US ENERGY CORP - Quarter Report: 2009 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
Quarterly
report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
|
For
the quarter ended March 31, 2009 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 May 6, 2009
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value
|
21,285,129
|
-2-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. and SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
Page
No.
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
|
Condensed
Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2009 (unaudited)
and December 31, 2008
|
4-5
|
|
Condensed
Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and
2008 (unaudited)
|
6-7
|
|
Condensed
Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and
2008 (unaudited)
|
8-9
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
10-17
|
|
ITEM
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
18-25
|
ITEM
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
|
25
|
ITEM
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
26
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
26
|
ITEM
1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
26
|
ITEM
2.
|
Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
27
|
ITEM
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
27
|
ITEM
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Shareholders
|
27
|
ITEM
5.
|
Other
Information
|
27
|
ITEM
6.
|
Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
|
28
|
Signatures
|
29
|
|
Certifications
|
See
Exhibits
|
-3-
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Financial Statements
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
CURRENT
ASSETS:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 2,985 | $ | 8,434 | ||||
Marketable
securities
|
||||||||
Held
to maturity - treasuries
|
41,771 | 51,152 | ||||||
Available
for sale securities
|
1,030 | 576 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
||||||||
Trade
|
368 | 600 | ||||||
Reimbursable
project costs
|
110 | 442 | ||||||
Income
taxes
|
6,573 | 5,896 | ||||||
Restricted
investments
|
-- | 4,929 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
676 | 738 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
53,513 | 72,767 | ||||||
INVESTMENT
|
3,364 | 3,455 | ||||||
PROPERTIES
AND EQUIPMENT:
|
||||||||
Oil
& gas properties under full cost method, net
|
7,279 | 7,906 | ||||||
Undeveloped
mining claims
|
22,952 | 23,950 | ||||||
Commercial
real estate, net
|
23,861 | 23,998 | ||||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
9,557 | 9,639 | ||||||
Net
properties and equipment
|
63,649 | 65,493 | ||||||
OTHER
ASSETS
|
995 | 916 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 121,521 | $ | 142,631 | ||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-4-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
||||||||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
CURRENT
LIABILITIES:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 925 | $ | 898 | ||||
Accrued
compensation
|
781 | 682 | ||||||
Short
term construction debt
|
-- | 16,813 | ||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
200 | 875 | ||||||
Other
current liabilities
|
254 | 715 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
2,160 | 19,983 | ||||||
LONG-TERM
DEBT, net of current portion
|
800 | 1,000 | ||||||
DEFERRED
TAX LIABILITY
|
8,510 | 8,945 | ||||||
ASSET
RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
|
147 | 144 | ||||||
OTHER
ACCRUED LIABILITIES
|
726 | 726 | ||||||
SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY:
|
||||||||
Common
stock, $.01 par value; unlimited shares
|
||||||||
authorized;
21,425,829 and 21,935,129
|
||||||||
shares
issued, respectively
|
214 | 219 | ||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
93,353 | 93,951 | ||||||
Accumulated
surplus
|
15,316 | 17,663 | ||||||
Unrealized
gain on marketable securities
|
295 | -- | ||||||
Total
shareholders' equity
|
109,178 | 111,833 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$ | 121,521 | $ | 142,631 | ||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-5-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
(Amounts
in thousands, except per share data)
|
||||||||
Three
months ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
OPERATING
REVENUES:
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 734 | $ | 118 | ||||
Oil
& gas
|
674 | -- | ||||||
Management
fees and other
|
5 | 31 | ||||||
1,413 | 149 | |||||||
OPERATING
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
512 | 167 | ||||||
Oil
and gas
|
812 | -- | ||||||
Impairment
of oil and gas properties
|
1,063 | -- | ||||||
Water
treatment plant
|
443 | -- | ||||||
Mineral
holding costs
|
-- | 171 | ||||||
General
and administrative
|
2,005 | 2,580 | ||||||
4,835 | 2,918 | |||||||
OPERATING
LOSS
|
(3,422 | ) | (2,769 | ) | ||||
OTHER
INCOME & (EXPENSES):
|
||||||||
Gain
on sales of assets
|
5 | -- | ||||||
Equity
loss
|
(91 | ) | -- | |||||
Interest
income
|
87 | 554 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
(38 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||
(37 | ) | 535 | ||||||
(LOSS)
GAIN BEFORE PROVISION
|
||||||||
FOR
INCOME TAXES AND
|
||||||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
|
(3,459 | ) | (2,234 | ) | ||||
INCOME
TAXES:
|
||||||||
Current
benefit from (provision for)
|
677 | 628 | ||||||
Deferred
benefit from (provision for)
|
435 | 46 | ||||||
1,112 | 674 | |||||||
(LOSS)
GAIN FROM CONTINUING
|
||||||||
OPERATIONS
|
(2,347 | ) | (1,560 | ) | ||||
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
|
||||||||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
-- | (157 | ) | |||||
NET
(LOSS) INCOME
|
$ | (2,347 | ) | $ | (1,717 | ) | ||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-6-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
CONDENSED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
(Amounts
in thousands, except per share data)
|
||||||||
Three
months ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
PER
SHARE DATA
|
||||||||
Basic
and diluted loss
|
||||||||
from
continuing operations
|
$ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | ||
Basic
and diluted loss
|
||||||||
from
discontinued operations
|
-- | (0.01 | ) | |||||
Basic
and diluted loss per share
|
$ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | ||
Basic
and diluted weighted
|
||||||||
average
shares outstanding
|
21,654,519 | 23,749,056 | ||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-7-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the three months ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (2,347 | ) | $ | (1,560 | ) | ||
Loss
from discontinued operations
|
-- | (157 | ) | |||||
Net
loss from continuing operations
|
(2,347 | ) | (1,717 | ) | ||||
Reconcile
net loss to net cash used in operations
|
||||||||
Depreciation,
depletion & amortization
|
1,089 | 172 | ||||||
Accretion
of discount on treasury investment
|
(94 | ) | -- | |||||
Impairment
of oil and gas properties
|
1,063 | -- | ||||||
Equity
loss from Standard Steam
|
91 | -- | ||||||
Income
tax receivable
|
(677 | ) | 153 | |||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
(435 | ) | (46 | ) | ||||
Gain
on sale of assets
|
(5 | ) | -- | |||||
Noncash
compensation
|
387 | 1,161 | ||||||
Noncash
services
|
19 | -- | ||||||
Net
changes in assets and liabilities
|
(317 | ) | (491 | ) | ||||
NET
CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
(1,226 | ) | (768 | ) | ||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
investment in treasury investments
|
$ | 9,475 | $ | (24,886 | ) | |||
Acquisition
& development of real estate
|
(90 | ) | (4,914 | ) | ||||
Acquisition
of oil & gas properties
|
(1,149 | ) | (82 | ) | ||||
Minining
property option payment
|
1,000 | -- | ||||||
Acquisition
of property and equipment
|
(66 | ) | (4 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of property and equipment
|
5 | 17 | ||||||
Net
change in restricted investments
|
5,298 | 1,792 | ||||||
NET
CASH PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||
(USED
IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
14,473 | (28,077 | ) | |||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
-- | 1,528 | ||||||
Proceeds
from short term construction debt
|
-- | 4,742 | ||||||
Repayments
of debt
|
(17,688 | ) | (31 | ) | ||||
Stock
buyback program
|
(1,008 | ) | (998 | ) | ||||
NET
CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY
|
||||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
(18,696 | ) | 5,241 | |||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-8-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
||||||||
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
|
||||||||
(Unaudited)
|
||||||||
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the three months ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Net
cash (used in) operating
|
||||||||
activities
of discontinued operations
|
-- | (1 | ) | |||||
Net
cash provided by investing
|
||||||||
activities
of discontinued operations
|
-- | 97 | ||||||
Net
cash provided by financing
|
||||||||
activities
of discontinued operations
|
-- | 23 | ||||||
NET
DECREASE IN
|
||||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
(5,449 | ) | (23,485 | ) | ||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD
|
8,434 | 72,292 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
||||||||
AT
END OF PERIOD
|
$ | 2,985 | $ | 48,807 | ||||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES:
|
||||||||
Interest
paid
|
$ | 19 | $ | 18 | ||||
NON-CASH
INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Development
of assets through issuance of debt
|
$ | -- | $ | 10,945 | ||||
Unrealized
gain/(loss)
|
$ | 454 | $ | (282 | ) | |||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-9-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
1) Basis
of Presentation
The
condensed financial statements for the periods ended March 31, 2009 and March
31, 2008 have been prepared by the U.S. Energy Corp. (“USE”) or “the Company”)
without audit in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles. The Condensed Balance Sheet at December 31, 2008 was
derived from audited financial statements. 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 for the reported
periods. 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, 2008 Form
10-K.
2) Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
For
detailed descriptions of the Company’s significant accounting policies, please
see Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (Note B pages 72 to
79).
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America 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 condensed financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates. Significant estimates include oil and gas reserves used
for depletion and impairment considerations and the cost of future asset
retirement obligations. Due to inherent uncertainties, including the
future prices of oil and gas, these estimates could change in the near term and
such changes could be material.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company records natural gas and oil revenue under the sales method of
accounting. Under the sales method, the Company recognizes revenues based on the
amount of natural gas or oil sold to purchasers, which may differ from the
amounts to which the Company is entitled based on its interest in the
properties. Gas balancing obligations as March 31, 2009 were not
significant.
Revenues
from real estate operations are reported on a gross revenue basis and are
recorded at the time the service is provided.
Management
fees are recorded when the service is provided. Management fees are
for operating and overseeing services performed on mineral properties in which
the Company participates with joint venture or industry partners.
-10-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Net
Income (Loss) Per Share
The
Company reports net income (loss) per share pursuant to Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128 “Earnings per Share” (“SFAS
128”). SFAS 128 specifies the computation, presentation and
disclosure requirements for earnings per share. Basic earnings per
share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding. Common shares held by the ESOP are included in the
computation of earnings per share. Total shares held by the ESOP at
March 31, 2009 and 2008 were 606,330 and 541,735, respectively. All
shares in the ESOP have been allocated to participant
accounts. Diluted earnings per share is computed based on the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for the
incremental shares attributed to outstanding options and warrants to purchase
common stock, if dilutive. Using the treasury stock method potential
common shares relating to options and warrants are excluded from the computation
of diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
because they were anti-dilutive.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
As of
March 31, 2009, there have been no recent accounting pronouncements currently
relevant to the Company in addition to those discussed on pages 78 to 79 of our
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company continues
to review current outstanding statements from the Financial Accounting Standards
Board (“FASB”) and does not believe that any of those statements will have a
material effect on the financial statements of the Company when
adopted.
3) Properties
and Equipment
Land,
buildings, improvements, machinery and equipment are carried at
cost. Depreciation of buildings, improvements, machinery and
equipment is provided principally by the straight-line method over estimated
useful lives ranging from 3 to 45 years.
Components
of Property and Equipment as of March 31, 2009 are as follows:
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||||||
Accumulated
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
|
||||||||||||
Depletion
and
|
||||||||||||
Cost
|
Amortization
|
Net
Book Value
|
||||||||||
Oil
& Gas properties
|
||||||||||||
Unevaluated
|
$ | 3,455 | $ | -- | $ | 3,455 | ||||||
Evaluated
|
4,919 | (1,095 | ) | 3,824 | ||||||||
8,374 | (1,095 | ) | 7,279 | |||||||||
Mining
properties
|
22,952 | -- | 22,952 | |||||||||
Commercial
real estate
|
24,562 | (701 | ) | 23,861 | ||||||||
Building,
land and equipment
|
14,461 | (4,904 | ) | 9,557 | ||||||||
Totals
|
$ | 70,349 | $ | (6,700 | ) | $ | 63,649 | |||||
-11-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
(Continued)
Mineral
Properties
The
Company capitalizes all costs incidental to the acquisition of mineral
properties. Mineral exploration costs are expensed as
incurred. When exploration work indicates that a mineral property can
be economically developed as a result of establishing proved and probable
reserves, costs for the development of the mineral property as well as capital
purchases and capital construction are capitalized and amortized using units of
production over the estimated recoverable proved and probable reserves. Costs
and expenses related to general corporate overhead are expensed as incurred. All
capitalized costs are charged to operations if the Company subsequently
determines that the property is not economical due to permanent decreases in
market prices of commodities, excessive production costs or depletion of the
mineral resource.
Oil
and Gas Properties
The
Company uses the full cost method to account for its oil and natural gas
operations. Accordingly, the costs to acquire, explore for and develop oil and
natural gas properties are capitalized. Capitalized costs of oil and gas
properties, net of accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
(“DD&A”) and related deferred taxes, are limited to the estimated future net
cash flows from proved oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10%, plus the lower
of cost or fair value of unproved properties, as adjusted for related income tax
effects (the full cost ceiling). If capitalized costs exceed the full cost
ceiling, the excess is charged to ceiling test write down of oil and gas
properties in the quarter in which the excess occurs.
Impairment of Oil and Gas
Properties - At March 31, 2009, the Company computed the estimated future
net cash flows from its proved oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10%, using
quarter end prices of $3.58 per Mcf of gas and $46.45 per barrel of oil.
Approximately 87% of the Company’s proved reserves are natural gas. Due to the
low market price for gas at March 31, 2009, the Company’s capitalized costs
exceeded the full cost ceiling by $1.1 million. As a result, the Company
recorded a $1.1 million non-cash ceiling test write down of its oil and gas
properties at March 31, 2009.
4) Asset
Retirement Obligations
The
Company accounts for its asset retirement obligations under SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations." The Company records the fair value of the
reclamation liability on its inactive mining and oil and gas 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 and
also accretes the liability on a quarterly basis for the future
liability. Final determinations are made during the fourth quarter of
each year. The Company deducts any actual funds expended for
reclamation during the quarter in which it occurs.
The
following is a reconciliation of the total liability for asset retirement
obligations:
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the three months ending March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Beginning
asset retirement obligation
|
$ | 144 | $ | 133 | ||||
Accretion
of estimated ARO
|
3 | 3 | ||||||
Ending
asset retirement obligation
|
$ | 147 | $ | 136 | ||||
-12-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
(Continued)
5) Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unrealized
gains and losses on investments are excluded from net income but are reported as
comprehensive income on the Condensed Balance Sheets under Shareholders’
equity. The following table reconciles net loss to comprehensive
loss:
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the three months ending March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$ | (2,347 | ) | $ | (1,717 | ) | ||
Comprehensive
gain/(loss) from the
|
||||||||
unrealized
gain on marketable securities
|
454 | (282 | ) | |||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
||||||||
on
marketable securities
|
(159 | ) | 187 | |||||
Comprehensive
loss
|
$ | (2,052 | ) | $ | (1,812 | ) | ||
6) Long
term debt
On
January 16, 2009, the Company paid $16.8 million to Zions National Bank to
retire the construction loan for its multifamily housing project in Gillette,
Wyoming. The housing project is a 216 unit apartment complex on 10.15
acres and cost a total of $24.5 million to construct.
At March
31, 2009, long term debt consists of debt related to the purchase of land which
bears an interest rate of 6% per annum. The debt is due in five equal
payments of $200,000, plus accrued interest, beginning on January 2, 2010
through January 2, 2014:
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Short
term Debt
|
||||||||
Construction
note - collateralized by
|
||||||||
property,
interest at 2.71%
|
$ | -- | $ | 16,813 | ||||
Long
term Debt
|
||||||||
Real
estate note - collateralized by
|
||||||||
property,
interest at 6%
|
$ | 1,000 | $ | 1,875 | ||||
Less
current portion
|
(200 | ) | (875 | ) | ||||
Totals
|
$ | 800 | $ | 1,000 | ||||
-13-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
(Continued)
7) Shareholders’
Equity
Common
Stock
During
the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company issued 20,000 shares of
common stock to officers of the Company pursuant to the 2001 Stock Compensation
Plan. The Company recorded $34,400 in compensation expense as a
result of the issuance of these shares. The Company also purchased
529,300 shares of its common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2009
under its June 22, 2007 stock buyback plan.
The
following table details the changes in common stock during the three months
ended March 31, 2009:
(Amounts
in thousands, except for share amounts)
|
||||||||||||
Additional
|
||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
|||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
||||||||||
Balance
December 31, 2008
|
21,935,129 | $ | 219 | $ | 93,951 | |||||||
2001
stock compensation plan
|
20,000 | - | 34 | |||||||||
Expense
of employee options
|
- | - | 352 | |||||||||
Stock
options issued to outside directors
|
- | - | 14 | |||||||||
Expense
of company warrants issued
|
- | - | 5 | |||||||||
Common
stock buy back program
|
(529,300 | ) | (5 | ) | (1,003 | ) | ||||||
21,425,829 | $ | 214 | $ | 93,353 | ||||||||
8) Common
Stock Buy Back Program
Through
March 31, 2009, the Company has purchased 2,917,429 shares of its common stock
for $7.6 million or an average of $2.61 per share under its $8.0 million stock
buyback plan. During the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company purchased
529,300 shares for $1.0 million or an average of $1.90 per share.
9) Mount
Emmons Molybdenum Property
The
Company has entered into an agreement with Thompson Creek Metals Company USA
(“TCM”) to develop the Mount Emmons molybdenum property near Crested Butte,
Colorado. TCM can earn up to a 75% interest in the project for the
investment of $400 million. The Company received the first of six
annual payments in the amount of $1.0 million in January 2009. This
payment was applied as a reduction of the Company’s investment in the Mount
Emmons property.
-14-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
(Continued)
10) Oil
and Gas Exploration Activities
The
Company has signed agreements with three 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, a 4.55% working interest partner in the second and a 10% working
interest partner in the third. These projects may result in numerous
wells being drilled over the next three to five years.
During
January and February of 2009, the Company drilled a well in northeastern Wyoming
with a nonaffiliated company. The drilling resulted in a dry hole at
an approximate cost of $390,600 to the Company. The Company is
evaluating whether it will participate in any additional wells on this
prospect.
The
Company paid TLPC Holdings, Ltd, an affiliate of Texas Land & Petroleum
Company, LLC (“TL&P”) a private Texas company, a $45,000 prospect fee and
signed an agreement for an oil well drilling program on the Hopkins Prospect in
Wood County, Texas, located about 50 miles east of Dallas. The
Company will participate in the first well on a one-third for one quarter basis
(33% of drilling and completion costs, for a 25% working interest (18.75% net
revenue interest)). Upon participation in the first well, the Company
will own its share of all the acreage. Subsequent wells will be
unpromoted (25% of costs). TL&P holds 50% of the working
interest.
Approximately
$9.4 million has been expended under all oil and gas agreements the Company has
entered into through March 31, 2009. 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 prospect areas over the course of the
anticipated three to five year programs.
The
Company is also actively pursuing the potential of acquiring producing oil and
gas properties or companies. To further this effort, the Company has
engaged an investment banker to assist in finding, evaluating and financing the
potential acquisition of such assets.
11) Segment
Information
As of
March 31, 2009, the Company had three reportable segments: Oil and Gas, Real
Estate Operations, and Maintenance of Mineral Properties.
The only
revenues from maintaining mineral properties are management fees charged on
reimbursable costs related to the Mount Emmons molybdenum
property. The costs paid by the Company during the quarter ended
March 31, 2009 for holding mineral properties are primarily related to the water
treatment plant at the Mount Emmons molybdenum property. The costs
for the water treatment plant during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 were paid
by the Company’s then partner on the property.
-15-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
(Continued)
A summary
of results of operations and total assets by segment follows:
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
For
the three months ended March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 734 | $ | 118 | ||||
Oil
& gas
|
674 | -- | ||||||
Other
|
5 | 31 | ||||||
Total
revenues:
|
1,413 | 149 | ||||||
Operating
expenses:
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 512 | $ | 167 | ||||
Oil
and gas
|
812 | -- | ||||||
Iimpairment
of oil and gas properties
|
1,063 | -- | ||||||
Mineral
properties
|
443 | 171 | ||||||
Total
operating expenses:
|
2,830 | 338 | ||||||
Interest
expense
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 19 | $ | -- | ||||
Oil
& gas
|
-- | -- | ||||||
Mineral
properties
|
-- | -- | ||||||
Total
interest expense:
|
19 | -- | ||||||
Operating
gain/(loss)
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 203 | $ | (49 | ) | |||
Oil
& gas
|
(1,201 | ) | -- | |||||
Mineral
properties
|
(438 | ) | (140 | ) | ||||
Operating
(loss)
|
(1,436 | ) | (189 | ) | ||||
Corporate
other revenues and expenses:
|
(2,023 | ) | (2,045 | ) | ||||
(Loss)
before discontinued
|
||||||||
operations
and income taxes
|
$ | (3,459 | ) | $ | (2,234 | ) | ||
Depreciation
expense:
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 232 | $ | 51 | ||||
Oil
& gas
|
713 | -- | ||||||
Mineral
properties
|
15 | 10 | ||||||
Corporate
|
129 | 124 | ||||||
Total
depreciation expense
|
$
|
1,089 | $ | 185 |
-16-
U.S.
ENERGY CORP. & SUBSIDIARIES
Notes
to Condensed Financial Statemtns (Unaudited)
(Continued)
As
of
|
||||||||
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Assets
by segment
|
||||||||
Real
estate
|
$ | 24,043 | $ | 30,980 | ||||
Oil
& Gas properties
|
8,239 | 8,523 | ||||||
Mineral
properties
|
24,597 | 24,927 | ||||||
Corporate
assets
|
64,642 | 78,201 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 121,521 | $ | 142,631 | ||||
12) Subsequent
Events
Stock buyback plan - After
the close of the quarter ended March 31, 2009, the Company purchased an
additional 160,700 shares of its common stock. The total number of
shares purchased under the stock buyback plan through May 6, 2009 is 3,078,129
for a purchase price of $7,965,600 or an average of $2.59 per share. The
remaining amount available under the approved $8.0 million stock buyback plan is
therefore $34,400.
Corporate Governance - On
April 17, 2009, the Board of Directors adopted and approved, effective
immediately, an amendment to Section 2 of Article III of the Company’s Bylaws,
to limit service of the independent directors to two terms. If
recommended by the Chairman of the Board and approved by the full Board, an
independent director may serve one additional term. For detailed
information regarding this change in the service of outside board members and
the compensation matters discussed above please refer to the Company’s Form 8-K
filed on April 21, 2009.
-17-
ITEM
2. Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The
following is Management's Discussion and Analysis of significant factors, which
have affected the Company's liquidity, capital resources and results of
operations during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.
General
Overview
The
Company is involved in the exploration for and development of oil and gas,
minerals and geothermal energy as well as real estate
development. The Company’s primary objective in the short to midterm
is to develop and acquire oil and gas producing properties as well as develop
its geothermal properties. The Company owns one multifamily housing
project as well as various other real estate properties which provide cash flows
to fund operations. The long term goal of the Company is to
participate in the development of the Mount Emmons molybdenum property in
Colorado. Through these businesses, it is the Company’s primary goal
to improve shareholder value by developing long term cash flows and net
income.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
Company, at March 31, 2009, had $3.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and
$41.8 million in Treasury Bills with longer than 90 day maturities from date of
purchase for a total of $44.8 million or $2.09 per outstanding common
share. Its working capital (current assets minus current liabilities)
was $51.4 million. As discussed below in Capital Resources and
Capital Requirements, the Company projects that its capital resources at March
31, 2009 will be sufficient to fund its operations and capital projects through
the balance of 2009 and into the future.
The
principal recurring trend which affects the Company is variable prices for
commodities producible from our mineral properties, although the extent and
grade of discovered minerals can mitigate or aggravate the impact of price
swings. As commodities experience lower values in the
market place, it is typically less expensive to acquire properties and hold them
until prices raise to levels which either allow the properties to be sold or
placed into production through joint venture partners, or by the Company for its
own account.
Cash flows during the quarter ended
March 31, 2009:
·
|
Operations
consumed $1.2 million, Investing Activities provided $14.5 million and
Financing Activities consumed $18.7 million for a net decrease in cash of
$5.4 million.
|
·
|
For
a discussion on cash consumed in Operations please refer to Results of
Operations below.
|
Investing
Activities:
·
|
Cash
provided by investing activities was generated primarily through the
redemption of U.S. Government Treasury Bills, $9.5 million, and restricted
cash investments held as collateral for a construction loan, $5.3 million,
for a total of $14.8 million.
|
·
|
Additional
cash was provided by investing activities as a result of the Company’s
receipt of the first of six payments of $1.0 million from Thompson Creek
Metals USA, (“TCM”) as an option payment on the Mount Emmons
property.
|
·
|
Investing
activities also consumed cash through the completion of the development of
its multifamily housing unit in Gillette, Wyoming, $90,000, the
acquisition and development of oil and gas properties, $1.1 million, and
the purchase of property and equipment,
$66,000.
|
-18-
Financing
Activities:
·
|
The
Company retired $17.7 million in debt during the quarter ended March 31,
2009. This debt consisted of $16.8 million for the construction
of the Company’s multifamily housing property in Gillette, Wyoming and
$875,000 for the joint purchase with TCM of a parcel of
property.
|
·
|
The
Company also purchased 529,300 shares of its common stock pursuant to its
stock buyback plan which consumed $1.0 million during the quarter ended
March 31, 2009.
|
Following
is a discussion regarding the Company’s Capital Resources and Capital
Requirements during the balance of 2009. For longer range projections
of the Company’s capital resources and requirements, please refer to the Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Capital
Resources
Sources
of capital during the balance of 2009 are (1) the sale of oil and gas production
from the Company’s existing and anticipated oil and gas operations, (2) receipts
of cash for the rent of real estate properties, (3) cash on hand and (4) if
needed, a line of credit with our commercial bank in the amount of $5.0
million.
Oil
and Gas Production
The price
for natural gas declined from $5.88 per Mcf at December 31, 2008 to $3.58 per
Mcf at March 31, 2009. Oil prices increased $5.04 during the same
quarter from $41.41 per barrel at December 31, 2008 to $46.45 as of March 31,
2009. The majority of the Company’s production is natural
gas. The decrease of $2.30 per Mcf, or a reduction of 39% had a
material impact on the Company which resulted in an impairment of $1.1 million
as of March 31, 2009.
The
ultimate amount of cash which will be derived from production of oil and gas
will be determined by the price of oil and gas as well as the cost of
production. The ultimate life of the well will likewise be impacted
by market prices and costs of production. The Company plans on
continuing in the oil and gas exploration business and may also acquire existing
production.
Real
Estate
The
Company’s multi-family property in Gillette, Wyoming is complete and is
experiencing stabilized occupancy rates above 93%. The monthly
revenues are $240,000 and net cash flow from this property is approximately
$170,000. As of March 31, 2009, there was no sign of a decline in the
demand for rental units. This however can change quickly depending on
the global and domestic economies and the demand for coal and natural gas (the
primary industries in Gillette, Wyoming). The Company does not foresee any
significant change in the demand for housing in the short term. Mid
to long term, the Company may elect to either finance or sell the property if it
has projects with higher yields on investment dollars. The property
cost $24.5 million and appraises in excess of that amount.
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. Although the Company could benefit from higher interest
bearing investments, it has its cash invested in U.S. Treasuries to preserve the
principal in the current turbulent financial markets and to avoid becoming an
inadvertent investment company.
-19-
Capital
Requirements
The
direct capital requirements of the Company during the balance of 2009 are the
funding of the water treatment plant at the Mount Emmons molybdenum project,
development of the Company’s interest in recently acquired oil and gas
properties, and the potential acquisition of additional oil and gas properties
or companies, operations at Remington Village, funding of geothermal operations
and the potential participation in other renewable energy projects, as well as
the stock buyback program and general and administrative costs.
Mount
Emmons 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 Mount Emmons
molybdenum property. Annual operating costs during the balance of
2009 are projected to be approximately $1.3 million. Additionally,
the Company has budgeted $587,500 for capital improvements at the plant which
are expected to improve its efficiency and safety. The Company also
participates on a 50 – 50 basis with TCM on costs associated with a parcel of
real estate. The Company’s portion of those costs during the
balance of 2009 is projected to be $100,700. Actual future costs
could be different from those estimates made above.
Oil
and Gas Development
PetroQuest
Energy, Inc. (“PQ”)
The
Company’s portion of operating costs and expenses for its producing well are
projected to be $196,400 during the remaining nine months of
2009. The Company has also committed to expend approximately $207,000
in 3D seismic acquisition and reprocessing for a prospect area with PQ that
potentially could generate additional drilling targets in the
future.
Although
the Company has not yet committed to the drilling of any wells on other
prospects with PQ, it has budgeted a total of $3.0 million in possible drilling
for the third and fourth quarters of 2009. While successful Gulf
Coast wells can provide favorable returns on investment, we will continue to
assess the viability of participating in additional wells with PQ. If
we should elect not to participate in any undrilled prospects proposed by PQ
where we have paid for lease and seismic costs, we will attempt to farm out or
sell our interest.
YUMA
Exploration and Production Company Inc. (“YUMA”)
The
Company has budgeted $1.0 million in drilling costs in the fourth quarter of
2009 for one well with YUMA. The actual expenditure of these funds is
contingent upon the generation of viable drilling prospects by seismic
evaluation, and also the availability and cost of drill rigs. No firm
commitment has been made to drill any wells as of March 31, 2009.
Wildes
Exploration Agreement (“Wildes”)
The
Company is contracted to pay Wildes an annual $100,000 consulting and management
fee for the prospects with PQ and an additional $50,000 annually for properties
with Yuma.
Texas
Land & Petroleum Company, LLC (“TL&P”)
The
Company has budgeted $2.6 million for the drilling of up to 6 exploratory wells
with TL&P during 2009. After the first well is drilled, the
Company will determine if it will participate in subsequent
wells. Drilling of the first well was scheduled for the first quarter
of 2009 but has been delayed to the second or third quarter of 2009 in
anticipation of lower rig rates.
-20-
Houston
Energy, L.P. (“Houston Energy”)
The
Company entered into agreements with Houston Energy during the quarter ended
March 31, 2009 to participate in seismic purchases and drilling
agreements. The Company recorded $272,100 of costs associated with
these projects during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and has committed for an
additional $70,000 for the second quarter of 2009. In the event that
the drilling of the first well is successful, the Company may elect to
participate in up to an additional six wells during 2009 at an estimated cost of
$1.2 million.
Other Oil
and Gas Exploration or Acquisition Opportunities
The
Company will continue looking for opportunities to either explore for or acquire
existing oil and gas production. The Company has budgeted $2.0
million for drilling and exploration during 2009 in addition to those agreements
in place at December 31, 2008 and described above. Additionally, the
Company is actively pursuing acquisition targets of existing oil and gas
producing fields or entities owning oil and gas production. The
Company has initially budgeted $4.2 million for the acquisition of such
production during 2009 but may increase this amount depending on the assets and
inherent value of the acquisition targets at the time of purchase.
Real
Estate
The cash
operating costs of the multifamily housing project in Gillette, Wyoming are
estimated to be $620,000 for the balance of 2009. There are no
additional budgeted capital expenditures for real estate operations during
2009.
Geothermal
Energy Projects
The
Company has a 25% ownership interest in a geothermal
company. Budgeted cash expenditures to maintain the Company’s 25%
ownership will require the expenditure of an estimated $3.1 million during the
balance of 2009 if all the contemplated drilling and property acquisition
projects are achieved.
Stock
Buyback Program
The
Company has committed to an $8.0 million stock buyback plan. It is
projected that the entire plan will be closed out during the second quarter of
2009 by the expenditure of an additional $390,300.
Reclamation
Costs
At March
31, 2009, there were no reclamation projects on the Company’s mineral or oil and
gas properties that would require the expenditure of cash reserves during the
balance of 2009.
Results of
Operations
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2009 compared to 2008
Operations
for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 resulted in a loss of $2.3 million, or
$0.11 per share, as compared to a loss of $1.7 million, or $0.07 per share,
during the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The losses at March 31, 2009
and 2008 included $2.6 million and $1.3 million in non cash items, respectively,
consisting of depreciation, amortization, depletion, impairments taken on oil
and gas properties, non cash compensation and non cash payment for services
rendered. Depreciation, amortization and depletion expense increased
$917,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2009 over the prior year due
primarily to the completion of the Company’s multifamily housing project, in the
amount of $232,000, and the amortization of full cost accounting oil
and gas capitalized costs in the amount of $713,000.
-21-
The
Company recognized $1.4 million in revenues during the quarter ended March 31,
2009 as compared to revenues of $149,000 during the same quarter of the prior
year. Real estate revenues increased by $616,000 as a result of the
completion of the multifamily housing project in Gillette, Wyoming and oil and
gas revenues increased $674,000 as a result of production from an oil and gas
well completed in the fourth quarter of 2008. Real estate operations
resulted in a net gain before taxes of $203,000. Oil and gas
operations resulted in a net loss of $1.2 million, including an impairment of
$1.1 million, before taxes as a result of the high amortization of capitalized
costs and low gas prices experienced during the quarter ended March 31,
2009.
The
following table summarizes production volumes, average sales prices and
operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and
2008:
2009
Period Compared to 2008 Period
|
||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
|
%
|
|||||||||||||||
March
31,
|
Increase
|
Increase
|
||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
(Decrease)
|
(Decrease)
|
|||||||||||||
Production
volumes
|
||||||||||||||||
Oil
and condensate (Bbls)
|
3,618 | -- | 3,618 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
Natural
gas (Mcf)
|
119,259 | -- | 119,259 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
Average
sales prices
|
||||||||||||||||
Oil
and condensate (Bbls)
|
$ | 38.15 | $ | -- | $ | 38.15 | 100 | % | ||||||||
Natural
gas (Mcf)
|
4.94 | -- | 4.94 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
Operating
revenues (in thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||
Oil
and condensate
|
$ | 121 | $ | -- | $ | 121 | 100 | % | ||||||||
Natural
gas
|
553 | - | 553 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
Total
Operating Revenue
|
674 | - | 674 | 100 | % | |||||||||||
Lease
Operating Expense
|
(99 | ) | (99 | ) | ||||||||||||
Impairment
of Oil and Gas Properties
|
(1,063 | ) | - | (1,063 | ) | 100 | % | |||||||||
Gain
before DD&A
|
(488 | ) | - | (488 | ) | 100 | % | |||||||||
DD&A
|
(713 | ) | - | (713 | ) | 100 | % | |||||||||
Gain
(Loss)
|
$ | (1,201 | ) | $ | - | $ | (1,201 | ) | 100 | % | ||||||
When the
Company entered into its agreement with TCM, it agreed to pay all costs
associated with the water treatment plant at the Mount Emmons molybdenum
property and thereby recorded $443,000 in costs and expenses for that facility
during the quarter ended March 31, 2009. All costs associated
with the water treatment plant during the prior year were paid by the Company’s
partner prior to their exit from the project on March 31, 2008.
General
and administrative expenses decreased by $575,000 during the quarter ended March
31, 2009 as compared to the prior year. This reduction is due to cost
saving efforts.
Other income and expenses –
The Company recorded an equity loss from its investment in a geothermal
partnership in the amount of $91,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2009
with no similar losses reported during the prior year. Interest
income decreased from $554,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 by
$467,000 to interest income of $87,000 at March 31, 2009. The
decrease is a result of lower amounts of cash invested in interest bearing
instruments and lower interest paid on those investments.
-22-
The
Company therefore recorded a net loss before taxes of $3.5 million during the
quarter ended March 31, 2009 as compared to a net loss before taxes of $2.2
million during the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The increase in the
loss between the two periods is primarily due to the impairment taken on the oil
and gas assets and the reduction of interest income earned during the
quarters. Offsets to these increases in the net after tax loss are
the gain from real estate operations and reductions of general and
administrative costs and expenses.
Critical Accounting
Policies
For
detailed descriptions of Company’s significant accounting policies, please see
pages 53 to 56 of the Company’s Form 10K for the year ended December 31,
2008.
Mineral Properties - The
Company capitalizes all costs incidental to the acquisition of mineral
properties. Mineral exploration costs are expensed as
incurred. When exploration work indicates that a mineral property can
be economically developed as a result of establishing proved and probable
reserves, costs for the development of the mineral property as well as capital
purchases and capital construction are capitalized and amortized using units of
production over the estimated recoverable proved and probable reserves. Costs
and expenses related to general corporate overhead are expensed as incurred. All
capitalized costs are charged to operations if the Company subsequently
determines that the property is not economical due to permanent decreases in
market prices of commodities, excessive production costs or depletion of the
mineral resource.
Oil and Gas Properties - The
Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its oil and gas properties.
Under this method, all acquisition, exploration, development and estimated
abandonment costs, including certain related employee costs and general and
administrative costs (less any reimbursements for such costs), incurred for the
purpose of acquiring and finding oil and gas are capitalized. Unevaluated
property costs are excluded from the amortization base until a determination is
made as to the existence of sufficient proved reserves at the respective
property or whether impairment of the asset carrying cost is
required.
At March
31, 2009, we computed the estimated future net cash flows from our proved oil
and gas reserves, discounted at 10%, using average quarter end prices of $3.58
per Mcf of gas and $46.45 per barrel of oil. Approximately 87% of our proved
reserves are natural gas. Due to the low market price for gas at March 31, 2009,
our capitalized costs exceeded the full cost ceiling by $1.1 million. As a
result, we recorded a $1.1 million non-cash ceiling test write down of our oil
and gas properties at March 31, 2009. Given the volatility of oil and gas
prices, it is probable that our estimate of discounted future net cash flows
from proved oil and gas reserves will change in the near term. If oil or gas
prices decline substantially, even for only a short period of time, or if we
have downward revisions to our estimated proved reserves,
it is possible that additional write-downs of oil and gas properties could occur
in the future.
Asset Retirement Obligations -
The Company accounts for its asset retirement obligations under SFAS No.
143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations." The Company records the fair value of
the reclamation liability on its inactive mining properties as of the date that
the liability is incurred. The Company reviews the liability each
quarter and determines if a change in estimate is required as well as accretes
the liability on a quarterly basis for the future liability. Final
determinations are made during the fourth quarter of each year. The
Company deducts any actual funds expended for reclamation during the quarter in
which it occurs.
-23-
Future
Operations
Management
intends to continue seeking opportunities presented by the recent and future
projected market prices for oil and gas, minerals and geothermal. We
intend to acquire new oil and gas properties and pursue new business
opportunities in the mineral and geothermal business. Long term, we
intend to be prepared to pay our share of the holding and development costs
associated with the Mount Emmons property.
Effects
of Changes in Prices
Mineral
operations are significantly affected by changes in commodity
prices. As prices for a particular mineral increase, values for
prospects for that mineral typically also increase, making acquisitions of such
properties more costly and sales potentially more
valuable. Conversely, a price decline could enhance acquisitions of
properties containing that mineral, but could make sales of such properties more
difficult. Operational impacts of changes in mineral commodity prices
are common in the mining and oil and gas industries.
At March
31, 2009, the Company is receiving revenues from its oil and gas
business. The Company’s revenues, cash flows, future rate of growth,
results of operations, financial condition and ability to finance projected
acquisition of oil and gas producing assets are dependent upon prevailing prices
of oil and gas.
The
Company’s multifamily housing could be affected negatively if there was a
sustained down turn in the price of coal, natural gas and oil which would affect
the need for housing in the Gillette, Wyoming area.
Forward Looking
Statements
This Form
10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts
included in and incorporated by reference into this Form 10-Q are
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to
certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected. Among those risks, trends and
uncertainties are our ability to find oil and natural gas reserves that are
economically recoverable, the volatility of oil and natural gas prices and the
continued price declines since December 31, 2008, declines in the values of our
properties that have resulted in and may in the future result in additional
ceiling test write downs, our ability to replace reserves and sustain
production, our estimate of the sufficiency of our existing capital sources, our
ability to raise additional capital to fund cash requirements for future
acquisitions, the uncertainties involved in estimating quantities of proved oil
and natural gas reserves, in prospect development and property acquisitions or
dispositions and in projecting future rates of production or future reserves,
the timing of development expenditures and drilling of wells, hurricanes and
other natural disasters and the operating hazards attendant to the oil and gas
and minerals business. In particular, careful consideration should be given to
cautionary statements made in the various reports the Company has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no duty to update or
revise these forward-looking statements.
-24-
When used
in this Form 10-Q, the words, “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,”
“believe,” “seek,” “estimate” and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain
these identifying words. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks
and uncertainties, actual results could differ materially from those expressed
or implied by these forward-looking statements for a number of important
reasons, including those discussed under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this Form
10-Q.
Contractual
Obligations
We had
two divisions of contractual obligations at March 31, 2009: Debt to third
parties of $1.0 million with interest at 6% per annum and asset retirement
obligations of $147,000. The debt will be paid over a period of five
years and the asset 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:
(Amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Payments
due by period
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Less
|
One
to
|
Three
to
|
More
than
|
|||||||||||||||||
than
one
|
Three
|
Five
|
Five
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total
|
Year
|
Years
|
Years
|
Years
|
||||||||||||||||
Long-term
debt obligations
|
1,000 | 200 | 600 | 200 | -- | |||||||||||||||
Other
long-term liabilities
|
147 | -- | -- | 26 | 121 | |||||||||||||||
Totals
|
$ | 1,147 | $ | 200 | $ | 600 | $ | 226 | $ | 121 | ||||||||||
On April
17, 2009, the Board of Directors approved employment agreements with the four
executive officers (Keith G. Larsen, Mark J. Larsen, Robert Scott Lorimer, and
Steven R. Youngbauer).
ITEM
3. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures About Market Risk
The
Company experiences market risks primarily in two areas: interest rates and
commodity prices. Our mineral related revenues are derived from the sale of our
natural gas and crude oil production. In the future, the Company may
seek to reduce its exposure to commodity price volatility by hedging a portion
of production through commodity derivative instruments. At
March 31, 2009, the Company had not put any hedges in place for its existing
production.
Commodity
prices also could have an impact on our real estate revenues if the price for
natural gas and coal decrease to levels which would cause a reduction in housing
requirements for the workforce in the Gillette, Wyoming area. As of
March 31, 2009, there has not been an impact on the housing market in
Gillette. Occupancy of the rental units exceeded 95% at March 31,
2009. No assurance can be given that the current occupancy rates will
not fall due to lower commodity prices or a surplus of houses that may become
available due to defaults on existing mortgages.
Revenues
earned and cash received from invested surplus cash are dependent on the
interest rates paid on U.S. Treasury Bills which in turn is directly dependant
on the general economy and need for credit.
-25-
ITEM
4. Controls
and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of
March 31, 2009, the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Office
and Chief Financial Officer, completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”). Based on that evaluation the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer concluded:
i.
|
That
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure
(a) that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods
specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (b) that such information is
accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure;
and
|
ii.
|
That
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are
effective.
|
Changes in Internal Control over
Financial Reporting. There has been no change in our internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March
31, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM
1. Legal
Proceedings
Water
Treatment Facility – Permit Renewal Protest
On April
22, 2009, the Administrative Law Judge held a hearing on the Colorado Water
Quality Division’s (“Division”) and the Company’s motion to enter a dispositive
ruling on the scope of the Division’s authority to impose financial assurances
requirements in the issuance of a renewal NPDES permit for the water treatment
plant at Mount Emmons property and in the alternative if this motion is not
granted, for the Court to enter an in limine ruling precluding the admission of
additional evidence beyond the official record considered by the
Division. If the Court does not grant a dispositive motion, a hearing
has been tentatively scheduled for May 28, 2009 in Denver,
Colorado.
For
information on other legal proceedings wherein there have been no new
developments since March 31, 2009, see Item 1, Part II of the Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2009. For detailed information on the
proceeding disclosed above, see the Annual Report (Item 1 of Part II, pages 28
to 30) under the caption “Water Treatment Facility – Permit Renewal
Protest.”
ITEM
1A. Risk
Factors
In
addition to the risk factor set forth below and the other information set forth
in this report, the reader should carefully consider the factors discussed in
Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” (pages 13 to 20) in the Company’s Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which could materially affect
the Company’s business, financial condition or future
results. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to
the Company or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially
adversely affect its business, financial condition and/or operating
results.
-26-
The
continued credit crisis and related turmoil in the global financial system may
have a material impact on the Company’s ability to finance the purchase of
producing or exploratory oil and gas properties. The availability of
credit to the Company’s industry partners may also affect their ability to
continue exploration and development activities. The current economic
situation could also have an impact on the Company’s joint venture partners and
customers, causing them to fail to meet their obligations to the Company, and on
the liquidity of our operating partners, resulting in delays in operations or
failure to make required payments. Additionally, the current economic
situation could lead to reduced demand for natural gas and oil, or further
reductions in the prices of natural gas and oil, or both, which could have a
negative impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and
cash flows. While the ultimate outcome and impact of the current
financial crisis cannot be predicted, it may have a material adverse effect on
the Company’s future liquidity, results of operations and financial
condition.
Risks
associated with development of the Mount Emmons Project.
The Mount
Emmons molybdenum property is located on fee property within the boundary of
U.S. Forest Service (“USFS”) land. Although mining of the mineral
resource is expected to occur on the fee property, associated ancillary
activities will occur on USFS land. The Company and TCM expect
to submit a Plan of Operations to the USFS in 2010 for USFS approval, which must
be approved before initiating construction, and mining and processing can
occur. Under the procedures mandated by the National Environmental
Protection Act (“NEPA”), the USFS will prepare an environmental analysis in the
form of an Environmental Assessment and/or and Environmental Impact Statement to
evaluate the predicted environmental and socio-economic impacts of the proposed
development and mining of the property. The NEPA process provides for
public review and comment of the proposed plan.
Obtaining
and maintaining the various permits for the mining operations at Mount Emmons
will be complex, time-consuming, and expensive. Changes in a mine’s
design, production rates, quality of material mined, and many other matters,
often require submission of the proposed changes for agency approval prior to
implementation. In addition, changes in operating conditions beyond
the Company’s and TCM’s control, or changes in agency policy and
Federal and State laws, could further affect the successful permitting of the
mine operations.
Although
we are confident that the Plan of Operations for Mount Emmons will ultimately be
approved by the USFS, the timing and cost, and ultimate success of the mining
operation cannot be predicted.
ITEM
2. Changes
in Securities and Use of Proceeds
During
the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company issued a total of 20,000
shares of its common stock. These shares were issued as new issuances
pursuant to the 2001 stock compensation plan. The Company also
purchased and cancelled 529,300 shares of its common stock under its Stock
Buyback Plan.
ITEM
3. Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
Not
Applicable
ITEM
4. Submission of Matter to a
Vote of Shareholders
Not
Applicable
ITEM
5. Other
Information
Not
Applicable
-27-
ITEM
6. Exhibits
and Reports on Form 8-K
(a)
|
Exhibits.
|
||
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) / Rule
15d-15(e)
|
||
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) / Rule
15(e)/15d-15(e)
|
||
32.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
||
32.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
||
(b)
|
Reports on Form
8-K. The Company filed four reports on Form 8-K for the
quarter ended March 31, 2009. The events reported were as
follows:
|
||
1.
|
The
report filed on January 8, 2009, under Item 8.01 referenced the signing of
an oil & gas agreement.
|
||
2.
|
The
report filed on January 12, 2009, under Item 8.01 referenced the milestone
payment received from Thompson Creek Metals Company
Inc.
|
||
3.
|
The
report filed on January 20, 2009, under Item 8.01 referenced the
retirement of August 2007 construction loan.
|
||
4.
|
The
report filed on February 4, 2009, under Item 8.01 referenced the update of
drilling program with Ridgeland Wyoming Inc.
|
||
5.
|
The
report filed on March 4, 2009, under Item 8.01 referenced U.S. Energy Corp.
engaging SMH Capital Inc. to seek oil and gas
acquisitions.
|
||
6.
|
The
report filed on March 16, 2009, under Item 8.01 referenced the reporting
of 2008 highlights and financial results.
|
||
7.
|
The
report filed on March 19 2009, under Item 8 referenced the amendment to
company bylaws concerning the addition of advance notice provisions for
proposals to be considered by
shareholders.
|
-28-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly
caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto
duly authorized.
U.S.
ENERGY CORP.
|
|||
(Company)
|
|||
Date:
May 8, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/
Keith G. Larsen
|
|
KEITH
G. LARSEN,
|
|||
Chairman
and CEO
|
|||
Date:
May 8, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/
Robert Scott Lorimer
|
|
ROBERT
SCOTT LORIMER
|
|||
Principal
Financial Officer and
|
|||
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
-29-