 0.033 cubic feet per second
of
water for wildlife use and for incidental irrigation of riparian
vegetation at the Mt. Emmons Iron Bog Spring, located in the vicinity
of
the Lucky Jack property. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition
to protect proposed mining operations against any adverse impacts
by the
water requirements of the Iron Bog on such operations. This
case is pending while the parties attempt to reach a settlement
on the
proposed decree terms and
conditions.
|
4.
|
Concerning
the Application for Water Rights of the United States of America
for
Quantification of Reserved Right for Black Canyon of Gunnison National
Park, Case No. 01CW05. This case involves an
application filed by the United States of America to make absolute
conditional water rights claimed in the Gunnison River in relation
to the
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for, and to quantify
in-stream
flows for the protection and reproduction of fish and to preserve
the
recreational, scenic and aesthetic conditions. MEMCO and over
350 other parties filed Statements of Opposition to protect their
existing
water rights. 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. Although future Water Court proceedings in this
case will involve quantification of the in-stream flows claimed
the United
States of America for the Black Canyon Park, USECC’s water rights will be
protected.
|
Quiet
Title Litigation – Sutter Gold Mining Inc.
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 have had settlement
discussions; if a settlement is not obtained, a trial will be
scheduled.
-35-
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.
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. The Company currently has no production from its mineral properties
and
has either sold, or joint ventured the balance of the mineral
properties. As a result the risk of loss due to a decline in the
mineral market prices is minimal.
The
Company is entering into the multifamily housing business which has risks
associated with it relating to a decline in available renters for the properties
and fluctuations in the local real estate market. 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.
The
Company is re-entering the oil and gas exploration business as of June 30,
2007. The cost of drilling, availability of take away capacity and
oil and gas prices are a risk 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.
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 be 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.
-36-
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.
There
can
be no assurance that we will be able to accomplish this objective by April
30,
2008.
ITEM
2. Changes in Securities and Use of
Proceeds
During
the six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company issued 877,297 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, 22,500 shares issued to officers of the Company pursuant
to the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan, 766,600 net shares issued as a result
of
the exercise of employee options, 84,385 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.
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 962,302 options by
surrendering 195,702 shares they owned which resulted in the issuance of
462,776
shares of stock or a net amount of 267,074 shares being issued from the exercise
of options through the surrender of owned shares. Employees and the
estate of a deceased officer also exercised 499,526 options by paying
$1,504,300.
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
-37-
ITEM
4. Submission of Matter to a Vote of
Shareholders
On
June
22, 2007, the annual meeting of shareholders was held for the election of
four
directors to serve until the terms stated in the Proxy
Statement. Three directors to serve until the 2010 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and one director to serve until the 2009 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until their successors are elected or appointed and
qualified. With respect to the election of the directors, the votes
cast were as follows:
Name
of Director
|
|
Votes
For
|
|
Abstain
|
Mark
J. Larsen
|
|
16,245,419
|
|
461,782
|
Harold
F. Herron
|
16,245,282
|
461,919
|
||
Allen
S. Winters
|
|
16,245,392
|
|
461,809
|
Michael
T. Anderson
|
16,244,842
|
462,359
|
The
directors now are Keith G. Larsen, Mark J. Larsen, Harold F. Herron, Allen
S.
Winters, H. Russell Fraser, Michael T. Anderson and Michael
Feinstein.
The
shareholders also voted on five additional items:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan to Extend its Term to 2018,
and
Increase the Number of Shares Issuable each Year to a Total of
100,000
Shares.
|
6,252,152
|
|
1,170,157
|
|
163,317
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan to Increase the Number
of Shares
of Common Stock Issuable on Exercise of Options, to Always Be a
Number
Equal to 25% of the Issued and Outstanding Shares of Common
Stock.
|
6,353,405
|
|
1,089,542
|
|
142,679
|
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the Forfeitable Stock Compensation Plan to Permit Early Release
of
Forfeitable Shares and Payment of Income Taxes.
|
6,174,604
|
|
1,267,798
|
|
143,224
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Amendment
of the 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan to Permit Payment of Income
Taxes.
|
5,591,645
|
|
1,903,951
|
|
90,030
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||
Ratification
of appointment of Moss Adams LLP as independent auditors for
the current
fiscal year.
|
16,364,836
|
|
303,246
|
|
39,091
|
ITEM
5. Other Information
Not
Applicable
-38-
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
|
|
(b)
|
Reports
on Form 8-K. The Company filed five reports on Form
8-K for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. The events reported
were as follows:
|
|
1.
|
The
report filed on April 9, 2007, under Item 1.01 referenced the formal
Exploration, Development and Mine Operating Agreement with Kobex
Resources
Ltd.
|
|
2.
|
The
report filed on May 4, 2007, under Items 2.01, 9.01, 5.01 and 8.01
referenced the sale of uranium assets to sxr Uranium One Inc. including
Pro Forma Financial Information, the approval of Compensation Committee
recommendations and tax obligation.
|
|
3.
|
The
report filed on May 7, 2007, amending the 8-K filed May 4,
2007.
|
|
4.
|
The
report filed on June 4, 2007, under Item 8.01 referenced the TSX-V
approval of the Exploration, Development and Mine Operating Agreement
with
Kobex Resources Ltd.
|
|
5.
|
The
report filed on June 27, 2007 under Items 1.01 and 8.01 referenced
the
result of the Annual Meeting held June 22, 2007, Credit Facility
for
Sutter Gold Mining Inc. and changes to Company
Bylaws.
|
-39-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has
duly
caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto
duly authorized.
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||
(Company)
|
||||
Date:
August 14, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
||
KEITH
G. LARSEN,
|
||||
Chairman
and CEO
|
||||
Date:
August 14, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Scott Lorimer
|
||
ROBERT
SCOTT LORIMER
|
||||
Principal
Financial Officer and
|
||||
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
-40-