US ENERGY CORP - Quarter Report: 2008 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
Quarterly
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
|
For
the quarter ended September 30, 2008 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 x Non-accelerated
filer o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES o NO x
APPLICABLE
ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE
YEARS:
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports
required to be filed by Section 12, 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a
court.
YES o NO o
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
|
Outstanding
Shares at November 6, 2008
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value
|
22,389,050
|
-2-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. and SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
Page
No.
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Financial
Statements.
|
|
Condensed Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2008 and
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2007
(unaudited)
|
4-5
|
|
Condensed Statements of Operations for the Three
and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and
2007(unaudited)
|
6-7
|
|
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)
|
8-9
|
|
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(unaudited)
|
10-25
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
26-37
|
ITEM
3.
|
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk
|
37
|
ITEM
4.
|
Controls and Procedures
|
37
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Legal Proceedings
|
38-40
|
ITEM
1A.
|
Risk Factors
|
40
|
ITEM
2.
|
Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
40-41
|
ITEM
3.
|
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
|
41
|
ITEM
4.
|
Submission of Matters to a Vote of
Shareholders
|
41
|
ITEM
5.
|
Other Information
|
41
|
ITEM
6.
|
Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
|
42
|
43
|
||
Certifications
|
See
Exhibits
|
-3-
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Financial Statements
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 1,146,900 | $ | 72,292,200 | ||||
Marketable
securities
|
||||||||
Held
to maturity - treasuries
|
68,561,100 | -- | ||||||
Available
for sale securities
|
892,800 | 480,200 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
||||||||
Trade
|
120,400 | 171,700 | ||||||
Reimbursable
project costs
|
128,500 | 782,100 | ||||||
Dissolution
of subsidiaries
|
-- | 197,600 | ||||||
Income
taxes
|
5,316,500 | 902,900 | ||||||
Restricted
investments
|
4,928,400 | 6,624,700 | ||||||
Assets
held for sale
|
-- | 1,112,600 | ||||||
Real
estate held for sale
|
590,700 | -- | ||||||
Deferred
tax assets
|
601,800 | 59,700 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
101,600 | 105,200 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
82,388,700 | 82,728,900 | ||||||
PROPERTIES
AND EQUIPMENT:
|
66,475,500 | 52,785,200 | ||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation,
|
||||||||
depletion
and amortization
|
(4,873,800 | ) | (4,691,700 | ) | ||||
Net
properties and equipment
|
61,601,700 | 48,093,500 | ||||||
OTHER
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Restricted
investments
|
367,800 | 375,500 | ||||||
Deposits
and other
|
548,700 | 206,500 | ||||||
Total
other assets
|
916,500 | 582,000 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 144,906,900 | $ | 131,404,400 | ||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-4-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 1,334,800 | $ | 1,589,600 | ||||
Accrued
compensation
|
863,900 | 275,200 | ||||||
Short
term construction debt
|
16,433,800 | 5,489,000 | ||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
71,900 | 71,900 | ||||||
Other
current liabilities
|
724,800 | 667,500 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
19,429,200 | 8,093,200 | ||||||
LONG-TERM
DEBT, net of current portion
|
133,800 | 190,500 | ||||||
DEFERRED
TAX LIABILITY
|
8,950,700 | 6,928,800 | ||||||
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
|
141,300 | 133,400 | ||||||
OTHER
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
|
855,300 | 958,600 | ||||||
PREFERRED
STOCK,
|
||||||||
$.01
par value; 100,000 shares authorized
|
||||||||
No
shares issued or outstanding
|
-- | -- | ||||||
SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY:
|
||||||||
Common
stock, $.01 par value; unlimited shares
|
||||||||
authorized;
23,018,825 and 23,592,493
|
||||||||
shares
issued, respectively
|
230,200 | 235,900 | ||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
96,239,900 | 96,560,100 | ||||||
Accumulated
surplus
|
19,385,300 | 19,050,900 | ||||||
Unrealized
loss on marketable securities
|
(458,800 | ) | (256,500 | ) | ||||
Unallocated
ESOP contribution
|
-- | (490,500 | ) | |||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
115,396,600 | 115,099,900 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$ | 144,906,900 | $ | 131,404,400 | ||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-5-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
months ended September 30,
|
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Remington
Village real estate
|
$ | 497,100 | $ | -- | $ | 873,100 | $ | -- | ||||||||
Other
real estate
|
66,500 | 569,400 | 121,800 | 738,600 | ||||||||||||
Management
fees and other
|
5,100 | 56,800 | 51,700 | 198,000 | ||||||||||||
568,700 | 626,200 | 1,046,600 | 936,600 | |||||||||||||
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Remington
Village real estate
|
232,100 | -- | 474,400 | -- | ||||||||||||
Other
real estate
|
78,600 | 80,300 | 237,200 | 247,700 | ||||||||||||
Mineral
holding costs
|
1,208,600 | 238,300 | 2,282,100 | 1,353,700 | ||||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
1,697,500 | 2,150,200 | 5,968,600 | 11,469,500 | ||||||||||||
3,216,800 | 2,468,800 | 8,962,300 | 13,070,900 | |||||||||||||
LOSS
BEFORE INVESTMENT AND
|
||||||||||||||||
PROPERTY
TRANSACTIONS
|
(2,648,100 | ) | (1,842,600 | ) | (7,915,700 | ) | (12,134,300 | ) | ||||||||
OTHER
INCOME & (EXPENSES):
|
||||||||||||||||
(Loss)
gain on sales of assets
|
12,400 | 400 | (16,600 | ) | 1,822,600 | |||||||||||
Loss
on sale of marketable securities
|
-- | (2,227,000 | ) | -- | (8,318,400 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain
(loss) on foreign exchange
|
-- | (72,600 | ) | -- | 430,000 | |||||||||||
Gain
on sale of uranium assets
|
-- | -- | -- | 111,728,200 | ||||||||||||
Loss
from dissolution of subsidiaries
|
-- | (78,700 | ) | -- | (78,700 | ) | ||||||||||
Dividends
|
-- | 17,100 | -- | 22,700 | ||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
324,100 | 1,195,600 | 1,174,500 | 2,047,000 | ||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(146,300 | ) | (14,000 | ) | (254,100 | ) | (63,400 | ) | ||||||||
190,200 | (1,179,200 | ) | 903,800 | 107,590,000 | ||||||||||||
(LOSS)
GAIN BEFORE MINORITY
|
||||||||||||||||
INTEREST,
PROVISION FOR
|
||||||||||||||||
INCOME
TAXES AND
|
||||||||||||||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
|
(2,457,900 | ) | (3,021,800 | ) | (7,011,900 | ) | 95,455,700 | |||||||||
MINORITY
INTEREST IN LOSS (GAIN)
|
||||||||||||||||
OF
CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
|
-- | 147,200 | -- | (3,551,400 | ) | |||||||||||
(LOSS)
GAIN BEFORE PROVISION
|
||||||||||||||||
FOR
INCOME TAXES AND
|
||||||||||||||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
|
(2,457,900 | ) | (2,874,600 | ) | (7,011,900 | ) | 91,904,300 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-6-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||||||||||
CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
months ended September 30,
|
Nine
months ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
INCOME
TAXES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Current
benefit from (provision for)
|
1,881,000 | 1,995,200 | 4,003,200 | (18,625,100 | ) | |||||||||||
Deferred
benefit from (provision for)
|
(819,000 | ) | 526,400 | (1,563,400 | ) | (14,512,700 | ) | |||||||||
1,062,000 | 2,521,600 | 2,439,800 | (33,137,800 | ) | ||||||||||||
(LOSS)
GAIN FROM CONTINUING
|
||||||||||||||||
OPERATIONS
|
(1,395,900 | ) | (353,000 | ) | (4,572,100 | ) | 58,766,500 | |||||||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
(210,800 | ) | (397,000 | ) | (501,100 | ) | (1,539,300 | ) | ||||||||
Gain
on sale of discontinued
|
||||||||||||||||
operations
(net of taxes)
|
5,407,600 | -- | 5,407,600 | -- | ||||||||||||
5,196,800 | (397,000 | ) | 4,906,500 | (1,539,300 | ) | |||||||||||
NET
(LOSS) INCOME
|
$ | 3,800,900 | $ | (750,000 | ) | $ | 334,400 | $ | 57,227,200 | |||||||
PER
SHARE DATA
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
(loss) earnings
|
||||||||||||||||
from
continuing operations
|
$ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | 2.94 | |||||
Basic
earnings (loss)
|
||||||||||||||||
from
discontinued operations
|
0.22 | (0.02 | ) | 0.20 | (0.08 | ) | ||||||||||
Basic
(loss) earnings per share
|
$ | 0.16 | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.01 | $ | 2.86 | |||||||
Diluted
(loss) earnings
|
||||||||||||||||
from
continuing operations
|
$ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (0.02 | ) | $ | (0.19 | ) | $ | 2.68 | |||||
Diluted
(loss) earnings
|
||||||||||||||||
from
discontinued operations
|
0.22 | (0.02 | ) | 0.20 | (0.07 | ) | ||||||||||
Diluted
(loss) earnings per share
|
$ | 0.16 | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | 0.01 | $ | 2.61 | |||||||
BASIC
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
||||||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
23,505,340 | 20,558,882 | 23,629,490 | 20,024,465 | ||||||||||||
DILUTED
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
|
||||||||||||||||
SHARES
OUTSTANDING
|
23,505,340 | 20,558,882 | 23,629,490 | 21,901,936 | ||||||||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-7-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
For
the nine months ended September 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 334,400 | $ | 57,227,200 | ||||
Gain
on the sale of SGMI stock
|
(5,407,600 | ) | -- | |||||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
501,100 | 1,539,300 | ||||||
Net
(loss) gain from continuing operations
|
(4,572,100 | ) | 58,766,500 | |||||
Reconcile
net loss from continuing operations
|
||||||||
to
net cash used in operations
|
||||||||
Minority
interest in the loss of subsidiaries
|
-- | 3,551,400 | ||||||
Depreciation
|
688,500 | 302,700 | ||||||
Accretion
of asset retirement obligations
|
-- | 6,900 | ||||||
Accretion
of discount on treasury investments
|
(991,900 | ) | -- | |||||
Noncash
interest income
|
-- | (1,274,000 | ) | |||||
Income
tax receivable
|
(3,399,100 | ) | -- | |||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
1,563,400 | 14,512,700 | ||||||
Income
tax payable
|
-- | 1,569,700 | ||||||
Gain
on sale of assets to Uranium One
|
-- | (111,728,100 | ) | |||||
Loss
(gain) on sale of assets
|
16,600 | (1,860,800 | ) | |||||
Gain
on foreign exchange
|
-- | (443,300 | ) | |||||
Loss
on sales of marketable securities
|
-- | 8,318,400 | ||||||
Warrant
extension and repricing
|
-- | 156,500 | ||||||
Noncash
compensation
|
2,135,400 | 1,089,700 | ||||||
Noncash
services
|
23,600 | -- | ||||||
Net
changes in assets and liabilities:
|
186,700 | 345,700 | ||||||
NET
CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
(4,348,900 | ) | (26,686,000 | ) | ||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of marketable securities
|
$ | -- | $ | 92,250,700 | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of uranium assets
|
-- | 14,022,700 | ||||||
Proceeds
from sale of property and equipment
|
1,097,000 | 1,294,200 | ||||||
Acquisition
& development of real estate
|
(11,001,400 | ) | (6,595,200 | ) | ||||
Acquisition
of unproved oil & gas properties
|
(4,533,600 | ) | (2,894,100 | ) | ||||
Acquisition
& development
|
||||||||
of
unproved mining claims
|
(517,800 | ) | (224,200 | ) | ||||
Acquisition
of property and equipment
|
(55,700 | ) | (5,584,300 | ) | ||||
Maturities
of treasury investments
|
206,320,000 | -- | ||||||
Acquisitions
of treasury investments
|
(273,889,200 | ) | (70,000,000 | ) | ||||
Net
change in restricted investments
|
1,704,000 | -- | ||||||
Net
change in notes receivable
|
-- | 560,500 | ||||||
Net
change in investments in affiliates
|
-- | (79,500 | ) | |||||
NET
CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED
|
||||||||
BY
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
(80,876,700 | ) | 22,750,800 |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-8-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
For
the nine months ended September 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
1,527,600 | 2,284,100 | ||||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock
|
-- | 342,000 | ||||||
Payment
of cash dividend
|
-- | (2,108,300 | ) | |||||
Restricted
investment for credit facility
|
-- | (4,725,000 | ) | |||||
Tax
benefit from the exercise of stock options
|
170,400 | 1,415,400 | ||||||
Proceeds
from long term debt
|
10,944,800 | 164,100 | ||||||
Repayments
of long term debt
|
(56,700 | ) | (1,089,200 | ) | ||||
Stock
buyback program
|
(2,831,500 | ) | (1,047,300 | ) | ||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
9,754,600 | (4,764,200 | ) | |||||
Net
cash used in operating
|
||||||||
activities
of discontinued operations
|
(76,500 | ) | (1,415,100 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing
|
||||||||
activities
of discontinued operations
|
4,402,200 | (37,400 | ) | |||||
NET
DECREASE IN
|
||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(71,145,300 | ) | (10,151,900 | ) | ||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
72,292,200 | 16,973,500 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT
END OF PERIOD
|
$ | 1,146,900 | $ | 6,821,600 | ||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES:
|
||||||||
Income
tax (received) paid
|
$ | (944,900 | ) | $ | 15,640,000 | |||
Interest
paid
|
$ | 47,800 | $ | 63,800 | ||||
NON-CASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Issuance
of subsidiary stock to acquire
|
||||||||
mining
claims
|
$ | -- | $ | 33,700 | ||||
Receipt
of marketable securities
|
||||||||
from
the sale of assets
|
$ | -- | $ | 99,400,600 | ||||
Unrealized
loss/gain
|
$ | 458,800 | $ | 195,800 | ||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated
statements.
-9-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1) Basis of
Presentation
The
Condensed Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2008, the Condensed Statements of
Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 and
the Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30,
2008 and 2007, have been prepared by the Company without audit. The
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2007 was derived from
financial statements audited by Moss Adams, LLP, independent public accountants,
as indicated on their report for the year ended December 31, 2007 (which report
is not included in this Form 10-Q Report). In the opinion of the
Company, the accompanying condensed financial statements contain all adjustments
(consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly
the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2008 and December 31,
2007, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September
30, 2008 and 2007 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2008
and 2007.
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, 2007 Form 10-K. The results of operations for
the periods ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 are not necessarily indicative of
the operating results for the full year.
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates based on certain assumptions. These estimates and
assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements,
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period.
2) Principles
of Consolidation
The
consolidated Balance Sheet of the Company at December 31, 2007 included the
accounts of the Company and Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (“SGMI”) which was owned
54.4% by the Company at December 31, 2007. All material inter-company
profits, transactions and balances were eliminated. During the nine
months ended September 30, 2008, the Company sold the majority of its shares of
SGMI and SGMI operations have been reclassified as discontinued operations (see
Note 16).
The
consolidated statement of operation and statement of cash flows of the Company
as of September 30, 2007 also include the accounts of its then
majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries Plateau Resources Limited, Inc.
(“Plateau”) (100%); Crested Corp. (“Crested”) (70.1%); SGMI (54.4%), and the
USECC Joint Venture ("USECC"), a consolidated joint venture which was equally
owned by the Company and Crested. Subsequent to September 30, 2007
all these subsidiaries and affiliated companies were liquidated or merged into
the Company.
-10-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
3) Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
SFAS 141R In
December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141(R), “Business
Combinations” (“SFAS
141(R)”), to replace SFAS 141, “Business Combinations”. SFAS 141(R)
requires use of the acquisition method of accounting, defines the acquirer,
establishes the acquisition date and broadens the scope to all transactions and
other events in which one entity obtains control over one or more other
businesses. This statement is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with earlier
adoption prohibited. While the Company does not expect that the
adoption of SFAS 141(R) to have a material impact to its consolidated financial
statements for transactions completed prior to December 31, 2008, the impact of
the accounting change could be material for business combinations which may be
consummated subsequent thereto.
SFAS 157 In September
2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting
principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157
applies to other existing accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair
value measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those accounting
pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute.
While SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, its
application may change the current practice for fair value measurements.
SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal
years. On February 8, 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB
Statement No. 157”, which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for nonfinancial
assets and liabilities to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.
The adoption of SFAS 157 for financial assets and liabilities in the first
quarter of 2008 had no impact on our consolidated financial
statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS
157 for non-financial assets and liabilities.
SFAS 159 In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“SFAS 159”) which
permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain
other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair
value. SFAS 159 will be effective for the Company’s current fiscal
year ending December 31, 2008. The effect of adopting this statement did not
have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results
of operations or cash flows.
SFAS
160 In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No.
160, “Non controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements”—an
amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160
establishes accounting and reporting standards for the non controlling interest
in a subsidiary and for the retained interest and gain or loss when a subsidiary
is deconsolidated. This statement is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with
earlier adoption prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact of SFAS 160 on its financial statements.
The
Company has reviewed other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does
not believe that any of those pronouncements will have a material effect on the
Company’s financial position or results of operations when adopted.
-11-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
4) Stock
Based Compensation
Stock Options - The Company
accounts for all stock-based compensation pursuant to SFAS No. 123(R), “Share
Based Payment” which requires the recognition of the fair value of stock-based
compensation in operations. Stock-based compensation to all employees
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.
Options
expire 90 days after the employee voluntarily terminates their employment with
the Company or twelve months after retirement, disability or death and vest over
various time periods established at time of grant. The Company
recognizes the stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service
period of the individual grantees, which generally equals the vesting
period. The Company provides newly issued shares to satisfy stock
option exercises (see Note 13).
The
Company also issues shares of Common Stock to four officers of the Company under
the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan as amended by vote of the shareholders on June
22, 2007. Under the terms of the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan each of
the four officers is issued 5,000 shares on a quarterly basis and the Company
reimburses the officers any taxes due as a result of the issuance of the
shares. The officers have agreed not to sell, pledge or in any other
way encumber the shares issued under the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan prior to
their retirement, disability or death. These shares are a portion of
the overall compensation package of the executives and are in lieu of additional
cash compensation being paid to the officers (see Note 13).
5) Properties
and Equipment
The
components of Properties and Equipment at September 30, 2008 are oil and gas
properties, mining properties, rental properties and buildings land and
equipment.
Accumulated
|
||||||||||||
Amortization
|
||||||||||||
Depletion
and
|
Net
|
|||||||||||
Cost
|
Depreciation
|
Book
Value
|
||||||||||
Oil
& Gas properties
|
$ | 7,468,400 | $ | - | $ | 7,468,400 | ||||||
Mining
properties
|
21,566,100 | - | 21,566,100 | |||||||||
Rental
properties
|
22,681,800 | (256,400 | ) | 22,425,400 | ||||||||
Buildings,
land and equipment
|
14,759,200 | (4,617,400 | ) | 10,141,800 | ||||||||
Totals
|
$ | 66,475,500 | $ | (4,873,800 | ) | $ | 61,601,700 | |||||
-12-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
Company evaluates assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate
that recorded values may not be recoverable. There were no
impairments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and
2007. Mining properties of $21,566,100 are the result of the
allocation of the purchase price associated with the merger of Crested Corp.
into the Company during the fourth quarter of 2007 as well as expenditures the
Company incurred in the permitting process related to the Lucky Jack molybdenum
property (“Lucky Jack”) in Colorado. The Company is in the process of
conducting a valuation of the allocation of the purchase price under SFAS 141
which it anticipates having completed during the fourth quarter of
2008. The Company incurred $1,238,600 in permitting and engineering
studies relating to the Lucky Jack property, which were capitalized, during the
nine months ended September 30, 2008. During the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 the Company abandoned certain options on uranium leases it
held with a book value of $31,100 as the Company saw no economic value in
retaining the leases. Land, buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment are
carried at cost. Depreciation of buildings, improvements, machinery
and equipment is provided principally by the straight-line method over estimated
useful lives ranging from 3 to 45 years. Following is a breakdown of
the lives over which assets are depreciated.
Machinery
and equipment
|
||
Office
Equipment
|
3
to 5 years
|
|
Aircraft
|
10
years
|
|
Field
Tools and Hand Equipment
|
5
to 7 years
|
|
Vehicles
and Trucks
|
3
to 7 years
|
|
Heavy
Equipment
|
7
to 10 years
|
|
Buildings
and improvements
|
||
Service
Buildings
Multifamily
Housing
|
20
years
25
years
|
|
Corporate
Headquarters' Building
|
45
years
|
6) Marketable
Securities
The
Company accounts for its marketable securities as (1) held-to-maturity, (2)
available-for-sale and (3) trading. The Company holds short-term
securities which have maturities of greater than three months but less than one
year from the date of purchase; these securities are classified as
held-to-maturity based on the Company's intent to hold such securities to the
maturity date. All held-to-maturity securities are U.S. Government
securities and are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair market
value. Income related to these securities is reported as a component
of interest income. The Company's available-for-sale securities are
carried at fair value with net unrealized gain or (loss) recorded as a separate
component of shareholders' equity. If a decline in fair value of
held-to-maturity securities is determined to be other than temporary, the
investment is written down to fair value. Based on the Company's intent to sell
the securities, its equity securities are reported as trading
securities.
-13-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
7) Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unrealized
gains and losses on investments, available-for-sale securities, are excluded
from net income but are reported as comprehensive income on the Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets under Shareholders’ equity. The following
table reconciles net loss/gain to comprehensive loss/gain:
For
the three months
|
For
the nine months ending
|
|||||||||||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Net
gain/(loss)
|
$ | 3,800,900 | $ | (750,000 | ) | $ | 334,400 | $ | 57,227,200 | |||||||
Comprehensive
loss from the
|
||||||||||||||||
unrealized
loss on marketable securities
|
(110,400 | ) | (4,335,800 | ) | (284,900 | ) | (324,000 | ) | ||||||||
Reclassification
adjustment for gains
|
||||||||||||||||
included
in net income
|
-- | -- | -- | (305,100 | ) | |||||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
||||||||||||||||
on
marketable securities
|
39,000 | 1,410,400 | 83,600 | 127,300 | ||||||||||||
Comprehensive
gain/(loss)
|
$ | 3,729,500 | $ | (3,675,400 | ) | $ | 133,100 | $ | 56,725,400 | |||||||
8) Income
Taxes
The income tax provision differs from the amounts computed by
applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income from continuing
operations before taxes. The reasons for these differences are as follows:
Three
Months Ended
|
Nine
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Book
Income/(Loss) before Income Tax
|
$ | 2,738,900 | $ | (3,271,600 | ) | $ | (2,105,400 | ) | $ | 90,365,000 | ||||||
Reverse
income from discontinued operations
|
(5,196,800 | ) | (4,906,500 | ) | ||||||||||||
Equity
income from non consolidated tax sub
|
(160,100 | ) | 3,551,400 | |||||||||||||
Add
back losses from non consolidated tax subs
|
391,300 | 1,545,400 | ||||||||||||||
Tax
impact of change in asset classification
|
(549,300 | ) | (549,300 | ) | ||||||||||||
Prior
year true-up and rate change
|
(171,400 | ) | (265,100 | ) | (171,400 | ) | (265,100 | ) | ||||||||
Permanent
differences
|
411,200 | (1,755,600 | ) | 1,028,700 | (1,517,300 | ) | ||||||||||
Taxable
(loss)/income
|
||||||||||||||||
before
temporary differences
|
$ | (2,767,400 | ) | $ | (5,061,100 | ) | $ | (6,703,900 | ) | $ | 93,679,400 | |||||
Expected
federal income tax expense (benefit) 35%
|
$ | (968,500 | ) | $ | (1,771,500 | ) | $ | (2,346,300 | ) | $ | 32,787,800 | |||||
Federal
deferred income tax expense (benefit)
|
$ | 819,000 | $ | (526,400 | ) | $ | 1,563,400 | $ | 14,512,700 | |||||||
Federal
current expense (benefit)
|
(1,787,500 | ) | (1,245,200 | ) | (3,909,700 | ) | 18,275,100 | |||||||||
Total
federal income tax expense (benefit)
|
(968,500 | ) | (1,771,600 | ) | (2,346,300 | ) | 32,787,800 | |||||||||
Current
state income tax expense net of
|
||||||||||||||||
federal
tax benefit
|
(93,500 | ) | (750,000 | ) | (93,500 | ) | 350,000 | |||||||||
Total
provision (benefit) from Continuing Operations
|
$ | (1,062,000 | ) | $ | (2,521,600 | ) | $ | (2,439,800 | ) | $ | 33,137,800 | |||||
-14-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Current
taxes receivable at September 30, 2008 is comprised of $5,223,000 of federal
income taxes and $93,500 of state income taxes. The amount of current federal
taxes receivable has been increased by $170,400 benefit from the exercise of
pre-FAS 123R nonqualified stock options and warrants which result in an increase
to paid in capital and $1,193,600 benefit related to the sale of discontinued
operations. At December 31, 2007, current taxes receivable was
$902,900.
The tax
impact of change in asset classification relates to the Company’s investment in
shares of Sutter Gold Mining, Inc. that it owns at September 30,
2008. When this asset was previously accounted for as a consolidated
subsidiary, no deferred tax asset for the excess of tax basis over book basis
was recognized. As this investment is now being treated as a
marketable security, a deferred tax asset is recognized in the current
period.
The
components of deferred taxes as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are
as follows:
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Current
deferred tax assets:
|
||||||||
Tax
basis in excess of book
|
$ | 439,300 | $ | - | ||||
Non-deductible
reserves and other
|
162,500 | 59,700 | ||||||
Total
net current deferred tax assets/(liabilities)
|
$ | 601,800 | $ | 59,700 | ||||
Non-current
deferred tax assets:
|
||||||||
Deferred
compensation
|
$ | 626,800 | $ | 436,300 | ||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
49,500 | 38,500 | ||||||
Tax
basis in excess of book
|
- | 200,400 | ||||||
Total
noncurrent deferred tax assets
|
676,300 | 675,200 | ||||||
Non-current
deferred tax liabilities:
|
||||||||
Book
basis in excess of tax basis
|
(9,616,100 | ) | (7,604,000 | ) | ||||
Accrued
reclamation
|
(10,900 | ) | ||||||
Total
deferred tax liabilities
|
(9,627,000 | ) | (7,604,000 | ) | ||||
Total
net non-current deferred tax assets/(liabilities)
|
$ | (8,950,700 | ) | $ | (6,928,800 | ) | ||
A
valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is required when it is more likely
than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be
realized. No valuation allowance is provided at September 30, 2008
and December 31, 2007 as the Company believes that it is more likely than not
that the deferred tax assets will be utilized in future years.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, net current deferred tax assets
increased by $542,100 and net non-current deferred tax liabilities increased by
$2,021,900. The total change in net deferred tax liabilities was an
increase of $1,479,800, comprised of a deferred income tax expense of $1,563,400
and the recognition of other comprehensive income in the amount of $83,600
resulting from the tax expense related to the mark to market of available for
sale securities. The book basis in excess of tax basis in the
schedule above relates primarily to the $7,287,300 difference created from the
excess of the purchase price over the carrying value of the assets acquired in
the purchase of the remaining minority interest of Crested Corp in
2007.
-15-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
Company’s practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income
tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrued
interest or penalties at September 30, 2008 or December 31, 2007.
On
January 1, 2007 the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). Pursuant to FIN 48, the
Company identified and evaluated any potential uncertain tax
positions. The Company has concluded that there are no uncertain tax
positions requiring recognition in the financial statements.
The
Internal Revenue Service has audited the Company’s tax returns through the year
ended May 31, 2000. The Company’s income tax liabilities are settled
through fiscal 2000.
9) Assets
Held for Sale
Long
lived assets and liabilities that will be sold within one year of the financial
statements are classified as current. At September 30, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, the Company reported $590,700 and $1,112,600, respectively,
in assets held for sale. The Asset Held for Sale at September 30,
2008 consisted of undeveloped real estate in Riverton, Wyoming and at December
31, 2007 an aircraft which was sold during the nine months ended September 30,
2008.
10) Earnings
Per Share
The
Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with the
provisions of SFAS 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. As the results of continuing
operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 were losses,
dilutive options and warrants were excluded from the diluted calculation because
they would be anti-dilutive. Dilutive options and warrants excluded
at September 30, 2008 totaled 5,204,461. (See Note 13) Dilutive
options and warrants totaled 5,867,729 at September 30, 2007.
11) Debt
At
September 30, 2008, debt consists of debt related to the construction of the
Remington Village multifamily property and the purchase of equipment at various
interest rates and due dates:
Short-term
construction debt
|
$ | 16,433,800 | ||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
71,900 | |||
Long-term
debt
|
133,800 | |||
Total
|
$ | 16,639,500 | ||
-16-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
12) Asset
Retirement Obligations
The
Company accounts for the reclamation of its mineral properties pursuant to SFAS
No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligation.” Under the
provisions of this statement, the Company records the estimated fair value of
the reclamation liability on its mineral properties as of the date that the
liability is incurred with a corresponding increase in the property’s book
value. Actual costs could differ from those estimates. The Company
deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation from the asset retirement
obligations during the quarter in which it occurs. The reclamation
liabilities are reviewed each quarter to determine whether estimates for the
total asset retirement obligation are sufficient to complete the reclamation
work required. Asset retirement obligations at September 30, 2008 are
for reclamation obligations related to the Lucky Jack project and a Gulf Coast
gas well.
The
following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement
obligations (unaudited):
For
the nine months ending September 30,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Balance
January 1,
|
$ | 133,400 | $ | 124,400 | ||||
Accretion
of estimated ARO
|
6,600 | 6,900 | ||||||
Initial
valuation of ARO
|
24,600 | -- | ||||||
Deconsolidation
of Sutter Gold
|
(23,300 | ) | -- | |||||
Balance
September 30,
|
$ | 141,300 | $ | 131,300 | ||||
13) Shareholders’
Equity
Stock
Option Plans
The Board
of Directors adopted, and the shareholders approved, the U.S. Energy Corp. 2001
Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "2001 ISOP") for the benefit of the Company's
employees. The 2001 ISOP reserves for issuance shares of the
Company’s common stock equal to 25% of the Company’s shares of common stock
issued and outstanding as of June 22, 2007. The 2001 ISOP has a term
of 10 years from date of initial adoption.
On
September 22, 2008, the Board of Directors issued 562,500 new options under the
2001 ISOP to officers and employees of the Company. All options
issued on September 22, 2008 were granted at the closing price of $2.52 on the
date of grant and vest over three years in equal annual installments beginning
September 22, 2009.
-17-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
weighted average remaining contractual term and aggregate intrinsic value of all
employee options at September 30, 2008 was 6.22 years and $273,300,
respectively. At September 30, 2008, 1,585,829 of the options granted
were not vested. During the three and nine months ending September
30, 2008, the Company recognized $354,300 and $1,042,300, respectively in
compensation expense related to employee options and will recognize an
additional $4,294,000 over the remaining vesting period of seven
years. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the
Company recognized $326,000 and $334,900 in compensation expense related to
employee stock options. The Company computes the fair values of its
options granted using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The options
issued in 2008 were valued under Black-Scholes using a risk free interest rate
of 3.23%, expected life of 6 years and expected volatility of
56.5%. Cumulative compensation cost recognized in pro forma net
income or loss with respect to options that are forfeited prior to vesting is
adjusted as a reduction of pro forma compensation expense in the period of
forfeiture.
Warrants
to Others
From time
to time the Company issues stock purchase warrants to non-employees for
services.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company issued 40,000 warrants to
a consultant. The warrants were issued at the closing price of $2.81
on the date of grant, vest over a four year period and expire four years from
the date of grant. The 130,000 warrants issued to the Independent
Directors and one Advisory Board member during the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2008 were issued at the closing price of $2.52 on the date of
grant, vest over a three year period and expire 10 years from the date of
grant. The Company recorded $15,900 and $23,600 in expense during the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 for warrants issued to third
parties and $116,300 in expense associated with warrants issued during the nine
months ended September 30, 2007. The Company will recognize an
additional $193,300 in expense over the life of the warrants issued during the
nine months ended September 30, 2008.
The
following table represents the activity in employee stock options and
non-employee stock purchase warrants for the nine months ended September 30,
2008:
September
30, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Employee
Stock Options
|
Stock
Purchase Warrants
|
|||||||||||||||
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
|||||||||||||||
Average
|
Average
|
|||||||||||||||
Exercise
|
Exercise
|
|||||||||||||||
Options
|
Price
|
Warrants
|
Price
|
|||||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning
|
||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
balance at December 31, 2007
|
3,819,927 | $ | 3.75 | 1,445,585 | $ | 3.58 | ||||||||||
Granted
|
562,500 | $ | 2.52 | 170,000 | $ | 2.59 | ||||||||||
Forfeited
|
(5,333 | ) | $ | 4.97 | - | $ | - | |||||||||
Expired
|
(284,020 | ) | $ | 3.62 | (57,500 | ) | $ | 3.66 | ||||||||
Exercised
|
- | $ | - | (446,698 | ) | $ | 3.42 | |||||||||
Outstanding
at September 30, 2008
|
4,093,074 | $ | 3.59 | 1,111,387 | $ | 3.49 | ||||||||||
Exercisable
at September 30, 2008
|
2,507,245 | $ | 3.27 | 951,887 | $ | 3.64 | ||||||||||
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life - Years
|
6.22 | 3.09 | ||||||||||||||
Aggregate
intrinsic value of options / warrants outstanding
|
$ | 273,300 | $ | 27,400 | ||||||||||||
-18-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Common
Stock
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company issued 511,698 shares of
common stock. Issued shares consist of 65,000 shares issued to
officers of the Company pursuant to the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan and 446,698
shares issued as a result of the exercise of warrants. The Company
also purchased 929,555 shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2008
under its June 22, 2007 stock buyback plan and cancelled 155,811 shares of its
common stock which had been held as an unallocated allocation of shares to its
ESOP. The cancellation of the unallocated ESOP shares had no income
statement impact and are reflected as reduced common stock and paid in
surplus.
The
following table details the changes in common stock during the nine months ended
September 30, 2008:
Additional
|
||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
|||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2007
|
23,592,493 | $ | 235,900 | $ | 96,560,100 | |||||||
2001
stock compensation plan
|
65,000 | 700 | 231,500 | |||||||||
Exercise
of warrants
|
446,698 | 4,500 | 1,523,100 | |||||||||
Expense
of employee options
|
- | - | 1,042,300 | |||||||||
Stock
options issued to outside directors
|
- | - | 1,500 | |||||||||
Expense
of company warrants issued
|
- | - | 22,100 | |||||||||
Common
stock buy back program
|
(929,555 | ) | (9,300 | ) | (2,822,200 | ) | ||||||
Cancellation
of common stock from the ESOP
|
(155,811 | ) | (1,600 | ) | (488,900 | ) | ||||||
Deferred
taxes on FAS 123R compensation
|
- | - | 170,400 | |||||||||
23,018,825 | $ | 230,200 | $ | 96,239,900 | ||||||||
Equity Compensation
During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded
compensation expense of $62,200 and $232,200 respectively in the form of common
stock issued to officers pursuant to the shareholder approved 2001 Stock
Compensation Plan. This compensation is a portion of the overall
compensation package of the executives and is in lieu of additional cash
compensation (see Note 4).
Common
Stock Buyback Program
On
September 19, 2008, the Board of Directors amended the previously approved stock
buyback plan of $5.0 million by increasing the total value of shares to be
repurchased to $8.0 million. The buyback program is being
administered exclusively through a brokerage firm. During the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company purchased
378,360 and 929,555 shares of common stock respectively for a total of
$2,831,500 or an average cost per share of $3.05. From the
commencement of the stock buyback plan through September 30, 2008, the Company
has purchased 1,157,555 shares for $3,878,800 or an average price of $3.35 per
share.
-19-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
14) Real
Estate Investment
Remington Village –
Gillette, Wyoming. The Company is constructing a Class A
multifamily apartment complex consisting of nine 24 plexes (216 units) and a
clubhouse on 10.15 acres (purchased in 2007) located in Gillette,
Wyoming. At September 30, 2008, the overall project construction was
98% complete, with eight 24 plexes finished and occupied by
tenants. The remaining 24 plex should be ready for occupancy by the
end of November 2008. The apartments are a mix of one, two, and three
bedroom units, and the overall site includes a clubhouse and family amenities
that are still under construction. All construction is being
conducted by a third party contractor.
A
commercial bank is providing construction financing of up to $18.5
million. Total cost including land, developer’s fee, permits,
entitlements, site work and construction, is estimated at $26
million. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the Company has invested
$7.0 million into the project (including $1,247,700 for land
purchase). At September 30, 2008, the outstanding balance on the
construction loan was $16.4 million. The interest rate on the loan
balance at September 30, 2008 was 5.97% based on LIBOR, and interest is payable
monthly. Loan maturity is March 1, 2009 (extendable to September 1,
2009 at our election subject to the satisfaction of certain
conditions). Obtaining permanent financing is expected to be subject
to the project meeting the lender’s customary appraised value
requirements.
15) Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Property
Kobex
Resources, LTD (“Kobex”) gave notice to the Company, effective March 31, 2008,
that it was terminating its Exploration, Operating and Mine Development
Agreement on the Lucky Jack molybdenum project (“Lucky
Jack”). Pursuant to the terms of that agreement, Kobex had expended
over $8.0 million, all of which is non-refundable and went to advancing the
project.
On August
19, 2008, the Company and Thompson Creek Metals Company USA (“TCM”), a Colorado
corporation headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, entered into an Exploration,
Development and Mine Operating Agreement for the Lucky Jack
property.
The
Agreement covers two distinct periods of time: The Option Period,
during which TCM may exercise an option to acquire up to a 50% interest in the
Lucky Jack property; and the Joint Venture Period, during which TCM may form a
joint venture with the Company and also have an option to acquire up to an
additional 25% interest in the Property.
The Option
Period:
TCM paid
$500,000 (non refundable) to the Company at closing which was credited against
the carrying value of the Lucky Jack property. TCM will
pay the Company six annual payments of $1.0 million each beginning on January 1,
2009 for the option to acquire a 50% interest. This option is
exercisable in two stages:
1.
|
At
TCM’s election, within 36 months of incurring a minimum of $15 million in
expenditures on or related to Lucky Jack (including the option payments to
the Company), TCM may acquire an undivided working interest of 15% in the
Property and the business of the
project.
|
-20-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Option Payments to the
Company or Expenditure Amount, and Deadlines are represented in the following
Table:
$ | 500,000 |
Option
Payment
|
Paid
at Closing
|
|
$ | 2,000,000 |
Expenditures
|
December
31, 2008
|
|
$ | 1,000,000 |
Option
Payment
|
January
1, 2009
|
|
$ | 4,000,000 |
Expenditures
|
December
31, 2009
|
|
$ | 1,000,000 |
Option
Payment
|
January
1, 2010
|
|
$ | 4,000,000 |
Expenditures
|
December
31, 2010
|
|
$ | 1,000,000 |
Option
Payment
|
January
1, 2011
|
|
$ | 1,500,000 |
Expenditures
|
June
30, 2011
|
|
$ | 15,000,000 |
All of
the costs to operate the existing water treatment plant will be paid by the
Company until TCM exercises its option to own a working interest in the
project.
2.
|
If,
by July 31, 2018, TCM has incurred a total of at least $43.5 million of
expenditures (including amounts during the first stage) and paid the
Company the $6.5 million of option payments (for a total of $50 million),
TCM may elect to acquire an additional 35% (for a total of 50%)
concurrently or after it exercises its option to acquire a 15% working
interest. None of the interests acquired by TCM will be subject
to any overriding royalty to the
Company.
|
Failure
by TCM to incur the required amount of expenditures by a deadline, or to make an
option payment, will terminate the agreement without further obligation to the
Company or TCM. TCM may terminate the Agreement at any time, but if
TCM has earned and subsequently elected to accept, TCM will retain the earned
interest and be responsible for their share of all costs and expenses related to
Lucky Jack.
The Joint Venture Period;
Joint Venture Terms:
Within
six months of TCM’s election to acquire the 50% interest, TCM, in its sole
discretion, may elect to form a Joint Venture and either: (i) participate on a
50%-50% basis with the Company, each party to bear their own share of
expenditures from formation date; or (ii) acquire up to an additional 25%
interest in the project by paying 100% of all expenditures equal to $350 million
(for a total of $400 million, including the $50 million to earn the 50% interest
in the first and second stage of the Option Period), at which point the
participation would be 75% TCM and 25% the Company. Provided however,
if TCM makes expenditures of at least $70 million of the $350 million in
expenditures and TCM decides not to fund the additional $280 million in
expenditures, TCM will have earned an additional 2.5% (for a total of
52.5%). Thereafter, TCM will earn an incremental added percentage
interest for each dollar it spends toward the total $350 million
amount.
At any
time before incurring the entire $350 million, TCM, in its sole discretion, may
determine to cease funding 100% of expenditures, in which event the Company and
TCM then would share expenditures in accordance with their participation
interests at that date, in accordance with the Joint Venture. With
certain exceptions, either party’s interest is subject to dilution in the event
of non-participation in funding the Joint Venture’s budgets.
-21-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Management of the
Property
TCM is
the Project Manager of Lucky Jack. A four person Management Committee
will govern the project’s operations, with two representatives each from the
Company and TCM; TCM shall have the deciding vote in the event of a committee
deadlock.
If and
when Lucky Jack goes into production, TCM will purchase the Company’s share of
the molybdic oxide produced from Lucky Jack at an average price as published in
Platt’s Metals Weekly price less a discount with a cap and a floor, such
discount band to be adjusted every 5 years indexed to a GDP
deflator.
Other
On August
7, 2007, the Town of Crested Butte, Colorado issued a temporary moratorium on
development activities within its watershed that were not ongoing at the
effective date of the moratorium, until an updated Ordinance Amending the Towns’
Watershed Protection District Ordinance (“Watershed Ordinance”) could be
adopted. On May 19, 2008, the Town Council adopted a revised
Watershed Ordinance. The Company and TCM intend to work with the Town
concerning activities at the Lucky Jack property consistent with applicable
rules, regulations, and statutes. It is possible that unexpected
delays, and/or increased costs, may be encountered in developing a new mine plan
for the Lucky Jack property as a result of the revised Watershed
Ordinance.
16) Sutter
Gold Mining, Inc.
The
Company sold 39,062,720 common shares of SGMI that it owned, to RMB Resources
Ltd. (“RMB”), as trustee for the Telluride Investment Trust, on August 22,
2008. The sale of these shares represented approximately 49.9% of the
outstanding common shares of SGMI for an aggregate purchase price of
approximately Cdn. $5.4 million, or Cdn $0.138/share in accordance with the
terms of a share purchase agreement. Under the terms of the
agreement, the Company retained an equity position of approximately 3,550,361
shares and a Net Profits Royalty of 5% in the Sutter Creek, CA project, which
will be reduced to a 1% Net Profits Royalty on the project after the Company
receives an additional US $4.6 million from production.
In
conjunction with the closing of the sale of the shares by the Company to RMB,
the Company also participated in a non-brokered private placement by SGMI with
the purchase of approximately 4,545,455 units at Cdn. $0.11 per unit for total
cash consideration of US $496,000. Upon completion of both
transactions, the Company owns approximately 8,095,816 shares of
SGMI. The Company also received 24-month warrants to purchase an
additional 2,272,728 common shares of SGMI at a price of $0.15 per share as part
of the private placement. All securities issued under the private
placement will be subject to a four-month hold period and were initially valued
at $177,500.
-22-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
The
Company recorded pretax losses of $210,800 and $501,100 for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, as discontinued operations
relating to the operations of SGMI while it recognized a gain of $5,407,600,
including an income tax benefit of $1,184,900, from the sale of its controlling
interest in SGMI. The Company also retrospectively recorded losses of
$1,539,300 and $397,000 respectively for the nine and three months ended
September 30, 2007 as discontinued operations relating to
SGMI. Revenues from Sutter for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2008 were $10,800 and $26,200, respectively. Revenues
for the comparable periods in 2007 were $13,100 and $28,000,
respectively. The Company received $5,095,600 as a result of the sale
of its controlling interest in SGMI. The Company invested $496,000 in
the SGMI private placement mentioned above for net proceeds of cash of
$4,599,600 from the sale of the SGMI shares.
17) Oil
and Gas Exploration Activities
The
Company has signed agreements with two Gulf Coast (United States) oil and gas
exploration and production companies. The Company anticipates it will
continue to participate as a 20% working interest partner in one of the projects
and a 4.55% working interest partner in the second. These projects
may result in numerous wells being drilled over the next three to five
years. Approximately $7,468,400 has been expended under the
agreements through September 30, 2008. The first well in which the
Company participates on a 20% working interest basis (reduced to 15% working
interest after completion point) was drilled during the quarter ended September
30, 2008 to its contract depth and encountered approximately 85 feet (true
vertical depth) of net pay in the Cris I – Hollywood 1
Sand. Production from this well is expected to commence in the fourth
quarter.
The
Company believes that numerous prospects could be generated, leased and drilled
potentially resulting in $10 million to $15 million in exploration and
development expenditures for its respective working interests in these two
prospect areas over the course of the anticipated three to five year
programs.
18) Segment
Information
As of
September 30, 2008, the Company had two reportable segments: Mineral Properties,
Management Fees and Other and Real Estate Operations. As of December
31, 2007 and September 30, 2007, the Company did not meet the quantifiable
thresholds of SFAS No. 131, (Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information), and therefore did not disclose any segment
information.
The only
revenues from maintaining mineral properties are management fees charged on
reimbursable costs related to the Lucky Jack molybdenum property during the nine
months ended September 30, 2008. Operating costs associated with
mineral properties during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were
$2,282,100. These costs were as a result of the assumption of all
costs related to the Lucky Jack project after the withdrawal of Kobex on March
31, 2008. Operating costs of mineral properties of $1,353,700 during
the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were as a result of the expenditures
the Company incurred prior to selling its uranium properties in April of
2007.
During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company capitalized
$36,400 and $166,200 and expensed $131,700 and $206,300, respectively, in
construction loan interest related to the construction of a multifamily housing
project in Gillette, Wyoming (see Note 14). This project accounts for
88.2% and 87.8%, respectively, of total revenues received from real estate
operations during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2008.
-23-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
A summary
of results of operations and total assets by segment follows:
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||||||||||
SEGMENT
INFORMATION
|
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||
For
the three months ended
|
For
the nine months ended
|
|||||||||||||||
September
30,
|
September
30,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 563,600 | $ | 569,400 | $ | 994,900 | $ | 738,600 | ||||||||
Mineral
properties, management
|
||||||||||||||||
fees
& other
|
5,100 | 56,800 | 51,700 | 198,000 | ||||||||||||
Total
revenues:
|
568,700 | 626,200 | 1,046,600 | 936,600 | ||||||||||||
Operating
expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate
|
310,700 | 80,300 | 711,600 | 247,700 | ||||||||||||
Mineral
properties
|
1,208,600 | 238,300 | 2,282,100 | 1,353,700 | ||||||||||||
Total
operating expenses:
|
1,519,300 | 318,600 | 2,993,700 | 1,601,400 | ||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate
|
131,700 | -- | 206,300 | -- | ||||||||||||
Mineral
properties
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
Total
interest expense:
|
131,700 | -- | 206,300 | -- | ||||||||||||
(Loss)
gain before investment and
|
||||||||||||||||
property
transactions:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate
|
121,200 | 489,100 | 77,000 | 490,900 | ||||||||||||
Mineral
properties
|
(1,203,500 | ) | (181,500 | ) | (2,230,400 | ) | (1,155,700 | ) | ||||||||
Loss
before investment
|
||||||||||||||||
and
property transactions:
|
(1,082,300 | ) | 307,600 | (2,153,400 | ) | (664,800 | ) | |||||||||
Corporate
other revenues and expenses:
|
(1,375,600 | ) | (3,182,200 | ) | (4,858,500 | ) | 92,569,100 | |||||||||
(Loss)
gain before discontinued
|
||||||||||||||||
operations
and income taxes
|
$ | (2,457,900 | ) | $ | (2,874,600 | ) | $ | (7,011,900 | ) | $ | 91,904,300 | |||||
Depreciation
expense:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 184,300 | $ | 20,300 | $ | 332,500 | $ | 40,500 | ||||||||
Mineral
properties, management
|
||||||||||||||||
fees
& other
|
9,000 | 19,000 | 26,900 | 30,400 | ||||||||||||
Corporate
|
88,000 | 60,400 | 329,100 | 231,800 | ||||||||||||
Total
depreciation expense
|
$ | 281,300 | $ | 99,700 | $ | 688,500 | $ | 302,700 | ||||||||
As
of
|
||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Assets
by segment
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 28,279,000 | $ | 18,951,700 | ||||
Mineral
/ Oil & Gas properties
|
25,283,200 | 26,817,100 | ||||||
Corporate
assets
|
91,344,700 | 85,635,600 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 144,906,900 | $ | 131,404,400 | ||||
-24-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Continued)
19) Subsequent
Event
Subsequent to September 30, 2008, the
following events occurred:
·
|
The
Company and PetroQuest began drilling a second well in which the Company
is participating in as a 20% working interest partner. Drilling
resulted in a dry hole which will be plugged and abandoned. The
estimated abandonment cost to the Company for the well is
$81,700.
|
·
|
Through
November 6, 2008, the Company purchased an additional 785,586 shares under
the terms of its stock buyback program. The total shares
repurchased as of November 6, 2008 under the stock buyback plan is
1,943,141 shares for a total of $5,804,000 or an average of $2.99 per
share.
|
·
|
On
October 7, 2008, the Company entered into a Lease Purchase and Drilling
Agreement with a private, Texas-based oil and gas company to acquire a 25%
non-operating working interest in an oil prospect located in east
Texas. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company paid a
$45,000 prospect fee and will be responsible for 33% of the costs for the
first well to the tanks, if successful. The initial commitment under
the agreement is approximately $360,000, and dry hole costs are estimated
at $230,000 net to the Company. Subsequent wells will be drilled on a
"heads-up" basis, with the Company responsible for 25% of all
costs. Drilling of the first well is expected to commence in
late 2008 or the 1st quarter of 2009 with a planned drilling depth of
approximately 6,000 feet. The currently envisioned drilling program could
include up to 10 wells.
|
·
|
On
October 15, 2008, Basin Electric Power Cooperative (“Basin”) provided
notice to the Company that it was exercising its right to terminate the
Agreement for Apartments dated July 2, 2007. Basin paid the
Company the $100,000 termination fee required by the agreement, which was
sent to the commercial bank providing construction financing to be applied
to the principal of the loan. Basin’s decision is not expected
to affect the construction loan and also should not affect the 20
apartments currently occupied by Basin employees or
contractors. However, it will have a temporary adverse impact
upon rent revenues, as the current and future unleased apartments
allocated to Basin are now free of Basin’s payment
obligations. The Company’s real estate management company at
Remington Village has begun leasing these freed up units to the general
public. Given the continued strong demand for housing in
Gillette, WY, we expect that the loss of the Basin Agreement for
Apartments will not have a material, or long lasting impact either upon
the project or the Company.
|
-25-
ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The
following is Management's Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) of the
significant factors which have affected our liquidity, capital resources and
results of operations during the periods included in the accompanying financial
statements. For a detailed explanation of the Company's Business
Overview, it is suggested that Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2008 be read in conjunction with the Company's Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2007. The discussion contains forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Due to uncertainties
in our business, actual results may differ materially from the discussion
below.
Forward
Looking Statements
This
Report includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("the Exchange
Act"). All statements other than statements of historical fact
included in this Report are forward looking statements. In addition,
whenever words like "expect", "anticipate”, or "believe" are used, we are making
forward looking statements. Actual results may vary materially from
the forward-looking statements and there is no assurance that the assumptions
used will be realized in fact.
General
Overview
The
Company’s strategy is to enhance value for our shareholders through the
development of a well-balanced portfolio of natural resource-based
assets. The Company is focusing its efforts on two fronts with
varying time horizons and levels of risk:
·
|
Near
and Mid-Term Investments. This segment includes investment in
selected oil and gas exploration and development
projects.
|
Our Gulf
Coast oil and gas assets provide a potentially large inventory of exploration
opportunities. The Company believes that numerous prospects could be
generated, leased and drilled, potentially resulting in $10 to $15 million in
exploration and development expenditures for its working interest over the
course of the next three to five years.
The
Company is also constructing a multifamily housing project in Gillette,
Wyoming. We view this as a natural resource based activity as it is
related to strong housing demand created by high levels of employment in natural
resource activities, primarily oil and gas development and coal mining in
Wyoming. Management of the Company intends to obtain permanent
financing once the housing project is completed and occupied. The
project may be sold to allow the Company to focus on its oil and gas investments
in the near term and its mineral properties in the long term.
·
|
Long-Term
Investments. This segment includes the identification,
acquisition and development of mineral properties and is particularly
focused on development of the Lucky Jack molybdenum
project.
|
-26-
Historical
records filed by predecessor owners of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property with
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the 1990’s for the application of
patented mineral claims, referenced identification of mineral resources of
approximately 220 million tons of 0.366% molybdic disulfide (MoS2)
mineralization. A high grade section of the mineralization containing
roughly 23 million tons at a grade of 0.689% MoS2 was also
reported. While no assurance can be given that these quantities of
MoS2
exist, the Company believes that this project has extraordinary
potential. The average market price for MoS2 at
September 30, 2008 was $32.62 per pound.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company, at September 30, 2008, had $1,146,900 in cash and cash equivalents,
$68,561,100 in U.S. Government Treasuries with longer than 90 day maturities
from date of purchase, and $4,928,400 in restricted investments which were also
invested in U.S. Treasuries and pledged on the construction loan for a Class A
multifamily housing project in Gillette, Wyoming. These balances
total $74.6 million or $3.24 per outstanding common share at September 30,
2008. Working capital (current assets minus current liabilities), at
September 30, 2008, was $62,959,500. As discussed below in Capital
Resources and Capital Requirements, the Company projects that its capital
resources at September 30, 2008 will be sufficient to fund its operations and
capital projects through the balance of 2008 and into the future.
Due to
the nature of the Company’s business (acquiring, developing and selling mineral
properties), the principal factors affecting the Company are commodity prices,
the grade of mineral deposits discovered and permitting. As commodity
prices fall, management believes it is typically less expensive for the Company
to acquire properties to hold and advance them until commodity prices rise to
levels allowing the properties to be sold or placed into production through
joint venture partners or by the Company for its own account.
Major
changes in liquidity during the nine months ended September 30, 2008
were:
Current
Assets
·
|
Cash
decreased by $71,145,300 as a result of investing $67,569,200 in
marketable securities, namely U.S. Treasuries, with maturities greater
than three months from the date of purchase. The Company also
used cash in operations, mineral property holding expenses, permitting and
engineering study costs, and oil and gas exploration. Please
see discussion below regarding cash flows for the nine months ended
September 30, 2008.
|
·
|
Accounts
receivable trade, reimbursable project costs and the dissolution of
subsidiaries decreased $902,500. This reduction was as a result
of the collection of $782,100 paid by the Company on the Lucky Jack
project and reimbursed by Kobex, collection of $197,600 due the Company
upon the dissolution of its subsidiaries and a reduction of accounts
receivable trade of $51,300. These reductions in accounts
receivable were offset by an increase in reimbursable project costs
relating to the Lucky Jack property in the amount of
$128,500.
|
·
|
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company received payments
totaling $944,900 as partial payment of the amount due from the Internal
Revenue Service at December 31, 2007. The loss incurred during
the nine months ended September 30, 2008 resulted in an increase in the
amount of the account receivable from the Internal Revenue Service of
$5,358,500 as a result of that loss being carried back against taxes paid
during 2007, resulting in a net change of $4,413,600 in the account
receivable for income taxes.
|
·
|
The
Company’s restricted investments, cash held in an interest bearing
account, decreased by $1,704,000 due to the release of funds held in
escrow for a potential tax free real estate exchange at December 31,
2007. Additionally, cash deposits held as collateral for
reclamation obligations in the amount of $136,200 were released during the
nine months ended September 30, 2008. The remaining restricted
investments at September 30, 2008 earned $143,900 in interest during the
nine months ended September 30,
2008.
|
-27-
Current
Liabilities
|
·
|
Accounts
payable decreased by $254,800 during the nine months ended September 30,
2008. The decrease was a result of the Company funding an early
retirement benefit in the amount of $600,000, the payment of $285,100 in
sales taxes due on the purchase of an aircraft, and the payment of accrued
accounts payable. Increases in accounts payable in the amount
of $630,300 are principally related to drilling costs on the Company’s oil
projects and engineering studies on Lucky
Jack.
|
|
·
|
Accrued
compensation expense increased by $588,700 during the nine months ended
September 30, 2008. This increase reflects a onetime bonus
accrued to an officer of the Company for past performance in the amount of
$500,000 plus taxes, to be paid out quarterly over a two year period
beginning in March 2008.
|
|
·
|
The
construction loan associated with our multifamily housing development in
Gillette, Wyoming increased by $10,944,800 to $16,433,800 at September 30,
2008.
|
Cash flows during the nine months
ended September 30, 2008:
|
·
|
Operations
consumed $4,348,900, Investing Activities consumed $80,876,700 and
Financing Activities provided $9,754,600. The vast majority of
the cash consumed from investing activities, was a net of $67,569,200 was
the investment of cash in Government Treasuries with a maturity of more
than 90 days from purchase date. These Government Treasuries
are not considered cash for accounting purposes but held to maturity
marketable securities.
|
|
·
|
For
a discussion on cash consumed in Operations please refer to Results of
Operations below.
|
Investing
Activities:
|
·
|
Cash
provided by Investing Activities:
|
·
|
Net
proceeds from the sale of a used corporate aircraft and miscellaneous
equipment in the amount of
$1,097,000.
|
·
|
An increase of
$1,847,900 in cash as a result of restricted cash investments being
released less $143,900 interest earned on restricted cash investments for
a net increase in cash from restricted investments of
$1,704,000.
|
· Cash
consumed in investing activities:
|
·
|
The
Company invested $11,001,400 in its multifamily housing development in
Gillette, Wyoming during the nine months ended September 30,
2008.
|
|
·
|
The
Company paid $2,065,000 for its portion of oil and gas acquisition costs
subject to its agreement on properties in the U.S. gulf coast and paid
$2,468,600 of drilling costs and expenses on its first well for a total
cash investment increase of
$4,533,600.
|
|
·
|
The Company
invested $1,238,600 in its mineral properties during the nine months ended
September 30, 2008. This investment amount was reduced by the
receipt of $500,000 from Thompson Creek Metals Company USA pursuant to the
terms of the Exploration, Development and Mine Operating Agreement, the
abandonment of certain options on uranium leases and the cancellation of a
finder’s fee on the Lucky Jack project for a net increase in mineral
properties of $517,800.
|
|
·
|
The
Company received a total of $206,320,000 from maturities of investments in
Government Treasuries and reinvested $273,889,200 in U.S. Treasuries for a
net investment of $67,569,200 in U.S. Treasuries. The
Treasuries are classified as marketable securities rather than cash as
they have maturities longer than three months from the date of
purchase.
|
-28-
Financing
Activities:
|
·
|
Cash
provided by Financing Activities:
|
·
|
$10,944,800
additional funds were drawn against the construction loan for our
multifamily housing development in Gillette,
Wyoming.
|
·
|
A
total of $1,527,600 was received as the result of the cash exercise of
446,698 warrants.
|
|
·
|
Cash
consumed in Financing Activities:
|
·
|
Payment
of long term debt of $56,700 relating primarily to the payment on notes
related to various pieces of
equipment.
|
·
|
On
June 22, 2007 the Company announced a stock buyback plan to purchase up to
$5.0 million of its common stock. This plan was amended on
September 19, 2008 increasing the total purchase amount to $8.0
million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 the
Company purchased 929,555 shares under the buyback plan for $2,831,500 or
an average price of $3.05 per share. From inception of the
stock buyback plan through September 30, 2008, the Company has purchased
1,157,555 shares at an average price per share of $3.35 or
$3,878,800.
|
Capital
Resources
Lucky
Jack molybdenum property and Thompson Creek Metals Company, USA
The Lucky
Jack molybdenum property is expected to provide the Company’s long range source
of capital resources. Historical records filed by predecessor owners
of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
in the 1990’s for the application of patented mineral claims, referenced
identification of mineral resources of approximately 220 million tons of 0.366%
molybdic disulfide (MoS2)
mineralization. A high grade section of the mineralization containing
roughly 23 million tons at a grade of 0.689% MoS2 was also
reported. No assurance can be given that these quantities of MoS2 exist or
that the Company will be successful in permitting the property. The
average market price for MoS2 at
September 30, 2008 was $32.62 per pound.
On March
31, 2008, Kobex Resources, LLP (“Kobex”) gave notice to the Company that it was
terminating its Exploration, Operating and Mine Development Agreement with the
Company. Through March 31, 2008, Kobex had expended over $8.0 million
on the project.
On August
19, 2008, the Company and Thompson Creek Metals Company USA (“TCM”), a Colorado
corporation headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, entered into an Exploration,
Development and Mine Operating Agreement for the Company’s Lucky Jack molybdenum
property in Gunnison County, Colorado. Please see summary above at
Note 15.
Oil
and Gas Production
The
Company’s short and medium term sources of cash are expected to be provided by
successful wells the Company is drilling. At September 30, 2008 there
was no production from the first well in which the Company participated with
PetroQuest. Production from that well is anticipated to first occur
during the fourth quarter of 2008. Reserves and production rates have
not yet been established for the well as delivery infrastructure is currently
being constructed and no production had occurred as of September 30,
2008. The Company plans on continuing in the oil and gas exploration
business and may also acquire existing production.
-29-
Real
Estate
The
Company has $18.5 million in construction financing from a commercial bank for
the construction of our Gillette, Wyoming multifamily housing
project. The construction loan matures on March 1, 2009, bears
interest at 2.25% over 30 day LIBOR and required a 0.75% origination
fee. At the Company’s election and subject to the satisfaction of
certain conditions the construction loan may be extended to September 1,
2009. Collateral for the loan is the Gillette, Wyoming property, a
guarantee by the Company and a deposit of an additional $4.7 million with the
commercial bank, held in an interest bearing account that is to be released to
the Company upon obtaining permanent financing.
At
September 30, 2008, the Company was receiving rent from the
project. Completion of and full occupancy of the project are
projected to occur during the fourth quarter of 2008. The Company is
in the process of securing permanent financing. Availability of
financing will depend on completion of the project, occupancy of the apartments
and the availability of capital from lending institutions. Although
management believes that permanent financing will be obtained, no assurance can
be given that it will due to unstable lending markets. Once
completed, fully occupied and financed the Company may sell the property in an
effort to concentrate on its oil and gas development prospects as well as the
Lucky Jack molybdenum property.
Cash
on Hand
The
Company has invested its working capital in interest bearing accounts and the
majority of its cash surplus in short term U.S. Government Treasuries providing
working capital to fund the Company’s projects. Although the Company
could benefit from higher interest bearing investments, it has its cash invested
in U.S. Treasuries to avoid becoming an inadvertent investment
company.
Commercial
Bank
Line of Credit - The
Company has a $5.0 million line of credit from a commercial bank. The
full line of credit was available to the Company at September 30, 2008 and when
this report was filed. The line of credit has a variable interest
rate which is tied to a national market rate. The line of credit is
available until October 1, 2009 at which time it may be renewed depending on the
financial strength and needs of the Company. The credit line is
secured by our corporate headquarters and a corporate aircraft. To
date, no advances have been made on the line of credit.
Future
Receipts of Royalties and Contractual Commitments from Uranium
Properties
We
retained our 4% Net Profits Royalty on a portion of the Green Mountain uranium
property in Wyoming which is owned and operated by Rio Tinto, Inc. No
assurance can be given as to when or if the property will be placed into
production. Any royalty due will be based on the market price of
uranium concentrates and the cost of producing those concentrates.
Pursuant
to the terms of the 2007 Uranium One contract for the sale of our uranium
properties, the Company is entitled to receive $20 million when commercial
production begins at the Utah uranium mill sold to Uranium One; $7.5 million
when the first delivery of ore to any commercial mill, after commercial
production commences, from any of the uranium properties the Company sold to
Uranium One; and a production royalty of up to $12.5 million. No
assurance can be given as to if or when these events and payments will
occur.
-30-
Capital
Requirements
The
direct capital requirements of the Company during the balance of 2008 are the
funding of the water treatment plant at the Lucky Jack molybdenum project,
development of the Company’s interest in recently acquired oil and gas
properties, completion of the Gillette, Wyoming multifamily housing project,
general and administrative costs, the stock buyback program, and the potential
acquisition of other natural resource or mineral interests.
Lucky
Jack Molybdenum Property
Under the
terms of its agreement with TCM, the Company is responsible for all costs
associated with operating the water treatment plant at the Lucky Jack molybdenum
property. Annual operating costs are approximately $1.4
million. From time to time additional capital improvement costs are
also required to be funded by the Company. During the fourth quarter
of 2008 it is anticipated that the Company will expend approximately $200,000 in
capital improvement costs relating to the water treatment plant. The
Company may also elect to participate on capital acquisition programs with TCM
under unspecified terms.
Oil
and Gas Development
The
Company signed agreements with two Gulf Coast oil and gas exploration and
production companies for onshore oil and gas development. The Company
anticipates it will participate as a 20% working interest partner in the first
project and a 4.55% working interest partner in the second. Numerous
wells may be drilled pursuant to these agreements over the next three to five
years. As of September 30, 2008, the Company had invested $7,468,400
under the agreements for the acquisition of its interests, seismic data and
drilling expenses.
The
Company believes that numerous prospects could be generated, leased and drilled
potentially resulting in an additional $10.0 million to $15.0 million in
exploration and development expenditures for its working interest over the
course of an anticipated three to five year program with these two Gulf Coast
agreements. Additionally, the Company’s Board has approved the
investment of up to $5.0 million in onshore drilling in the U.S. in more oil and
gas prospects.
Real
Estate
Remington Village
multifamily housing –
As of the
filing date of this report, the project in on budget and the Company believes
that the remainder of the construction loan, $2.1 million, will be sufficient to
complete the project. In the event the construction loan is not
sufficient to complete the project, the Company will make up any
shortfall.
Stock
Buyback Program
On
September 19, 2008, the Board of Directors amended the previously approved stock
buyback plan of $5.0 million by increasing the total value of shares to be
repurchased to $8.0 million. The buyback program is being
administered exclusively through an individual brokerage firm. During
2007, the Company repurchased 228,000 shares of its common stock for
$1,047,300. In 2008, through September 30, 2008, the Company
repurchased 929,555 shares of its common stock for $2,831,500 leaving an
additional $4,121,200 available for the purchase of shares of the Company under
the plan at September 30, 2008.
-31-
Reclamation
Costs
The
Company has two reclamation obligations:
·
|
Lucky
Jack molybdenum property –
|
The Lucky
Jack molybdenum property is located on fee property within the boundary of U.S.
Forest Service (“USFS”) land. Although mining of the mineral resource
will occur on the fee property, associated ancillary activities will occur on
USFS land. It is anticipated that the Company will be submitting a
Plan of Operations to the USFS in 2009 for USFS review and
approval. USFS approval is required before construction can begin and
mining and processing may occur.
Obtaining
and maintaining the various permits for the mining operations at the Lucky Jack
molybdenum property will be complex, time-consuming, and require significant
capital. Changes in a mine’s design, production rates, quality of
material mined, and many other matters, often require submission of the proposed
changes for agency approval prior to implementation. In addition,
changes in operating conditions beyond the Company’s control, or changes in
agency policy and Federal and State law, could further complicate approval
of the mine’s operation. Although the Company is confident
that the Plan of Operations for the Lucky Jack molybdenum property will
ultimately be approved by the USFS, the timing, cost and ultimate success of the
mining operation cannot be predicted.
The asset
retirement obligation for the Lucky Jack molybdenum property at September 30,
2008 is $116,700. As the Lucky Jack project is developed, the
reclamation liability is expected to increase. It is not anticipated that this
reclamation work will occur in the near term. The Company’s
objective, upon closure of the proposed mine at the Lucky Jack property, is to
eliminate long-term liabilities associated with the property.
·
|
Gulf
Coast Gas Wells
|
As of
September 30, 2008, only one well had been drilled for which the present value
of the Company’s share of the reclamation cost is anticipated to be
$24,600. It is not anticipated that the cost of reclaiming the well
site will occur within the next five years.
Other
The
Company continues to evaluate mineral projects in which it may
invest. Additionally, the Company is researching other opportunities
to deploy its capital outside of the minerals business. At September
30, 2008, none of these acquisition opportunities had advanced past the initial
internal evaluation stage.
-32-
Results of
Operations
Three
and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 compared with the Three and Nine Months
Ended September 30, 2007
During
the three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recognized a gain of
$3,800,900 as compared to a loss of $750,000 during the three months ended
September 30, 2007. The increase in net earnings for the three months
ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the prior year period is primarily due
to the gain on sale of discontinued operations related to the sale of 39,062,720
common shares of SGMI to RMB Resources Ltd. (“RMB”), as trustee for the
Telluride Investment Trust, on August 22, 2008.
During
the nine months ended September 20, 2008, the Company recognized a gain of
$334,400 as compared to a gain of $57,227,200 during the nine months ended
September 30, 2007. The decrease in net earnings for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the same period of the previous year is
primarily due to higher Other Income during nine months ended September 30, 2007
as a result of the sale of the Company’s uranium properties to Uranium One
during the second quarter of 2007. Other components in the net change
to the results of operations were (a) increased Revenues for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008; (b) decreased Operating Costs and Expenses during nine
months ended September 30, 2008; (c) reduced Other Income and Expenses during
the nine months ended September 30, 2008 (d) the elimination of minority
interest in the gain of consolidated subsidiaries, (e) reduced operating costs
of SGMI and (f) changes in the provision for and benefit from Income
Taxes.
Operating
Revenues:
Rental
revenues of $497,100 and $873,100 were received from Remington Village during
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008,
respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30,
2007, there were no rental revenues from this project. Other real
estate revenues decreased $502,900 and $616,800 during the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2008 respectively from the other real estate revenues
recorded during the same periods of the previous year. The reduction
of other real estate revenues came as a result of the Company selling lots at
its southern Utah real estate property during 2007 while no similar sales
occurred during 2008 as the entire property was ultimately sold during
2007. The reductions of $51,700 and $146,300 in management fee and
other revenues during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008,
respectively, are as a result of reduced management fees being charged for the
Company’s uranium properties, that were sold in 2007, and its molybdenum
property.
Operating
revenues therefore decreased by $57,500 for the three months ended September 30,
2008 as compared to the prior year period. This decrease in operating
revenues is primarily due to the sale of our Utah real estate in
2007. Operating revenues increased by $110,000 for the nine months
ended September 30, 2008 as compared to the nine months ended September 30,
2007. The increase in operating revenues for the nine months ending
September 30, 2008 as compared to the prior year period is a result of the
revenues from the rental of the Remington Village units during
2008.
Operating Costs and
Expenses:
Operating
Costs and Expenses increased by $748,000 for the three months ended September
30, 2008 as compared to the three months ended September 30,
2007. Increases in mineral holding costs related to the Lucky Jack
Project of $970,300 and Remington Village operating expenses of $232,100 were
partially offset by a reduction in General and Administrative costs of $452,700
and other real estate expenses of $1,700.
-33-
Operating
Costs and Expenses decreased by $4,108,600 for the nine months ended September
30, 2008 as compared to the nine months ended September 30,
2007. Operating Costs and Expenses related to other real estate and
general and administrative costs were reduced while expenses associated with the
Remington Village project and mineral holding costs increased. The
majority of the net reduction is due to a bonus paid to all employees and
directors of the Company during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2007 at the closing of the sale of the Company’s uranium assets to Uranium
One. There was no similar bonus paid during the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2008.
Mineral
holding costs of $2,282,100 during the nine months ended September 30, 2008
increased $928,400 from the amount of mineral holding costs recorded during the
nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in mineral holding
costs is as a result of the withdrawal of Kobex from the Lucky Jack molybdenum
property on March 31, 2008. Subsequent to March 31, 2008 the Company
paid the majority of the holding costs related to the Lucky Jack molybdenum
property while Kobex paid the majority of the costs for Lucky Jack during
2007.
The
operating costs for Remington Village during the nine months ended September 30,
2008 were $474,400. These costs consist of contract property
management services, maintenance, insurance and general administration
costs. There were no operating costs relating to Remington Village
during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. The nine
months operating costs of Remington Village include $256,400 in depreciation
expense.
Other Income and
Expenses:
During
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 there were transactions
relating to gains and losses from the sale of uranium assets and marketable
securities, while there were no similar transactions during the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2008 which resulted in a reduction of the net Other
Income and Expenses of $106,686,200 for the nine months ended September 30,
2008.
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company recorded a net loss of
$16,600 on the sale of its used corporate aircraft and other miscellaneous
equipment due to some repairs that had to be made to the aircraft prior to
selling it. The company netted $1,079,200 from the sale of the
aircraft when it was sold.
Interest
Income – The Company recognized $1,174,500 in interest income during the nine
months ended September 30, 2008, which is $872,500 less than the interest income
received during the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Interest
received on U.S. Treasuries decreased by $871,500 during the quarter ended
September 30, 2008 as compared to the quarter ended September 30,
2007. The decrease during the three and nine months ended September
30, 2008 is as a result of lower levels of cash being invested at lower interest
rates.
Interest
Expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased
primarily as a result of the completion of a portion of the Remington Village
project during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. As the units
are completed the interest on the construction loan is expensed rather than
being capitalized.
-34-
During
the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company acquired the minority interest shares of
Crested Corp. As a result of that acquisition and the sale of SGMI, there are no
minority interest in gains and losses of consolidated subsidiaries at September
30, 2008. During the previous three and nine months ended September
30, 2007 the Company recorded a minority interest in the loss of consolidated
subsidiaries of $147,200 and minority interest in the gain of consolidated
subsidiaries of $3,551,400, respectively, which were changes in earnings
reported by the Company.
During
the nine and three months ended September 30, 2008, the Company sold its
controlling interest in SGMI. As a result of that sale, the company
recognized a gain of $5,407,600 on the sale of the shares of SGMI and losses of
$501,100 and $210,800 from discontinued operations for the nine and three months
ended September 30, 2008, respectively. This results in a net gain on
the sale of the SGMI shares of $4,906,500 and $5,196,800 respectively, for the
nine and three months ended September 30, 2008.
Due to
the loss recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company
recorded a net benefit from income taxes during the three and nine months of
$1,062,000 and $2,439,800 respectively. During the three months ended
September 30, 2007 the Company recorded a benefit from income taxes of
$2,521,600 while a provision for income taxes of $33,137,800 was booked for the
nine months then ended.
As a
result of the above described changes in revenues, costs and expenses, the
Company recorded a profit of $3,800,900 and $334,400 during of the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively, or a gain of $0.16 per share
for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and a gain of $0.01 per share for
the nine months ended September 30, 2008. During the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2007 the Company recorded a loss of $750,000 or $0.04
per share basic, and a gain of $57.2 million or $2.86 per share basic,
respectively.
Critical Accounting
Policies
Principles of Consolidation –
The Company consolidated SGMI at December 31, 2007. All material
inter-company profits, transactions and balances have been
eliminated.
Marketable Securities - The
Company accounts for its marketable securities as (1) held-to-maturity, (2)
available-for-sale and (3) trading. The Company holds short-term
securities which have maturities of greater than three months but less than one
year from the date of purchase. These securities are classified as
held-to-maturity based on the Company's intent to hold such securities to the
maturity date. All held-to-maturity securities are U.S. Government
securities and are stated at amortized cost, which approximates fair market
value. Income related to these securities is reported as a component
of interest income. The Company's available-for-sale securities are
carried at fair value with net unrealized gain or (loss) recorded as a separate
component of shareholders' equity. If a decline in fair value of
held-to-maturity securities is determined to be other than temporary, the
investment is written down to fair value. Based on the Company's intent to sell
the securities, its equity securities are reported as trading
securities.
Mineral Claims - We follow
the full cost method of accounting for mineral and oil and gas
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.
-35-
All
capitalized costs of mineral properties subject to amortization and the
estimated future costs to develop proved reserves are amortized by applying the
unit-of-production method using estimates of proved
reserves. Investments in unproven properties and major construction
and development projects are not amortized until proven reserves associated with
the projects can be determined or until impairment occurs.
If the
sum of estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis is less than the
carrying amount of the related asset, an asset impairment is considered to
exist. The related impairment loss is measured by comparing estimated
future cash flows on a discounted basis to the carrying amount of the
asset. Changes in significant assumptions underlying future cash flow
estimates may have a material effect on the Company's financial position and
results of operations. An uneconomic commodity market price, if
sustained for an extended period of time, or an inability to obtain financing
necessary to develop mineral interests, may result in asset
impairment. If the results of an assessment indicate that the
properties are impaired, the capitalized cost of the property is
expensed.
Asset Impairments - We assess
the impairment of property and equipment whenever events or circumstances
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
Asset Retirement Obligations
- The Company records the fair value of the reclamation liability on its mining
properties as of the date that the liability is incurred. The Company
reviews the liability each quarter and determines if a change in estimate is
required as well as accretes the total liability on a quarterly basis for the
future liability. Final determinations are made during the fourth
quarter of each year. The Company deducts any actual funds expended
for reclamation during the quarter in which it occurs.
Assets Held for Sale - Long
lived assets that will be sold within one year of the financial statements are
classified as current. At December 31, 2007, the Company believed
that its used corporate aircraft would be sold within a twelve month
period. The used corporate aircraft was sold during the nine months
ended September 30, 2008.
Revenue Recognition -
Revenues are reported on a gross revenue basis and are recorded at the time
services are provided or the commodity is sold. Sales of proved and unproved
properties are accounted for as adjustments of capitalized costs with no gain or
loss recognized, unless such adjustments would significantly alter the
relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves, in which case the
gain or loss is recognized in income.
Income Taxes - The Company
recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future
income tax consequences, based on enacted tax laws, of temporary differences
between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets, liabilities and carry
forwards. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets for the expected
future effects of all deductible temporary differences, loss carry forwards and
tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced, if deemed
necessary, by a valuation allowance for any tax benefits which, based on current
circumstances, are not expected to be realized.
Use of Accounting Estimates -
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
-36-
Contractual
Obligations
We had
three divisions of contractual obligations at September 30, 2008: Debt relating
to a construction loan of $16,433,800, long term debt of $205,700 and asset
retirement obligations of $141,300. The construction loan is
anticipated to be paid within the next nine months by a long term financing
facility. The long term debt will be paid over a period of three
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
|
||||||||||||||||
Short-term
debt obligations
|
$ | 16,433,800 | $ | 16,433,800 | $ | -- | $ | -- | $ | -- | ||||||||||
Long-term
debt obligations
|
205,700 | 71,900 | 133,800 | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
141,300 | -- | -- | -- | 141,300 | |||||||||||||||
Totals
|
$ | 16,780,800 | $ | 16,505,700 | $ | 133,800 | $ | -- | $ | 141,300 | ||||||||||
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures About Market Risk
None
ITEM 4. Controls and
Procedures
Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls
and Procedures. We are required to maintain disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the
Exchange Act) that are assigned to ensure that required information is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the required timeframe, as specified
in the rules set forth by the SEC. Our disclosure controls and
procedures are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosures.
Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls
and procedures as of September 30, 2008 and, based on this evaluation, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2008.
Changes in Internal Control over
Financial Reporting. There has been no change in our internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
-37-
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Legal
Proceedings
Material
legal proceedings pending at September 30, 2008, and developments in those
proceedings from that date to the date this Quarterly Report is filed, are
summarized below. The timing and ultimate outcome of this litigation
is not predicted. However, we believe that the ultimate outcome will
not have an adverse affect on our financial condition or results of
operations.
Water
Rights Litigation –Lucky Jack Molybdenum Property
Prior to
the transfer of the Lucky Jack molybdenum property from Phelps Dodge Corporation
(“PD”) and Mount Emmons Mining Company (“MEMCO”) to the Company on February 28,
2006, MEMCO filed a number of Statements of Opposition in the Water Court, Water
Division No. 4, State of Colorado to protect its existing water rights against
applications filed by other parties seeking to appropriate or change water
rights or perfect conditional water rights. Subsequent to transfer of
the mine property, Motions for Substitution of Parties (from MEMCO to the
Company) were filed and approved by the Water Court. In addition, the
Company filed a diligence application to preserve the conditional water rights
associated with the Lucky Jack Molybdenum Property. These cases are
as follows:
1.
|
Concerning the Application for
Water Rights of the Town of Crested
Butte, Case No.
02CW63. This case involves an application filed by the Town of
Crested Butte to provide for an alternative point of
diversion. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition to ensure that
the final decree to be issued by the Water Court contains terms and
conditions sufficient to protect MEMCO’s water rights from material
injury. The Town of Crested Butte and the Company reached a
settlement to protect the Company’s water rights and filed a signed
Stipulation and Proposed Decree with the Water Court on July 24,
2007. No protests were filed over the Final Decree during the
statutory period, and this case is
closed.
|
2.
|
Concerning the
Application of the United States of
America
in the Gunnison River, Gunnison County, Case
No. 99CW267. This case involves an application filed by the
United States of America to appropriate 0.033 cubic feet per second of
water for wildlife use and for incidental irrigation of riparian
vegetation at the Lucky Jack Iron Bog Spring, located in the vicinity of
the Lucky Jack property. MEMCO filed a Statement of Opposition
to protect proposed mining operations against any adverse impacts by the
water requirements of the Iron Bog on such operations. This
case is pending while the parties attempt to reach a settlement on the
proposed decree terms and
conditions.
|
3.
|
Concerning the
Application for Water Rights of the United States of America for
Quantification of Reserved Right for Black Canyon of Gunnison National
Park, Case No. 01CW05. This case involves an application
filed by the United States of America to make absolute conditional water
rights claimed in the Gunnison River in relation to the Black Canyon of
the Gunnison National Park for, and to quantify in-stream flows for the
protection and reproduction of fish and to preserve the recreational,
scenic and aesthetic conditions. MEMCO and over 350 other
parties filed Statements of Opposition to protect their existing water
rights. USECC and most other Opposers have taken the position
that the flows claimed by the United States should be subordinated to the
historical operations of the federally owned and operated Aspinall Unit,
and are subject to the provisions contained in the Aspinall Unit
Subordination Agreement between the federal government and water districts
which protect junior water users in the Upper Gunnison River
Basin. This case is pending while the parties negotiate terms
and conditions for incorporation into Stipulations among the parties and
into Proposed Decree for presentation to the Water Court for
approval.
|
-38-
4.
|
Concerning the
Application of U.S. Energy, Case
No. 2008CW81. On July 25, 2008, the Company filed an
Application for Finding of Reasonable Diligence with the Water Court
concerning the conditional water rights associated with the Lucky Jack
Molybdenum Project. The conditional water decree (“Decree”)
requires the Company to file its proposed plan of operations and
associated permits (“Plan”) with the Forest Service and BLM within six
years of entry of the 2002 Decree, or within six years of the final
determination in the Applicant’s pending patent application, whichever
occurs later. Although the BLM issued the mineral patents on
April 2, 2004, the patents remained subject to a challenge by High Country
Citizens’ Alliance, the Town of Crested Butte, and the Board of County
Commissioners of Gunnison County (collectively
“Protestors”). The Company vigorously defended this legal
action through the Federal District Court for the District of Colorado and
the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. On April 30, 2007, the
United States Supreme Court made a final determination upholding BLM’s
issuance of the mineral patents through denial of
certiorari. The Company believes that the deadline for filing
the Plan specified by the Decree is April 30, 2013 (six years from the
final determination of issuance of the mineral patents by the United
States Supreme Court). The Forest Service has indicated that
the deadline should be April 2, 2010 (six years from the issuance of the
mineral patents by BLM). The United States, on behalf of the
Forest Service and BLM, filed a Statement of Opposition on this specific
issue only. Statements of Opposition were also filed by six
other parties including the City of Gunnison, the State of Colorado, and
High Country Citizens’ Alliance in September for various reasons,
including requesting the Company be put on strict proof as to
demonstrating evidence of reasonable diligence in developing the
conditional water rights. Although, the Company and TCM
will be prepared to file a Plan by the April 2, 2010 proposed deadline,
the Company and TCM will pursue a ruling from the Water Court that the
deadline specified in the Decree requires the filing of the Plan by the
April 30, 2013.
|
Ordinance
Related to the Crested Butte Watershed
On May
19, 2008, the Town Council adopted a revised Watershed Ordinance. The
Company and TCM intend to work with the Town of Crested Butte concerning
activities at the Lucky Jack property consistent with lawful and applicable
rules, regulations, and statutes. It is possible that unexpected
delays, and/or increased costs, may be encountered in developing a new mine plan
for the Lucky Jack property as a result of the revised Watershed
Ordinance.
Appeal
of Approval of Notice of Intent to Conduct Prospecting for the Lucky Jack
Molybdenum Property
On March
8, 2008, the High Country Citizens’ Alliance (‘HCCA”) filed a request for
hearing before the Colorado Land Reclamation Board of the approval of a Notice
of Intent to Conduct Prospecting Notice for the Lucky Jack molybdenum property
(“NOI”), which was approved by the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety of
the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (“DRMS”) on January 3,
2008. The NOI as approved provided for continued exploration of the
molybdenum deposit to update, improve and verify in accordance with current
industry standards and legal requirements mineralization data that was collected
by Amax in the late 1970’s.
-39-
On March
28, 2008, the Company and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office filed
independent Motions to Dismiss alleging among other matters that: (i) HCCA had
no standing to appeal the NOI; (ii) the NOI is not an appealable decision under
Colorado law; (iii) HCCA’s appeal is not timely; and (iv) the appeal is based on
information obtained in violation of Colorado law.
On May
14, 2008, the Board denied HCCA’s Request for Hearing and also denied their
Request for a Declaratory Order. Citing Colorado law, the Board
determined that HCCA did not have standing or the right to appeal DRMS’s
approval of the NOI under Colorado law.
On August
28, 2008, HCCA appealed the Board’s decision in Denver District
Court. Plaintiff:
High Country Citizen’s Alliance v. Defendants: Colorado Mined Land
Reclamation Board, Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety and U.S.
Energy Corp., Case No.: 08CV6156 (District Court, 2d Jud. Dist., City and
County of Denver). The Board has filed an answer with the
Court. The DRMS and the Company (in conjunction with TCM) have both
filed the responsive pleadings in addition to motions to dismiss the HCCA
complaint.
Water
Treatment Facility – Permit Renewal Protest
The
Company received a NPDES Permit renewal for the Lucky Jack Molybdenum Project
from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment – Water Quality
Division (“Water Quality Division”) effective September 1, 2008. The
NPDES Permit is for an additional five (5) year period (2008 -
2013). On August 28, 2008, the Town of Crested Butte, Board of County
Commissioners for the County of Gunnison and the High Country Citizens’ Alliance
(“Petitioners”) filed a Request for Adjudicatory Hearing before the Water
Quality Division to challenge the NPDES Permit. The Petitioners
seek revisions to the Permit that would require the Company to maintain a
prepaid operating contract and provide additional financial security for long
term operation of the plant. During the permit approval process, the
Division rejected similar permit revisions proposed by the Petitioners as not
being required or authorized by Colorado law. The hearing will
be held in early 2009 before an Administrative Law Judge in the Office of
Administrative Courts (“OAC”). The Company will participate in the hearing as an
interested party. The Company expects to work cooperatively with the
Water Quality Division in defending the NPDES Permit.
ITEM 1A. Risk
Factors
Please
refer to Risk Factors in the Company’s Form 10K for the year ended December 31,
2007.
ITEM 2. Changes in Securities and
Use of Proceeds
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company issued a total of 511,698
shares of its common stock. These 511,698 shares were issued as new
issuances as a result of the exercise of 446,698 warrants, and the issuance of
65,000 shares pursuant to the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan. During
the nine months ended September 30, 2008 the Company also purchased and
cancelled 929,555 shares of its common stock under its Stock Buyback Plan and
also cancelled 155,811 shares which were being held as an unallocated
contribution to the Company’s ESOP.
-40-
On
September 19, 2008 the Board of Directors of the Company amended its previously
approved stock buyback plan to increase the dollar amount of repurchased shares
to $8.0 million. The following table sets forth the activity under
the stock buyback plan during since inception through September 30,
2008.
Number
|
Average
|
Total
shares
|
Maximum
|
|||||||||||||
of
shares
|
per
share
|
purchased
|
value
of shares
|
|||||||||||||
Period
|
purchased
|
price
|
under
plan
|
to
be purchased
|
||||||||||||
Inception
- June 22, 2007
|
$ | 8,000,000 | ||||||||||||||
July
1, through December 31, 2007
|
228,000 | $ | 4.59 | 228,000 | $ | 6,952,700 | ||||||||||
January
1, 2008 through March 31, 2008
|
196,960 | $ | 4.16 | 424,960 | $ | 6,132,400 | ||||||||||
April
1, 2008 through June 30, 2008
|
354,235 | $ | 3.03 | 779,195 | $ | 5,060,700 | ||||||||||
July
1, 2008 through September 30, 2008
|
378,360 | $ | 2.48 | 1,157,555 | $ | 4,121,200 | ||||||||||
Totals
|
1,157,555 | $ | 3.35 | |||||||||||||
ITEM 3. Defaults Upon Senior
Securities
Not
Applicable
ITEM 4. Submission of Matter to a
Vote of Shareholders
None
ITEM 5. Other
Information
Not
Applicable
-41-
ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form
8-K
(a)
|
Exhibits.
|
||
10.1
|
Exploration,
Development and Mine Operating Agreement for the Lucky Jack
property. (Portions of this Agreement have been omitted
pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.)
|
||
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) / Rule
15d-15(e)
|
||
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) / Rule
15(e)/15d-15(e)
|
||
32.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
||
32.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
||
(b)
|
Reports on Form
8-K. The Company filed five (5) reports on Form 8-K for
the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The events reported were
as follows:
|
||
1.
|
The
report filed on July 9, 2008, under Item .01 referenced engagement of
consulting firm in connection with preparation of 43-101 report for TSX
Listing Application.
|
||
2.
|
The
report filed on July 18, 2008, under Item 8.01 referenced the appeal of
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Order Denying
Jurisdiction.
|
||
3.
|
The
report filed on August 20, 2008, under Item 1.01 referenced the Entry into
a Material Definitive Agreement with Thompson Creek Metals Company for the
Lucky Jack Project.
|
||
4.
|
The
report filed on August 22, 2008, under Item 8.01 referenced the sale of
interest in Sutter Gold Mining Inc. to RMB Resources
Ltd.
|
||
5.
|
The
report filed on September 19, 2008, under Item 8.01 referenced the
approval if increase in the Stock Buyback
Program.
|
-42-
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly
caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto
duly authorized.
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||
(Company)
|
||||
Date:
November 7, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
||
KEITH
G. LARSEN,
|
||||
Chairman
and CEO
|
||||
Date:
November 7, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Scott Lorimer
|
||
ROBERT
SCOTT LORIMER
|
||||
Principal
Financial Officer and
|
||||
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
-43-