US ENERGY CORP - Quarter Report: 2007 March (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 March 31, 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 May 15, 2007
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value
|
20,587,098
|
-2-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. and SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
Page
No.
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Financial
Statements.
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
(unaudited)
|
4-5
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three months Ended
March 31,
2007 and 2006 (unaudited)
|
6
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Three Months Ended March 31,
2007
and 2006 (unaudited)
|
7-8
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
9-23
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
24-34
|
ITEM
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
34
|
ITEM
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
34
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
35-37
|
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
|
37
|
ITEM
5.
|
Other
Information
|
37
|
ITEM
6.
|
Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
|
38
|
Signatures
|
39
|
|
Certifications
|
See
Exhibits
|
-3-
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Financial Statements
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
(Unaudited)
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
15,402,300
|
$
|
16,973,500
|
|||
Marketable
securities
|
|||||||
Trading
securities
|
86,000
|
123,400
|
|||||
Available
for sale securities
|
--
|
1,148,500
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable
|
621,600
|
344,900
|
|||||
Note
receivable
|
--
|
560,500
|
|||||
Assets
held for sale
|
9,958,000
|
9,686,300
|
|||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
15,053,500
|
14,321,600
|
|||||
Inventories
|
33,800
|
33,700
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
273,300
|
132,800
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
41,428,500
|
43,325,200
|
|||||
INVESTMENTS:
|
|||||||
Other
|
27,000
|
27,000
|
|||||
PROPERTIES
AND EQUIPMENT:
|
11,675,300
|
11,563,500
|
|||||
Less
accumulated depreciation,
|
|||||||
depletion
and amortization
|
(5,566,400
|
)
|
(5,454,200
|
)
|
|||
Net
properties and equipment
|
6,108,900
|
6,109,300
|
|||||
OTHER
ASSETS:
|
|||||||
Note
receivable trade
|
9,600
|
10,000
|
|||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
391,400
|
610,200
|
|||||
Real
estate held for resale
|
1,819,700
|
1,819,700
|
|||||
Total
other assets
|
2,220,700
|
2,439,900
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
49,785,100
|
$
|
51,901,400
|
|||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-4-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|||||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
March
31,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|||
(Unaudited)
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
586,900
|
$
|
1,115,000
|
|||
Accrued
compensation expense
|
619,300
|
1,190,200
|
|||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
939,100
|
937,200
|
|||||
Liabilities
held for sale
|
7,418,900
|
7,375,800
|
|||||
Refundable
deposits
|
800,000
|
800,000
|
|||||
Other
current liabilities
|
213,000
|
177,000
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
10,577,200
|
11,595,200
|
|||||
LONG-TERM
DEBT, net of current portion
|
274,000
|
294,900
|
|||||
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS,
|
126,500
|
124,400
|
|||||
OTHER
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
|
478,700
|
462,700
|
|||||
MINORITY
INTERESTS
|
4,750,400
|
4,700,200
|
|||||
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
|||||||
FORFEITABLE
COMMON STOCK, $.01 par value
|
|||||||
184,860
and 297,540 shares issued, respectively
|
|||||||
forfeitable
until earned
|
1,085,200
|
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; 20,023,307
|
|||||||
and
19,659,591 shares issued net of
|
|||||||
treasury
stock, respectively
|
200,200
|
196,600
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
74,127,000
|
72,990,700
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(40,420,100
|
)
|
(39,101,900
|
)
|
|||
Treasury
stock at cost, 497,845 shares
|
(923,500
|
)
|
(923,500
|
)
|
|||
Unrealized
gain on marketable securities
|
--
|
306,000
|
|||||
Unallocated
ESOP contribution
|
(490,500
|
)
|
(490,500
|
)
|
|||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
32,493,100
|
32,977,400
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$
|
49,785,100
|
$
|
51,901,400
|
|||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-5-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||
Three
months ended March 31,
|
|
||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|||
OPERATING
REVENUES:
|
|||||||
Real
estate operations
|
$
|
33,000
|
$
|
54,800
|
|||
Management
fees and other
|
39,000
|
121,800
|
|||||
72,000
|
176,600
|
||||||
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
|
|||||||
Real
estate operations
|
165,900
|
70,200
|
|||||
Mineral
holding costs
|
796,700
|
501,100
|
|||||
General
and administrative
|
1,705,600
|
2,548,700
|
|||||
2,668,200
|
3,120,000
|
||||||
LOSS
BEFORE INVESTMENT AND
|
|||||||
PROPERTY
TRANSACTIONS
|
(2,596,200
|
)
|
(2,943,400
|
)
|
|||
OTHER
INCOME & (EXPENSES):
|
|||||||
Gain
on sales of assets
|
1,000
|
2,414,900
|
|||||
Gain
on sale of marketable securities
|
737,400
|
--
|
|||||
Loss
from valuation of derivatives
|
--
|
(585,400
|
)
|
||||
Dividends
|
2,900
|
2,800
|
|||||
Interest
income
|
226,000
|
51,300
|
|||||
Interest
expense
|
(55,800
|
)
|
(29,500
|
)
|
|||
911,500
|
1,854,100
|
||||||
LOSS
BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST AND
|
|||||||
BENEFIT
FROM INCOME TAXES
|
(1,684,700
|
)
|
(1,089,300
|
)
|
|||
MINORITY
INTEREST IN LOSS OF
|
|||||||
CONSOLIDATED
SUBSIDIARIES
|
18,200
|
4,200
|
|||||
LOSS
BEFORE BENEFIT FROM
|
|||||||
INCOME
TAXES
|
(1,666,500
|
)
|
(1,085,100
|
)
|
|||
BENEFIT
FROM INCOME TAXES
|
348,300
|
--
|
|||||
NET
LOSS
|
$
|
(1,318,200
|
)
|
$
|
(1,085,100
|
)
|
|
PER
SHARE DATA
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
$
|
(0.06
|
)
|
|
BASIC
AND DILUTED WEIGHTED
|
|||||||
AVERAGE
SHARES OUTSTANDING
|
19,413,931
|
18,127,158
|
|||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-6-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|||||||
(Unaudited)
|
|||||||
Three
months ended March 31,
|
|
||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(1,318,200
|
)
|
$
|
(1,085,100
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss
|
|||||||
to
net cash used in operating activities:
|
|||||||
Minority
interest in loss of
|
|||||||
consolidated
subsidiaries
|
(18,200
|
)
|
(4,200
|
)
|
|||
Depreciation
|
120,300
|
159,700
|
|||||
Accretion
of asset
|
|||||||
retirement
obligations
|
2,100
|
192,700
|
|||||
Initial
valuation of asset
|
|||||||
retirement
obligation
|
--
|
83,400
|
|||||
Benefit
from deferred tax assets
|
(348,300
|
)
|
--
|
||||
Gain
on sale of assets
|
(1,000
|
)
|
(2,293,700
|
)
|
|||
Loss
on valuation of derivatives
|
--
|
585,400
|
|||||
Gain
on sale of marketable securities
|
(737,300
|
)
|
--
|
||||
Noncash
compensation
|
128,400
|
358,800
|
|||||
Noncash
services
|
--
|
325,600
|
|||||
Net
changes in assets and liabilities:
|
(1,464,200
|
)
|
(76,500
|
)
|
|||
NET
CASH USED IN
|
|||||||
OPERATING
ACTIVITIES
|
(3,636,400
|
)
|
(1,753,900
|
)
|
|||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from sale of marketable securities
|
1,452,400
|
--
|
|||||
Acquisition
of unproved mining claims
|
(253,300
|
)
|
(9,200
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
on sale of property and equipment
|
1,000
|
1,639,400
|
|||||
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(51,700
|
)
|
(107,400
|
)
|
|||
Net
change in restricted investments
|
(52,900
|
)
|
500
|
||||
Proceeds
on note receivable
|
560,900
|
--
|
|||||
Net
change in note receiable
|
--
|
(30,600
|
)
|
||||
Net
change in investments in affiliates
|
34,700
|
44,200
|
|||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
|||||||
BY
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
1,691,100
|
1,536,900
|
|||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-7-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|||||||
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|||||||
Three
months ended March 31,
|
|
||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
$
|
393,100
|
$
|
908,500
|
|||
Proceeds
from long term debt
|
164,100
|
184,400
|
|||||
Repayments
of long term debt
|
(183,100
|
)
|
(110,800
|
)
|
|||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
|||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
374,100
|
982,100
|
|||||
NET
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN
|
|||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(1,571,200
|
)
|
765,100
|
||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|||||||
AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
16,973,500
|
6,998,700
|
|||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|||||||
AT
END OF PERIOD
|
$
|
15,402,300
|
$
|
7,763,800
|
|||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES:
|
|||||||
Income
tax paid
|
$
|
--
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Interest
paid
|
$
|
55,800
|
$
|
29,500
|
|||
NON-CASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|||||||
Acquisition
of mining claims
|
|||||||
through
issuance of subsidiary stock
|
$
|
33,700
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Acquisition
of assets
|
|||||||
through
issuance of debt
|
$
|
--
|
$
|
80,700
|
|||
Satisfaction
of receivable - employee
|
|||||||
with
stock in company
|
$
|
--
|
$
|
30,600
|
|||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-8-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1) The
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2007, the Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31,
2007
and 2006 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three
months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, have been prepared by the Company without
audit. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2006 which
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
(not included). In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying financial
statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring
accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company
as
of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the results of operations for the
three
months ended March 31, 2007, and 2006 and cash flows for the three months ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006.
2) 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 March 31,
2007 and 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the
full year.
3) 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.
4) 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 recognition threshold and
measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement
of
a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires
that the Company recognize in its financial statements, the impact of a tax
position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit,
based on the technical merits of the position. FIN 48 also provides guidance
on
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim
periods and disclosure. The provisions of FIN 48 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 has no significant impact on the financial
statements of the Company at March 31, 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. The
Company is 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.
In
September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 108, Considering
the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in
Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB
108”). SAB 108 provides guidance on consideration of the effects of prior year
misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of
a
materiality assessment. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after
November 15, 2006. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have an impact on our
consolidated financial statements.
-9-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
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 us on 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 current outstanding statements from the Financial
Accounting Standards Board and does not believe that any of those statements
will have a material adverse affect on the financial statements of the Company
when adopted.
5) The
consolidated financial statements of the Company and subsidiaries include the
accounts of the Company, the accounts of its majority-owned or controlled
subsidiaries Plateau Resources Limited, Inc. (“Plateau”) (100%); Four Nines
Gold, Inc. ("FNG") (50.9%); Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (“Sutter”) (49.6%); Crested
Corp. (“Crested”) (70.9%); Yellow Stone Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) (35.9%) U.S. Moly
Corp. (“USMC”) (90%), InterWest, Inc. (“InterWest”) (90%), and the USECC Joint
Venture ("USECC"), a consolidated joint venture which is equally owned by the
Company and Crested, through which the bulk of their operations are
conducted.
The
Company’s ownership as of March 31, 2007 in Sutter below 50% is temporary. On
March 14, 2007 the independent directors of Company, Crested and Sutter
negotiated a settlement of $2,025,700 in debt due to the Company and Crested
as
of December 31, 2006 for the issuance of 7,621,867 shares of Sutter common
stock. This issuance of these shares is subject to the approval of the Toronto
Stock Exchange (“TSX”). Approval was obtained on May 2, 2007 to issue these
shares which will place the consolidated ownership of Sutter by the Company
at
54.5%.
Investments
of less than 20% are accounted for by the cost method. Because of management
control, YSFI is consolidated into the financial statements of the Company.
All
material inter-company profits, transactions and balances have been
eliminated.
6) The
Company accounts for all stock-based compensation pursuant to SFAS 123R which
requires the recognition of the fair value of stock-based compensation in net
income. 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. 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 three months ended March
31, 2007 and March 31, 2006. The weighted average remaining contractual term
and
aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding at March 31, 2007 was 5.62
years and $8,740,700, respectively. At March 31, 2007, all but 25,000 options
that had been issued were vested and exercisable. During the three months ending
March 31, 2007, the Company recognized $6,000 in compensation expense related
to
these 25,000 options.
-10-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
7) Components
of Properties and Equipment at March 31, 2007, consist of land, buildings and
equipment.
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
Amortization
and
|
|
Net
|
|
|||
|
|
Cost
|
|
Depreciation
|
|
Book
Value
|
||||
Mining
properties
|
$
|
848,600
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
848,600
|
||||
Buildings,
land and equipment
|
10,826,700
|
(5,566,400
|
)
|
5,260,300
|
||||||
Totals
|
$
|
11,675,300
|
$
|
(5,566,400
|
)
|
$
|
6,108,900
|
|||
The
Company has impaired a portion of historical costs associated with its
properties in prior periods. The Company will provide additional impairments
if
necessary in the future. No additional impairments are required at March 31,
2007.
8) Unrealized
gains 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 loss if
the Company had recognized comprehensive income:
Three
months ending March 31,
|
|
||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(1,318,200
|
)
|
$
|
(1,085,100
|
)
|
|
Comprehensive
gain from the
|
|||||||
unrealized
gain on marketable securities
|
--
|
353,300
|
|||||
Comprehensive
loss
|
$
|
(1,318,200
|
)
|
$
|
(731,800
|
)
|
|
9) In
accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 115, the Company accounts for
investments in marketable equity securities as available for sale or trading
securities. Available for-sale securities are measured at fair value, with
net
unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate
component of comprehensive income until realized. Changes in value of trading
securities are recorded as current period gains and losses in the statements
of
operations.
At
March
31, 2007, the Company only holds trading securities. The Company did not have
an
investment in marketable securities held for resale at March 31,
2007.
-11-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
10) The
components of deferred taxes as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 are
as
follows:
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|||||||
Deferred
compensation
|
$
|
370,200
|
$
|
589,000
|
|||
Accrued
reclamation
|
925,500
|
879,100
|
|||||
Allowances
for bad debts
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Tax
basis in excess of book (Pinnacle Stock)
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Net
operating loss carryforwards
|
15,045,800
|
14,525,100
|
|||||
Tax
credits (AMT credit carryover)
|
44,200
|
44,200
|
|||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
2,900
|
2,900
|
|||||
Total
deferred tax assets
|
16,388,600
|
16,040,300
|
|||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
|||||||
Book
basis in excess of tax basis
|
(15,100
|
)
|
(179,900
|
)
|
|||
Accrued
reclamation
|
(926,400
|
)
|
(926,400
|
)
|
|||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
(2,200
|
)
|
(2,200
|
)
|
|||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
(943,700
|
)
|
(1,108,500
|
)
|
|||
Net
deferred tax assets
|
15,444,900
|
14,931,800
|
|||||
Valuation
allowance
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Deferred
tax assets net of valuation allowance
|
$
|
15,444,900
|
$
|
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 or will not
be
realized. Pursuant to paragraph 103 of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 109 it is more likely than not that the net operating loss of
the
Company and the other deferred tax assets will be realized as a result of the
closing of the Uranium One Asset Purchase Agreement. No valuation allowance
is
therefore provided at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 as management of
the
Company believes that the deferred tax assets will be utilized in future years.
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2007, net long-term deferred tax assets decreased
by
$218,800 and net current deferred tax assets increased by $731,900. The net
change in deferred tax assets was therefore $513,100. Additionally, the Company
recorded $164,800 in other comprehensive income and a net tax benefit of
$348,300 during the period ended March 31, 2007. During the year ended December
31, 2006, a long-term deferred tax asset of $610,200 and a current deferred
tax
asset of $14,321,600, net of a deferred tax liability of $164,800 related
to
marketable securities, were recorded; the Company therefore recognized a
net
deferred tax benefit of $15,096,600.
-12-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
There
were no taxes payable at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
At
March
31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company (together with Crested Corp.) had
available, for federal income tax purposes, net operating loss carry forwards
(“NOL”) of approximately $42,988,000 and $41,500,300, respectively, which will
expire from 2008 to 2027. In
addition, the Company has available $573,300 of stock based compensation expense
windfall. The tax benefit of which will be a credit to additional paid in
capital when the deduction reduces current income taxes payable. The Company
believes this will occur in the second quarter of 2007 as a result of the sale
of the Company’s uranium assets to sxr Uranium One on April 30, 2007. (See Note
19 to financial statements)
The
Internal Revenue Service has audited the Company’s and subsidiaries tax returns
through the year ended May 31, 2000. The Company’s income tax liabilities are
settled through fiscal 2000.
On
January 1, 2007 the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”)
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. Pursuant to FIN 48, the Company
identified, evaluated and measured the amount of income tax benefits to be
recognized for the Company’s income tax positions. The Company has concluded
that there are no uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the financial
statements. As a result of the adoption of FIN 48, the Company has not
recognized any change to the December 31, 2006 balance in retained earnings.
At
December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Company had no unrecognized tax
benefits that, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective income tax
rate in future periods.
The
Company’s practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income
tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrued interest or
penalties at December 31, 2006 and no accrued interest or penalties at March
31,
2007.
11) During
the quarter ended March 31, 2007 the Company sold 1,500,000 shares of UPC.
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.
12) The
Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with
the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings
per
Share". Basic earnings per common share 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. Potential common shares relating
to options and warrants are excluded from the computation of diluted loss
per
share, because they are anti-dilutive. These options and warrants totaled
5,444,343 and 5,422,352 at March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Stock options
and warrants have a weighted average exercise price of $2.96 and $3.62 per
share, respectively at March 31, 2007 and were $2.24 and $3.40 per share,
respectively at March 31, 2006.
13) Long
term
debt at March 31, 2007 consists of:
Current
portion of long term debt for the purchase of aircraft, equipment
and
insurance policies at various interest rates and due dates
|
$
|
939,100
|
||
Long
term portion of debt for the purchase of aircraft, equipment and
insurance
policies at various interest rates and due dates
|
274,000
|
|||
$
|
1,213,100
|
-13-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
14) The
Company has uranium properties that are in a shut down status in Wyoming and
southern Utah for which it is responsible for the reclamation expense. The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates for these reclamation expenses based on certain assumptions. These
estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period.
The
Company accounts for the reclamation of its mineral properties pursuant to
SFAS
No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligation.” Under the provisions of
this accounting statement, the Company records the estimated fair value of
the
reclamation liability on its mineral properties as of the date that the
liability is incurred with a corresponding increase in the property’s book
value. Actual costs could differ from those estimates. The reclamation
liabilities are reviewed each quarter to determine whether estimates for the
total asset retirement obligation are sufficient to complete the reclamation
work required.
The
Company deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation from the asset
retirement obligations during the quarter in which it occurs. As a result of
the
Company taking impairment allowances in prior periods on its shut-down mining
properties, it has no remaining book value for these properties. Any upward
revisions of retirement costs on its mineral properties will therefore be
expensed in the quarter in which they are recorded.
The
following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement
obligations (unaudited):
Three
months ending March 31,
|
|
||||||
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|||
Balance
December 31,
|
$
|
124,400
|
$
|
5,902,200
|
|||
Addition
to Liability
|
--
|
83,400
|
|||||
Accretion
Expense
|
2,100
|
192,700
|
|||||
Balance
March 31,
|
$
|
126,500
|
$
|
6,178,300
|
|||
15) During
the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company issued 251,036 shares
of its
common stock and released 112,680 forfeitable shares upon the retirement
of one
of its officers and one of its directors. As a result of the issuance of
stock
to outside directors, issuance of shares under the 2001 stock compensation
plan
and the expensing of previously granted employee options, the Company recorded
a
non-cash compensation expense of $85,300. The following table details the
number
of shares issued and the dollar values received.
-14-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
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
|
12,500
|
100
|
61,200
|
|||||||
Exercise
of options
|
152,831
|
1,500
|
113,600
|
|||||||
Exercise
of warrants
|
81,893
|
800
|
277,300
|
|||||||
Expense
of employee options vesting
|
--
|
--
|
6,000
|
|||||||
Forfeitable
stock released for
|
||||||||||
an
employee
|
112,680
|
1,200
|
660,200
|
|||||||
20,023,307
|
$
|
200,200
|
$
|
74,127,000
|
||||||
16) On
January 8, 2007 InterWest, Inc. signed a Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate
to
purchase approximately 10.15 acres of land located in Gillette, Wyoming.
The
purchase price is $1,268,800 payable as follows: $25,000 earnest money deposit
and $1,243,800 payable at closing. InterWest has a sixty day due diligence
period wherein it is to evaluate the property and obtain entitlements necessary
to construct a 216 unit multifamily housing complex on the property. It is
estimated that the construction cost of these rental units will be between
$22
and $25 million. The Board of Directors has directed the management of InterWest
that they should attempt to invest no more than 20% equity in the project
should
it go forward and that the balance of the funds must come from lenders. Further
the board of directors has authorized up to $2.3 million to be expended on
the
property itself and entitlements. InterWest purchased the property on May
11,
2007.
17) On
January 23, 2007, the Company and Crested signed 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 approximately
70.9%
is 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. The exchange ratio represents an approximate 12% premium
to the relative stock prices between the two companies for the 30 days ended
December 18, 2006.
Pursuant
to the merger agreement, the Company will issue a total of approximately
2,802,481 shares of common stock to the minority holders of Crested common
stock, including the shares equal to the equity value of options to buy Crested
common stock underlying 1,700,000 options (exercise price of $1.71 per share)
issued to employees, officers and directors of the Company (Crested has no
employees itself), pursuant to the Crested incentive stock option plan (the
“ISOP”) adopted by Crested and approved by its shareholders in 2004. The ISOP
will be amended to allow for exercise of options by cashless exercise, and
if
the merger is to be consummated, immediately prior to that date, the Crested
options will be so exercised, and the holders of the resulting Crested stock
will be entitled to participate in the merger on the same exchange ratio
basis
as the current Crested minority shareholders.
-15-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
Company and its officers and directors have signed an agreement to vote their
Crested shares in line with the vote of the holders of a majority of the Crested
minority shares. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
Crested outstanding shares is required to consummate the merger. The Company
will not seek shareholder approval of the merger.
The
Company may decline to consummate the merger, even after approval by the holders
of a majority of the minority Crested shares, if the holders of more than
200,000 Crested shares perfect their rights to dissent from the merger under
Colorado law. In addition, the Company or Crested may decline to consummate
the
merger if the ratio of the closing stock price of either company is 20% greater
or less than the exchange ratio for two or more consecutive trading days, even
if the merger has been approved by the holders of a majority of the minority
Crested shares.
Consummation
of the merger also is subject to (i) the Company delivering to the Crested
minority shareholders a proxy statement/prospectus (following declaration of
effectiveness by the SEC of a Form S-4 to be filed by the Company) for a special
meeting of the Crested shareholders to vote on the merger agreement; and (ii)
satisfaction of customary representations and warranties in the merger
agreement.
Navigant
Capital Advisors, LLC is acting as financial advisor to the Company’s special
committee, and Neidiger Tucker Bruner Inc. is acting as financial advisor
to the
Crested special committee. These firms have delivered opinions to the Company
and Crested, to the effects that the exchange ratio is fair to the Company’s
shareholders and to the Crested minority shareholders,
respectively.
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 quarter ending September 30, 2007.
18) 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 SGMI
and 2) a Contingent Stock Purchase Warrant between SGMI, the Company and
Crested.
Pursuant
to the terms and conditions of the Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed
as
follows:
1. To
settle
the accumulated debt obligation as of December 31, 2006 of $2,025,700, USECC
agreed to accept 7,621,867 shares of SGMI common stock (subject to approval
by
the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”)). The debt is therefore being paid at
negotiated price of $.26 per share. The price for SMGI stock on March 15,
2007
was $.20 per share. As approval of the TSX had not been received by March
31,
2007 the transaction is not reflected in the financial statements as of that
date. On May 4, 2007 approval was received from the TSX.
2. To
settle
the Contingent Stock Purchase Warrant agreement of approximately $4.6 million,
the Company and Crested agreed to accept a 5% net profits interest royalty
("NPIR") in exchange for the Contingent Stock Purchase Warrant. Furthermore,
the
Company and Crested agree that the 5% royalty shall continue until the Company
and Crested have recouped the $4.6 million. Once the $4.6 million is recouped
the 5% NPIR shall be converted to a 1% NPIR thereafter.
-16-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
3. In
addition, concurrent with the closing of the Company and Crested’s sxr Uranium
One transaction on April 30, 2007, the Company and Crested have agreed to
provide a $1 million line of credit ($500,000 each) to SGMI at 12% annual
interest, drawable and repayable at any time in tranches of $50,000 or more
by
SGMI. The Company and Crested have the sole option to have SGMI repay the debt
in cash or SGMI stock at a 10% discount to the 10 day VWAP before payment
(subject to Exchange approval).
19) Subsequent
Events
Uranium
One Asset Purchase Agreement Closing (see Form 8K/A filed on May 7,
2007)
On
April
30, 2007, the Company and certain of their private subsidiary companies,
completed the sale of uranium assets by closing the February 22, 2007 Asset
Purchase Agreement (the “APA”) with sxr Uranium One Inc. (“Uranium One,”
headquartered in Toronto, Canada with offices in South Africa and Australia
(Toronto Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange, “SXR”)), and certain of
its private subsidiary companies. As used in this report, Uranium One refers
to
that entity as well as its subsidiaries that are parties to the APA, and the
Company and Crested refer to those entities, as well as their subsidiaries
that
are parties to the APA. The APA is an exhibit to the Form 8-K filed on February
23, 2007.
At
closing, the Company and Crested sold their uranium assets (the Shootaring
Canyon uranium mill in Utah, unpatented uranium claims in Wyoming, Colorado,
Arizona and Utah and geological data information related to the sold claims),
and the Company’s and Crested’s contractual rights with Uranium Power Corp.
(“UPC”), to subsidiaries of Uranium One, for consideration (purchase price)
comprised of:
Consideration
received at closing:
Cash
and Uranium One stock:
· |
$750,000
cash (paid in advance on July 13, 2006) and recorded as a refundable
deposit.
|
· |
6,607,605
Uranium One common shares. On April 30, 2007, the Uranium One common
shares closed at CAD$16.65 per share on the TSX (approximately
USD$15.04).
|
· |
$6,606,000
cash, comprised of (i) $5,020,900 as a “UPC-Related Payment” to pay the
Company and Crested for transferring to Uranium One their contractual
rights with UPC; and (ii) $1,585,100 in reimbursements for the Company’s
and Crested’s property expenditures from July 10,
2006.
|
(i) UPC-Related
Payment:
· $3,013,600
as the net present value of $3,100,000 in future cash payments owed by UPC
to
the Company and Crested under the purchase and sale agreement for UPC to buy
a
50% interest in certain of the Company and Crested’s mining properties (as well
as the mining venture agreement between the Company and Crested, and UPC, to
acquire and develop additional properties, and other agreements). At February
22, 2007, the future payments amount was $4,100,000, however, prior to the
Closing of the APA, UPC paid the Company and Crested $1,000,000 of that
amount.
-17-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
and
· $2,007,300
as the net present value of the 1,500,000 shares of UPC stock to have been
issued in the future by UPC to the Company and Crested under the purchase and
sale agreement. The UPC stock was priced at a 5.25% annual discount rate applied
to the volume weighted average closing price of UPC stock for the ten trading
days ended April 25, 2007.
(ii) Reimbursements:
·
$1,585,100
for property acquisition and exploration costs, and Shootaring Mill holding
expenses.
Net
cash
paid to the Company and Crested was $6,602,700 after deduction of $3,300
for pro
rated property taxes paid by the Company and Crested. Of the cash paid as
reimbursable costs, $88,000 was escrowed for resolution of work related to
some
of the mining claims.
The
net
gain on the sale of the uranium assets to sxr Uranium One is as
follows:
Revenues
from sale of assets to sxr Uranium One
|
||||
Release
of refundable deposit
|
$
|
750,000
|
||
Relief
from Asset Retirement Obligations
|
6,527,200
|
|||
Relief
from accrued holding costs on uranium mill
|
848,600
|
|||
sxr
Uranium One purchase of UPC position
|
5,020,900
|
|||
Reimbursable
Costs
|
1,585,100
|
|||
Receipt
of sxr Uranium One common stock
|
99,400,600
|
|||
114,132,400
|
||||
Cost
of sale of assets to sxr Uranium One
|
||||
Mining
Claims
|
1,535,500
|
|||
Property
Plant and Equipment - net
|
692,500
|
|||
Pro-ration
of property taxes
|
3,300
|
|||
Accrued
costs from January 1, 2007 to April 30, 2007
|
172,900
|
|||
2,404,200
|
||||
Net
gain before income taxes
|
111,728,200
|
|||
Provision
for income taxes
|
41,771,700
|
|||
Net
gain on sale of assets to sxr Uranium One
|
$
|
69,956,500
|
||
-18-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Assumption
of assumed liabilities:
· |
Uranium
One has assumed certain specific liabilities associated with the
sold
assets, including (but not limited to) those future reclamation
liabilities associated with the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Utah, and
the
Sheep Mountain properties. The Company and Crested’s cash bonds in the
approximate amount of $6,883,300 will be released and the cash will
be
returned by the regulatory
authorities.
|
Payments
which may be received in the future:
· |
$20,000,000
cash when commercial production occurs at the Shootaring Canyon Mill
(when
the Shootaring Canyon Mill has been operating at 60% or more of its
design
capacity of 750 short tons per day for 60 consecutive
days).
|
· |
$7,500,000
cash on the first delivery (after commercial production has occurred)
of
mineralized material from any of the claims sold to Uranium One
on April
30, 2007 (excluding existing ore stockpiles on the
properties).
|
· |
From
and after the initiation of commercial production at the Shootaring
Canyon
Mill, a production payment royalty (up to but not more than $12,500,000)
equal to five percent of (i) the gross value of uranium and vanadium
products produced at and sold from the mill; or (ii) mill fees
received by
Uranium One from third parties for custom milling or tolling arrangements,
as applicable. If production is sold to a Uranium One affiliate,
partner,
or joint venturer, gross value shall be determined by reference
to mining
industry publications or data.
|
All
consideration paid and to be paid, will be primarily paid to the Company,
for
itself and as agent for Crested and the several private subsidiaries of the
Company and Crested that were parties to the APA. Pursuant to a cash flow
sharing arrangement on certain of the properties and joint ownership on others,
the cash proceeds will in principal be divided equally between the Company
and
Crested.
The
Company’s and Crested’s joint venture holds a 4% net profits interest on Rio
Tinto’s Jackpot uranium property located on Green Mountain in Wyoming. This
interest is not included in the APA.
The
Company, Crested, and Uranium One have entered into an agreement by which,
for
two years, Uranium One has the first opportunity to earn into or fund uranium
property interests which may in the future be owned or acquired by the Company
and Crested outside the five mile area surrounding each of the properties
sold
to Uranium One on April 30, 2007.
-19-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Payment
of Cash Bonus
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 sxr Uranium One. Included
in
the cash bonus were executive officers (amounts shown are gross payments):
Keith
G. Larsen ($709,000); Mark J. Larsen ($709,800); Harold F. Herron ($709,800);
Robert Scott Lorimer ($709,500); and general counsel Steven R. Youngbauer
($403,300). Additionally the four outside directors each received a $40,000
bonus: H. Russell Fraser, Michael Feinstein, Michael T. Anderson; and Allen
S.
Winters. The outside directors’ bonus was approved by the non-independent
directors; the compensation committee did not make a recommendation on bonuses
paid to its members. The balance of the cash bonus, paid to employees, was
generally equivalent to one year’s gross salary for 2006.
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. 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. The
board
of directors has proposed an amendment to the plan to allow release of the
shares (fully vested) as of May 2, 2007. The taxes paid for the individuals
were
$29,700 (Keith G. Larsen); $276,300 (Harold F. Herron); and $261,900 (Robert
Scott Lorimer). Also in connection with the payment of such taxes for the
individuals, the Company 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. Payment by the Company of all such
taxes, at such time as the forfeitable shares were released to the recipients,
was approved by the board of directors in the early 1990s at such time as
the
payment of the taxes was commercially feasible.
The
Company filed an amended proxy statement for the 2007 Annual Meeting, to
seek
ratification by the shareholders of (i) the board of directors’ amendment of the
plan to permit the release of the forfeitable shares to the officers and
other
employees, prior to their retirement or other termination of service; (ii)
the
payment to the IRS by the company, on behalf of the individuals, of the taxes
owed by the individuals as a result of the release of the shares as of May
2,
2007; and (iii) the reimbursement of the amounts paid to the estate of John
L.
Larsen and Daniel P. Svilar, as well as the reimbursement of approximately
$23,000 paid to former director Don C. Anderson upon his retirement in January
2007 (to pay the taxes he owed as result of the delivery of his forfeitable
shares to him).
Certificates
for the shares (which have been held by the Company for many years) have
not
been delivered to the individuals now in service. If the shareholders give
the
ratification disclosed in general terms in the preceding paragraph, the
certificates will be delivered to the individuals who are now in service.
If the
shareholders do not give their ratification, then the certificates in those
individuals’ names will be retained by the Company, and the Company will seek
either a refund from the IRS or pursue a credit from the IRS for future taxes
the Company will owe.
-20-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
If
ratification is not obtained from the shareholders, the prior delivery of the
certificates for the shares issued to the estate of John L. Larsen, Daniel
P.
Svilar, and Don C. Anderson will not be affected, but those individuals will
be
asked to refund, to the Company, the tax reimbursements they have already
received.
On
May 4,
2007, the Company and Crested signed a contract to sell (to a Canadian financial
institution) 4,400,000 of the 6,607,605 shares of the sxr Uranium One shares
they received at closing for net proceeds (after commission and bulk sale
discount) of $61,044,600. Closing is expected on or before May 15,
2007.
Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Property - Kobex Resources, Ltd. (See Form 8K filed on April
9,
2007)
On
April
3, 2007, the Company, Crested, and U.S. Moly Corp. (“U.S. Moly”), 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 (the “agreement”) with Kobex Resources Ltd. for the Mt.
Emmons “Lucky Jack” Molybdenum Property. The Company and Crested together are
referred to as “USECC.”
The
terms
of the agreement generally are similar to the terms described in the Forms
8-K
filed on October 10, 2006 and December 8, 2006, which summarized the terms
of
the Letter Agreement, and its amendment, between USECC and Kobex. However,
as
previously disclosed, the parties agreed that at the end of the due diligence
period, they would use their best efforts to negotiate and sign a formal
agreement. The final agreement replaces the amended Letter Agreement.
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 USECC, 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 USECC. The balance between money spent on expenditures
and option payments, and $50 million, will be paid to USECC in cash.
Expenditures
and Option payments
Date
by When Expenditures and Options Must be Paid(1)
|
Expenditures
Amount(2)
-
$
|
Option
Payment Amount (3)
-
$
|
Total
Expenditure and Option Payment
Amount
- $
|
Cumulative
Total for Expenditures Amounts and Option Payments - $
|
||||
Later
of April 13, 2007 or TSX-V Approval(4)
|
-0-
|
750,000
|
750,000
|
750,000
|
||||
March
31, 2008
|
3,500,000(5)
|
1,200,000(5)
|
4,200,000
|
4,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2008
|
5,000,000
|
500,000
|
5,500,000
|
10,450,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2009
|
5,000,000
|
500,000
|
5,500,000
|
15,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2010
|
2,500,000
|
500,000
|
3,000,000
|
18,950,000
|
||||
Dec.
31, 2011
|
-0-
|
500,000
|
500,000
|
19,450,000
|
||||
Totals
|
16,000,000
|
3,950,000
|
19,450,000
|
19,450,000
|
-21-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
(1) |
Any
shortfall in expenditures may be paid direct, in cash, to USECC.
Except
for the initial payment of $3,500,000 in expenditures by March 31,
2008
(which is a firm commitment of Kobex), if any expenditures amount
is not
fulfilled and/or option payment is not made by 90 days after the
due date,
the agreement will be deemed to have been terminated by Kobex. However,
if
Kobex fails to incur an expenditures amount and/or does not make
an option
payment after the date when Kobex has earned a 15% interest, U.S.
Moly
will replace Kobex as manager of the
property.
|
(2)
|
Expenditures
include (but are not limited to) holding and permitting costs for
the
property; geological, geophysical, metallurgical, and related work;
salaries and wages; and water treatment plant capital and operating
costs.
|
(3) |
At
Kobex’ election, option payments may be made in cash or Kobex common stock
at market price on issue date. Kobex may accelerate these payments
in
advance of the scheduled dates.
|
(4) |
The
agreement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. If
not
approved by July 2, 2007, the agreement will immediately terminate
unless
the parties agree otherwise.
|
(5) |
For
this period, Kobex may reduce the option payment by $700,000 by increasing
expenditures by that amount, or apportioning the $700,000 between
the
option payment and expenditures.
|
Bankable
Feasibility Study
Kobex
is
required to deliver a bankable feasibility study (the “BFS”) for the property
(including confirmation of advance permitting or issuance of a mining permit).
If option payments and expenditures, plus the costs to prepare the BFS, total
$50 million before the BFS is completed and delivered to USECC, Kobex and
USECC
shall jointly (50% each) fund completion of the BFS.
If
option
payments and expenditures are less than $50 million, then, in order to fully
exercise the option to acquire an aggregate 50% interest in the Property,
Kobex
shall pay USECC in cash the difference between $50 million, and the option
payments plus expenditures plus the costs to prepare and complete the BFS.
This
amount is the “study cash difference.” If the BFS is not completed by December
31, 2016, Kobex’ interest will revert to 15% (if an aggregate of $15 million has
been spent on the property by that date) and U.S. Moly will assume operatorship
of the property.
Exercise
of the Option
The
option is exercisable in two stages. The “option period” is the time between
April 3, 2007, and that date when Kobex has earned the additional 35%
interest.
First
Stage:
When
Kobex has incurred an initial $15 million in expenditures, Kobex shall have
earned a 15% interest in the property.
Second
Stage:
If
Kobex completes the remaining option payments and expenditures and delivers
the
BFS (and pays the study cash difference, if applicable), Kobex shall have
earned
an additional 35% interest (for a total of 50%). This date will be the “50%
option exercise date.”
-22-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Management
During the Option Period.
On the
50% Option Exercise Date, Kobex may either (i) elect to form a joint venture
with USECC (50% interest each); or (ii) four months after such date, offer
USECC
an election to form the joint venture and have Kobex arrange all future
financing for all operations on the property, for an additional 15% interest
to
Kobex (for a total 65% interest in the joint venture); or (iii) acquire all
the
outstanding securities of the an entity formed by USECC to hold its joint
venture interest, for Kobex stock, with the purchase price determined by
negotiation or an independent valuator.
Throughout
the option period, Kobex shall be the manager of all programs on the property,
and its activities shall be subject to the direction and control of a management
committee. The management committee shall have four members (two each from
USECC
and Kobex); in the event of a tie, the Kobex members shall have the casting
vote. A technical committee, also with two members from each party, shall
provide technical assistance to the management committee.
The
Joint Venture
After
the
50% option exercise date, a joint venture (the “Luck Jack Joint Venture”) shall
be deemed formed between USECC and Kobex, to hold and explore the property;
if
feasible, develop a mine on the Property; and for so long as feasible, operate
the mine and exploit minerals from the property. USECC and Kobex each shall
have
a 50% interest in the joint venture and shall be obligated to contribute
funds
to adopted programs and budgets in proportion to their interests.
Kobex
shall be the manager of the joint venture, subject to the direction and control
of a management committee (which may be the same as the management committee
during the option period).
Broker’s
Fee
Kobex
may
pay a broker’s fee in connection with the agreement. USECC and Kobex are
negotiating the terms of how much of this fee USECC would be obligated to
pay.
USECC does not expect its share to be more than CAD$500,000 if Kobex pays
such a
fee and USECC will have the option to pay its share of such fee over a five
year
period (CAD$100,000 annually to Kobex in cash or the Company’s stock, or in
shares of Kobex which USECC will have received for option payments from Kobex).
If the master agreement with Kobex is terminated for any reason during the
five
year period, USECC’s obligations to reimburse Kobex for the broker’s fee also
would be terminated.
Continuing
Royalty held by USECC.
USECC
shall continue to retain a 6% gross overriding royalty on production from
the
property, under the Amended and Restated Royalty Deeds and Agreement dated
May
29, 1987 between U.S. Energy and Crested, and Mt. Emmons Mining Company.
The
Company and Crested’s 6% royalty will be reduced to 5.1% when Kobex earns a 15%
interest in the property, and will be reduced again to 3% when Kobex earns
a 50%
interest in the property.
-23-
ITEM
2. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
The
following is Management's Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) of the
significant factors which have affected our liquidity, capital resources and
results of operations during the periods included in the accompanying financial
statements. For a detailed explanation of the Company's Business Overview,
it is
suggested that Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and
Results of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 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.
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. Going forward, the Company intends to expand commercial real estate
operations. Initially the Company will target multifamily housing in communities
located in the Rocky Mountain area that are being impacted by natural resource
development. The Company is also considering other real estate investments
in
the Rocky Mountain region.
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, Plateau Resources Limited, Inc. ("Plateau"), Sutter
Gold
Mining, Inc. (“Sutter”), USECC 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 quarter ended March 31, 2007.
During
the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004, the Company’s uranium and gold
properties were shut down due to depressed metals prices. The market price
for
uranium increased during 2005 and 2006 to levels which allowed the Company
and
Crested to sell all their uranium assets. Molybdenum prices have increased
which
have likewise attracted a joint venture partner.
Uranium
- The
price of uranium concentrates has increased from a five year low of $9.75 per
pound in September 2002 to a five year high of $120.00 per pound on May 7,
2007
(Ux Weekly).
Gold
- The
five year low for gold was $302.10 per ounce in April 2002. The market price
for
gold has risen since that time to a five year high of $719.88 per ounce on
May
11, 2006. The price for gold on May 8, 2007 was $685.10 per ounce (Metal
Prices.com).
Molybdenum
- The
five year low for molybdic oxide was $2.68 per pound in April 2002. The five
year high of molybdic oxide was $39.50 per pound on June 2, 2005. The price
for
molybdic oxide was $29.12 per pound on May 4, 2007. (Metal
Prices.com).
-24-
The
rebound in the Company’s commodity prices presents opportunities. In contrast to
the prior five years, we now have cash on hand sufficient for general and
administrative expenses and exploration expenses on mineral properties as well
as the development and acquisition of real estate projects. The use of the
Company’s cash for these purposes is further enhanced by the closing of sales
transactions relating to the Company’s uranium properties and the Company’s
Lucky Jack molybdenum property. Kobex Resources Ltd. (“Kobex”) is expected to
pay the Lucky Jack molybdenum property permitting expenses and water treatment
plant operating costs going forward. As a result of the closing of the sale
of
uranium assets to sxr Uranium One on April 30, 2006 additional cash will be
available for additional investments in mineral properties and other potential
businesses.
Management’s
strategy to generate a return on shareholder capital is first, to demonstrate
prospective value in the mineral properties sufficient to support substantial
investments by industry partners and second, to structure these investments
to
bring capital and long term development expertise to move the properties into
production. There are uncertainties associated with this strategy. Please see
the risk factors in this report.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, 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 be realized in fact.
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 Plateau (100%), Crested (70.9%), Four Nines Gold, Inc. ("FNG")
(50.9%), Sutter (49.6%), Yellow Stone Fuels, Inc. (“YSFI”) (35.9%), and the
USECC Joint Venture ("USECC"), a consolidated joint venture which is equally
owned by the Company and Crested, through which the bulk of their operations
are
conducted. Additional subsidiaries have been organized by the Company and
include U.S. Moly Corp. (“USMC”) for molybdenum and InterWest, Inc.
(“InterWest”) for real estate. The Company on a consolidated basis owns 90% of
these subsidiaries with the remaining 10% being owned by employees, officers
and
directors of the Company. Subsequent to the quarter ended March 31, 2007,
management and the board of directors of the Company determined that the
ownership of subsidiary companies by employees, officers and directors would
cease and all equity compensation would be given at the Company
level.
The
Company’s ownership as of March 31, 2007 in Sutter below 50% is temporary. On
March 14, 2007 the independent directors of Company, Crested and Sutter
negotiated a settlement of $2,025,700 in debt due to the Company and Crested
as
of December 31, 2006 for the issuance of 7,621,867 shares of Sutter common
stock. This issuance of these shares is subject to the approval of the Toronto
Stock Exchange (“TSX”). Approval was obtained on May 4, 2007 to issue these
shares which will place the consolidated ownership of Sutter by the Company
at
54.5%.
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.
-25-
Cash
Equivalents -
The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of
three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash
and
cash equivalents in bank deposit accounts which exceed federally insured limits.
At March 31, 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. The Company is currently seeking a relationship with
an
investment banker to assist in the management of cash reserves as well as the
financing of acquisitions and on going operations.
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 reserves 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 March 31, 2007 there were no provisions
of
doubtful accounts for either receivable or note balances.
Marketable
Securities -
The
Company accounts for its marketable securities (1) as trading, (2)
available-for-sale or (3) held-to-maturity. Based on the Company's intent to
sell the securities, its equity securities are reported as a trading security.
The Company's available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value with
net
unrealized gain or (loss) recorded as a separate component of shareholders'
equity. If a decline in fair value of held-to-maturity securities is determined
to be other than temporary, the investment is written down to fair
value.
Mineral
Claims
- We
follow the full cost method of accounting for mineral properties. Accordingly,
all costs associated with acquisition, development and capital equipment as
well
as construction of plant relating to mineral properties are capitalized and
are
subject to ceiling tests to ensure the carrying value does not exceed the fair
market value. All associated general and administrative as well as exploration
costs and expenses associated with mineral properties are expensed when
incurred.
All
capitalized costs of mineral properties subject to amortization and the
estimated future costs to develop proved reserves are amortized by applying
the
unit-of-production method using estimates of proved reserves. Investments in
unproven properties and major construction and development projects are not
amortized until proven reserves associated with the projects can be determined
or until impairment occurs.
If
the
sum of estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis is less than the
carrying amount of the related asset, an asset impairment is considered to
exist. The related impairment loss is measured by comparing estimated future
cash flows on a discounted basis to the carrying amount of the asset. Changes
in
significant assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates may have a
material effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations.
An uneconomic commodity market price, if sustained for an extended period of
time, or an inability to obtain financing necessary to develop mineral
interests, may result in asset impairment. If the results of an assessment
indicate that the properties are impaired, the capitalized cost of the property
is expensed.
Asset
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.
-26-
Assets
and Liabilities Held for Sale
- Long
lived assets and liabilities that will be sold within one year of the financial
statements are classified as current. At March 31, 2007 the Company believed
that its uranium assets in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Arizona would be sold
within a twelve month period. All capitalized asset balances associated with
these assets, including cash bonds pledged as collateral for reclamation
liabilities, were therefore classified as Assets Held for Sale as of March
31,
2007. Likewise all asset retirement obligations as well as any other liability
associated with these properties was classified as current Liabilities Held
for
Sale at March 31, 2007.
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 had been acquired when the Shootaring Mill was acquired in
1993.
The
Company has classified Ticaboo as Real Estate Held for Sale. The value of $1.8
million is 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. During the quarter ended March
31, 2007, we recognized an income tax benefit of $348,300 by reducing the
valuation allowance on the deferred income tax assets based upon our assessment
that we will generate taxable income as a result of the transaction with sxr
Uranium One Inc. for the sale of uranium assets (the Shootaring Canyon uranium
mill in Utah, and unpatented uranium claims in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and
Utah).
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.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company’s cash position at March 31, 2007, was $15,402,300 which is a decrease
of $1,571,200 from the cash position at December 31, 2006. During the three
months ended March 31, 2007, investing activities generated $1,691,100,
financing activities generated $374,100 and operating activities consumed
$3,636,400.
-27-
Operations
resulted in a net loss of $1,318,200 of which the largest use of cash was the
payment of $570,900 of accrued compensation expenses, payment of accounts
payable of $528,100, and an increase in the Company’s accounts receivable of
$276,700. The accrued compensation was the second installment of a bonus which
was granted by the board of directors to the former chairman’s estate in the
amount of $250,000 and the same amount to the Company’s General Counsel who
retired in January 2007. The increase in receivables was due to amounts due
from
UPC and Kobex for costs paid for by the Company on mineral properties. The
Company recognized a gain from the sale of assets, $1,000, and the sale of
its
shares of UPC of $774,700 during the three months ended March 31, 2007. Non-cash
expenditures in operations totaled $207,800 during the three months ended March
31, 2007. The components of these non cash items in operations were:
depreciation, $120,300; accretion of asset retirement obligations relating
to
the Company’s mining properties, $2,100; $128,400 of non-cash compensation
relating to the 2001 stock award plan, expensing of employee options, accrual
of
executive retirement benefits and the accrual of the Employee Stock Ownership
Plan.
Investing
Activities - During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company received
$1,452,400 from the sale of its shares of UPC common stock. The Company also
received $560,900 from the payment of a note receivable. During the three months
ended March 31, 2007, the Company had proceeds of $1,000 from the sale of assets
compared to $1,639,400 for the same period in 2006 and purchased various pieces
of equipment totaling $51,700 compared $107,400 during the three months ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Acquisition of mining claims consumed
$253,300 during the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $9,200 for
the
quarter ended March 31, 2006. The costs associated with the acquisition of
mining claims were reimbursed by sxr Uranium One on the closing of the sale
of
the Company’s uranium assets on April 30, 2007. Please see Note 19 to Financial
Statements above.
Cash
flows from financing activities were primarily as a result of the issuance
of
the Company’s common stock as a result of the exercise of stock warrants and
options, $393,100 and proceeds from long term debt of $164,100 for the financing
of the purchase of equipment and the financing of liability insurance premiums.
These sources of cash from financing activities were offset by payments made
on
long term debt in the amount of $183,100.
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.
Management of the Company therefore 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. The successful development and production of these properties could
greatly enhance the liquidity and financial position of the
Company.
Although
the Company has sufficient liquidity at March 31, 2007 (due to the sale of
its
Enterra units and Pinnacle shares and subsequent to March 31, 2007 due to the
sale of its uranium assets to sxr Uranium One) to fund limited exploration
and
development reclamation projects on its mineral properties, the purchase and
development of real estate properties as well as general and administrative
costs and expenses, it may need to continue to attract equity investors or
industry partners to fully develop its mineral properties and/or finance
acquisitions.
-28-
Capital
Resources
Contract
to Sell Uranium Assets to Uranium One and the UPC Agreement
On
April
30, 2007, the Company closed on the asset purchase agreement with sxr Uranium
One, and certain of its private subsidiary companies. sxr Uranium One bought
all
our uranium assets (except for a royalty on Green Mountain in Wyoming) and
took
over the Company’s rights in the UPC purchase and mining venture as well as
assumed all the liabilities associated with the uranium properties. The Company,
on a pro forma basis, recognized a gain of $69,956,500 on the sale of these
assets. The Company signed, on May 4, 2007, a contract to sell (to a Canadian
financial institution) 4,400,000 of the 6,607,605 shares of sxr Uranium One
common stock that it received at closing. Net proceeds from the sale of these
shares (after commission and bulk sale discount) was $61,044,600. These funds
will be used to pay income taxes due as a result of the sale of the uranium
assets to sxr Uranium One, investments and ongoing general and administrative
expenses. Closing is expected on or before May 15, 2007. The proceeds from
the
sale of these assets substantially enhance the liquidity of the Company. Please
see Note 19 to Financial Statements above.
Kobex
Resources Ltd. Agreement
On
April
3, 2007, the Company and Crested signed a formal Exploration, Development and
Mine Operating Agreement giving Kobex (“KBX”) an option to acquire up to a 65%
interest in the Lucky Jack molybdenum property. 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 substantial costs and expenses
which otherwise may have to be funded by the Company and Crested (including
paying for the water treatment plant, obtain necessary permits, and have
performed a bankable feasibility study preparatory to mining or selling the
property). See Note 19 above. In addition to the payment of operating,
permitting and construction costs and contract has option payments amounts
due
to the company and Crested in the total amount of $3,950,000 which at Kobex’s
option can be made in either cash or common shares of Kobex. These option
payments begin in 2007 and continue through December 2011. The closing date
has
not been determined.
Line
of Credit
The
Company has a $500,000 line of credit with a commercial bank. The line of credit
is secured by certain real estate holdings and equipment. This line of credit
is
used for short term working capital needs associated with operations. At March
31, 2007, the entire amount of $500,000 under the line of credit was available
to the Company.
Cash
on Hand
As
discussed above the Company has monetized certain of its assets which have
provided cash that will continue to be used to fund general and administrative
expenses, and possible exploration and development of new mineral properties
along with the maintenance of those properties. Cash is expected to be used
during the balance of 2007 to fund investments in real estate and other
investment projects which fit the Company’s investment objectives.
-29-
Capital
Requirements
The
direct capital requirements of the Company during 2007 remain its general and
administrative costs, and the costs through April 30, associated with the
uranium properties that were sold to sxr Uranium One. Additionally, the Company
is obligated to fund this portion of any funding of the water treatment plant
and the lucky Jack Property prior to the time that Kobex makes reimbursements
of
those costs. The Company, as a result of the formation of InterWest and the
pursuit of the real estate market, will be obligated to fund its percentage
of
capital required to purchase and or develop real estate properties. As of March
31, 2007, the Company had agreed to fund up to $2,300,000 on a multi-family
housing development in Gillette, Wyoming.
Maintaining
Mineral Properties
Uranium
Properties
As
a
result of the sale of the uranium properties to sxr Uranium One the Company
has
no further commitment to fund any of the obligations, including asset retirement
obligations, relating to its former uranium properties. All these obligations
were transferred to sxr Uranium One at closing on April 30, 2007. See Note
19 to
financial statements above.
Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Property
Operating
costs for the water treatment plant are expected to approximate $1.5 million
annually. In an effort to assure continued compliance, the Company has retained
the technical expert and the contractor hired by PD on January 2, 2006 to
operate the water treatment plant.
On
April
13, 2007 the Company entered into a formal Exploration, Development and Mine
Operating Agreement with Kobex. Under the terms of the agreement, Kobex is
expected to pay all the permitting, standby and water treatment costs associated
with the Lucky Jack property during the next several years. See Note 19 to
Financial Statements above.
Sutter
Gold Mining Inc. Properties
Sutter
initiated an 18,000 foot underground and surface drilling program during the
second quarter of 2006, to further delineate and define potential resources
at
the property and this program is expected to be completed in May 2007. The
2006
drill program included both underground and surface holes. As of April 17,
2007,
all of the drilling had been completed except one hole.
Capital
to fund these projects was obtained from private placements of Sutter’s common
stock in 2006. Sutter is seeking additional funding to place the property into
production. The Company and Crested have agreed to provide Sutter with a
$1,000,000 credit facility at 12% 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 and Crested 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.
-30-
Debt
Payments
Debt
to
non-related parties at March 31, 2007 was $1,213,100 of which $939,100 will
become payable during the year ending December 31, 2007. The largest component
of the current debt payable is related to the Company’s aircraft which matures
in June 2007, and was fully retired in May 2007. The balance of the debt
consists of debt related to the purchase of vehicles, equipment and the
financing of insurance policy premiums.
Reclamation
Costs
The
asset
retirement obligation on the Plateau uranium mineral properties and the
Shootaring mill in Utah at March 31, 2007 is $4,199,700. This liability is
fully
collateralized by restricted cash investments of $6,936,100. It is currently
anticipated that the reclamation of the Plateau uranium mill will not commence
until 2033.
The
asset
retirement obligation of the Sheep Mountain uranium properties in Wyoming at
March 31, 2007 is $2,458,000 and is collateralized by a reclamation bond which
is secured by a pledge of certain real estate assets of the Company and cash
bonds in the amount of $575,000.
Upon
closing of the sale of the uranium assets to sxr Uranium One on April 30, 2007,
all the asset retirement obligations relating to the Shootaring Canyon Mill
and
the Sheep Mountain Properties as well as other uranium properties were assumed
by sxr Uranium One and the cash deposits held as collateral for those asset
retirement obligations were released to the Company and Crested.
The
asset
retirement obligation for Sutter at March 31, 2007 is $22,400 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 March 31, 2007
is $104,000. It is not anticipated that this reclamation work will occur in
the
near term.
InterWest
On
January 8, 2007, InterWest, Inc., 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. Subject to satisfaction of conditions, contract closing is expected
in May 2007. InterWest 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 (estimated at $698,000) necessary
to
construct multifamily housing on the property; construction would commence
in
second quarter 2007. The cost to obtain entitlements, engineering and
architecture is estimated to be approximately $698,000. Total land purchase
and
construction costs are estimated to be between $22 and $25 million. At March
31,
2007 the board of directors of the Company and Crested had authorized the
expenditure of up to $2.3 million for the purchase of the land and payment
of
the entitlements. InterWest purchased the property on May 11, 2007.
A
substantial part of total costs may be funded with commercial loans, and the
Company may seek private investors to offset the equity component (estimated
at
20% of total costs).
-31-
Other
The
employees of the Company are not given raises on a regular basis. In
consideration of this and in appreciation of their work, the board of directors
from time to time has accepted the recommendation of the Compensation Committee
to grant a bonus to employees and directors when major transactions are
closed.
Results
of Operations
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2007 compared to 2006
During
the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company recognized a loss of
$1,318,200 or $0.07 per share as compared to a loss of $1,085,100 or $0.06
per
share for the period ended March 31, 2006. The primary reason for the increased
loss is the reduction in the gain on sale of assets. During the three months
ended March 31, 2006 the Company recognized a gain of $2,414,900 from the sale
of a portion of its uranium assets to UPC. The only gain from the sale of assts
during the three months ended March 31, 2007 was the sale of one truck in the
amount of $1,000. The gain on the sale of assets during the quarter ended March
31, 2006 was off set by the loss $585,400 from the valuation of the Company’s
shares of Enterra Energy Trust. No similar loss from the valuation of a
derivative was recognized during the quarter ended March 31, 2007. Finally,
the
other major component of the change in the net earnings for the quarters ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006 was the gain on the sale of the UPC shares recognized
during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 of $774,700. No similar gain was
recognized during the quarter of the previous year.
Other
changes in revenues and expenses during the comparative periods of the quarters
ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 are a reduction of $104,600 in operating revenues
and a reduction of operating costs and expenses of $451,800.
The
components of the reduction in operating revenues were reductions in revenues
from real estate operations of $21,800 and management fees of $82,800. These
reductions were as a result of reduced rental income from real estate properties
and lower amounts of management fees charged to affiliates and third parties
for
work performed by the Company in their behalf.
Mineral
holding costs increased by $295,600 during the three months ended March 31,
2007
to $796,700 as compared to $501,100 during the three months ended March 31,
2006. The increase is due to the increased geological and engineering activity
on the Company’s mineral properties. The majority of these expenses are
reimbursable expenses under the sale of the uranium properties to sxr Uranium
One.
General
and Administrative expenses decreased by $843,100 during the three months ended
March 31, 2007 over those recorded during the three months of the same quarter
of the prior year. This decrease was as a result of large expenses during 2006
which included, the expensing of employee options, $136,800; the value of the
extension of warrants to non affiliates of $321,100; maintenance of to the
Company’s airplane $353,700; $278,200 in professional services related to the
Lucky Jack molybdenum property which consisted of both legal and
engineering/geological services. During the quarter ending March 31, 2007,
the
Company had no expenses for warrants to non affiliates, significantly lower
maintenance costs relating to Company’s airplane, and no professional services
relating to the reacquisition of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property and also
only expensed $6,000 for employee options.
-32-
During
the quarter ended March 31, 2007, we recognized an income tax benefit of
$348,300 by reducing the valuation allowance on the deferred income tax assets
based upon our assessment that we will generate taxable income as a result
of
the transaction with sxr Uranium One for the sale of uranium assets (the
Shootaring Canyon uranium mill in Utah, and unpatented uranium claims in
Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and Utah). No provision for or benefit from income
taxes was recorded during the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2006 compared to 2005
During
the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company recognized a loss of
$1,085,100 or $0.06 per share as compared to a loss of $1,598,500 or $0.11
per
share for the period ended March 31, 2005. The primary reasons for this
reduction in the net loss is increased other revenues. Offsets to this increase
in net income are reduced operating revenues, increased operating costs and
expenses and increased other expenses.
Operating
revenues were reduced by $164,800 to $176,600 at March 31, 2006 from $341,400
at
March 31, 2005. Components of this reduction of revenues were reductions in
real
estate operations of $30,300 and management fees of $134,500.
Mineral
holding costs increased by $208,200 during the three months ended March 31,
2006
to $501,100 as compared to $292,900 during the three months ended March 31,
2005. The increase is due to the increased geological and engineering activity
on the Company’s mineral properties. General and Administrative expenses
increased by $1,384,300 during the three months ended March 31, 2006 over those
recorded during the three months of the same quarter of the prior year.
General
and Administrative costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31,
2006
were $2,548,700. For the three months ended March 31, 2005 General and
Administrative expenses were $1,164,400. This increase of $1,384,300 during
the
three months ended March 31, 2006 over the three months ended March 31, 2005
was
as a result of the expensing of employee options pursuant to SFAS 123(R) which
will vest on July 1, 2006, $136,800; accrual of the executive retirement
benefits adopted in October 2005, $71,000; the value of the extension of
warrants to non affiliates of $321,100; increased professional services of
$97,200 relating to year end costs and legal services on various matters;
maintenance of the Company’s airplane $353,700; $278,200 in professional
services related to the Lucky Jack molybdenum property which consisted of both
legal and engineering/geological services and increased costs related to the
Sutter gold project of $77,200.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company recognized $2,414,900 from
the sale of assets while during the three months ended March 31, 2005 the
Company only recognized $9,500 from the sale of assets. This increase of
$2,405,400 was as primarily due to the receipt of $1.6 million cash from UPC
pursuant the amendment of the UPC purchase agreement and 1,500,000 shares of
UPC
common stock valued at $677,700.
The
Company recognized a loss of $585,400 from the valuation of the imbedded
derivative associated with the Acquisitions Class D shares discussed above
under
Capital Resources. The Acquisitions Class D shares automatically converted
to
Enterra Additional Units on June 1, 2006 at which time they will be accounted
for as marketable securities held for sale. The entry for the loss of $585,400
at March 31, 2006 was therefore be the last time the Company values the imbedded
derivative associated with the Class D shares of Acquisitions.
-33-
Contractual
Obligations
We
had
two divisions of contractual obligations at March 31, 2007: Debt to third
parties of $1,213,100 and asset retirement obligations of $126,500. The debt
will be paid over a period of five years and the retirement obligations will
be
retired 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
|
$
|
1,213,100
|
$
|
939,100
|
$
|
261,800
|
$
|
12,200
|
$
|
--
|
||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
126,500
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
126,500
|
|||||||||||
Totals
|
$
|
1,339,600
|
$
|
939,100
|
$
|
261,800
|
$
|
12,200
|
$
|
126,500
|
||||||
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
March
31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the Company held no financial instruments
on
which financial risk could be quantified. The marketable securities held
by the
Company at December 31, 2006 are, however, subject to change in market price.
The shares of UPC that the Company held at December 31, 2006 had a per share
value of $0.77 and were sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 at an
average of $0.97 per share. The 4,655 shares of Enterra Energy Trust (“Enterra”)
that are owned by the Company’s subsidiary YSFI had a per share value of $7.90
at December 31, 2006 and $5.51 at March 31, 2007. Risk associated with the
market value of the Enterra shares is not material.
The
Company was at risk of changing value in the sale of uranium assets to sxr
Uranium One as the major component of the payment to the Company was in sxr
Uranium One common stock. The market value per share of sxr Uranium One common
stock was $13.73 at December 31, 2006 and $13.83 at closing on April 30,
2006.
The
Company sold 4,400,000 of the 6,607,605 shares it received in the sxr Uranium
One sale transaction for approximately $13.61 per share net after commission
and
bulk sale discount. Until such time as the Company sells the remaining 2,207,605
shares, the Company will remain at risk for changes in the market value of
sxr
Uranium One common stock.
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.
-34-
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Legal
Proceedings
Material
legal proceedings pending at March 31, 2007, and developments in those
proceedings from that date to the date this Quarterly Report is filed, are
summarized below. The status of the legal proceedings, which were pending
during
the year has either not changed, been settled or is otherwise
immaterial.
Patent
Claims Litigation - Lucky Jack Molybdenum Property
The
only
pending legal proceeding to which the Company is a party relates to a challenge
to the validity of title to the patented claims included in the molybdenum
property.
On
April
2, 2004, the United States Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) issued patents on
nine additional mining claims for the Lucky Jack molybdenum property (previously
known as Mount Emmons), for a total of 25 patented claims which consists
of
approximately 350 patented or “fee” acres. A lawsuit was filed by local
governmental entities and environmentalists (“Appellants”) in U.S. District
Court of Colorado challenging BLM’s issuance of the nine additional mining
patents and alleging BLM violated the 1872 Mining Law, applicable regulations,
and the Administrative Procedures Act by overruling their protests to Mt.
Emmons
Mining Company’s mineral patent application, by awarding the patents, and by
conveying the land to Mt. Emmons Mining Company (a subsidiary of Phelps Dodge
Corporation). The case was High
Country Citizen’s Alliance, Town of Crested Butte, Colorado, and The Board of
County Commissioners of the County of Gunnison, Colorado v. Kathleen Clarke,
Director of the Bureau of Land Management et. al., Gale Norton, Secretary
of
Interior, U.S. Department of the Interior; Phelps Dodge Corporation; Mt.
Emmons
Mining Company.
On
January 12, 2005, U.S. District Court dismissed the Appellants’ appeal holding:
(i) that they had no right of appeal from a decision to issue a mineral patent,
because the 1872 Mining Law created no private cause of action for unrelated
parties to challenge the issuance of a mineral patent, and (ii) because the
1872
Mining Law implicitly precludes unrelated third parties from challenging
mineral
patent by judicial action, the Administrative Procedures Act does not constitute
a waiver of sovereign immunity for purposes of the action. Appellants filed
an
appeal of the U.S. District Court’s decision to the United States Tenth Circuit
Court of Appeals (10th
CAA”).
The 10th
CCA case
number is D.C. No. 04-MK-749PAC and No. 05-1085.
On
February 28, 2006, the property was transferred to the Company and Crested
by
Phelps Dodge Corporation (“PD”) and Mt. Emmons Mining Company. On July 21, 2006,
the 10th
CAA
affirmed the January 12, 2005 dismissal by the U.S. District Court of challenges
to the issuance of nine additional mining patents on the molybdenum property.
On
September 5, 2006, the Appellants filed a Petition for Rehearing En Banc
of the
July 21, 2006, decision before the entire 10th
CCA. On
September 8, 2006, the Company and Crested were admitted as substitute parties
for Phelps Dodge Corporation and Mt. Emmons Mining Company (following the
Company’s and Crested’s filing of a Motion to Substitute Parties.
On
October 27, 2006, the entire 10th
CCA
affirmed and upheld the July 21, 2006, decision by the 10th
CCA
panel, thereby denying the Appellants’ Petition of Rehearing En Banc and their
challenges to the issuance of the patents.
On
February 26, 2007, the Appellants filed a Petition for Certiorari with the
United States Supreme Court again arguing that they were improperly denied
judicial review of the decision by BLM to issue the patents. On April 30,
2007
the United States Supreme Court denied the Appellants Petition for Certiorari
and this action exhausts any further legal proceedings by the Petitioners
on
these claims.
-35-
Quiet
Title Litigation - Sutter Gold Mining Inc.
In
2004,
USECC Gold Limited Liability Company (a predecessor of SGMI) as plaintiff
filed
an action (USECC
Gold Limited Liability Company vs. Nevada-Wabash Mining Company, et
al,
Case
No. 04CV3419) in Superior Court of California, County of Amador) seeking
to
quiet title as vested in plaintiff to two patented mining claims at the Sutter
Gold project. All but one of the approximately 54 defendants (dissolved private
corporations and other entities, their stockholders and/or estates of deceased
stockholders) have defaulted. Plaintiff and the remaining defendant have
had
settlement discussions, and a settlement conference is scheduled for mid-April
2007; if a settlement is not obtained, trial will be scheduled.
Management
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 SGMI’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.
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 Investment Company Act of 1940, a company may be classified as
an
“inadvertent investment company” under section 3(a)(1)(C) of the 1940 Act if
(absent an available exemption or exclusion under the 1940 Act categories)
the
value of investment securities is more than 40% of its total assets (exclusive
of government securities and cash items). Total asset value includes amounts
for
assets recorded on the financial statements, as well as additional amounts
which
the board of directors believes reflect the fair value of those
assets.
As
a
result of the April 30, 2007 sale of uranium assets to sxr Uranium One, we
received investment securities (stock in Uranium One) with a value in excess
of
40% of total asset value.
The
SEC’s
Rule 3a-2 under the 1940 Act allows an inadvertent investment company (as
a
“transient investment company”) a period of one year from the date of
classification (in our case, April 30, 2008), to own investment securities
with
a value of 40% or less of our total assets. Accordingly, we are taking actions
to comply with this 40% limit from the present time through April 30, 2008.
These actions include liquidating investment securities as necessary to stay
within the 40% limit.
As
Rule
3a-2 is available to a company no more than once every three years, we
will 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.
-36-
Classification
as an investment company, whether registered or not, requires prompt
registration with the SEC as an investment company under the 1940 Act. If
an
investment company, even an inadvertent one, fails to register, it would
have to
stop doing almost all business, and its contracts would become voidable.
Registration is time consuming and restrictive; we would be very constrained
in
the kind of business we could do as a registered investment company. Thus,
it is
critical that we take steps now to make sure we are in compliance with the
40%
limit.
ITEM
2. Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds
During
the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company issued a total of 251,036
shares of its common stock and also released 112,680 previously forfeitable
shares due to the retirement of an officer. These 251,036 shares were issued
as
new issuances as a result of the exercise of warrants, 81,893 shares; employee
options, 152,831 shares; the 2001 stock compensation plan, 12,500 shares; shares
issued to outside directors for services rendered, 3,812. The forfeitable shares
were released to Daniel P. Svilar, 112,680 shares, upon his retirement as
General Counsel and Secretary in January 2007.
ITEM
3. Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
Not
Applicable
ITEM
4. Submission
of Matter to a Vote of Shareholders
Not
Applicable
ITEM
5. Other
Information
Not
Applicable
-37-
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
|
||
10.1
|
Kobex
Agreement of 4-3-07 (without Exhibits)
|
||
(b)
|
Reports
on Form 8-K.
The Company filed five reports on Form 8-K for the quarter ended
March 31,
2007. The events reported were as follows:
|
||
1.
|
The
report filed on January 8, 2007, under Item 8.01 referenced the January
2,
2007 Amended Exclusivity Agreement between USECC and sxr Uranium
One.
|
||
2.
|
The
report filed on January 24, 2007, under Items 1.01, 4.01 and 5.01
referenced the Plan and Agreement of Merger for Crested Corp. signed
1-23-07, Change of Accountant and Change of
Directors/Officers.
|
||
3.
|
The
report filed on February 1, 2007, amending Item 4.01 of the 8-K filed
January 24, 2007.
|
||
4.
|
The
report filed on February 5, 2007, under Item 4.01 referencing the
engagement of Moss Adams LLP as independent
accountants.
|
||
5.
|
The
report filed on February 23, 2007 under Item 1.01 referenced the
signing
of the Asset Purchase Agreement between USECC and sxr Uranium
One.
|
-38-
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:
May 17, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
||
KEITH
G. LARSEN,
|
||||
Chairman
and CEO
|
||||
Date:
May 17, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Scott Lorimer
|
||
ROBERT
SCOTT LORIMER
|
||||
Principal
Financial Officer and
|
||||
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
-39-