We develop and distribute environmentally friendly specialty chemical products with applications in several industries and markets. Our current line of products includes:
Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Green Globe Industries, Inc., we provide the U.S. military with a variety of solvents, paint strippers and cleaners under our trade name “Qualchem.” Green Globe is a qualified supplier for the U.S. military and has sales contracts currently in place with no minimum purchase requirements that are renewable at the option of the U.S. military.
We have developed and patented a system referred to as our “S2 system,” to work with our environmentally friendly paraffin dispersants products. This patented technology produces high volumes of steam and heat at variable pressures and temperatures to completely dissolve most deposits of paraffin and asphaltene within oil wells, pipelines or storage tanks. The S2 system apparatus is portable, compact and easy to use. We are further developing the process to enhance and support sales of KH-30 and its related products for the oil industry and for other potential applications.
A key component of our business strategy is to pursue collaborative joint working and marketing arrangements with established international oil and oil service companies. We intend to enter into these relationships to more rapidly and economically introduce our KH-30 product line to the worldwide marketplace for refinery, tank and pipeline cleaning services. We have recently entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Champion Technologies Inc. and a non-exclusive Master Purchase Agreement with Petrobras America Inc. for the sale and distribution of our K-Line of patented specialty chemical solutions. In June 2006 and September 2006, Petrobras America Inc. placed Specialty Chemical orders of $123,772 and $167,092, respectively. The agreements do not provide for any minimum amounts to be purchased. We are also currently negotiating potential working arrangements with several other companies however, there can be no assurance that any of these arrangements will be entered into or, if entered into, (as well as the agreements with Champion Technologies and Petrobras America Inc.) will be successful.
We provide Specialty Chemicals and graphic arts products to our customers and generated revenues of $524,352 for the six months ended September 30, 2006 and $165,075 for the six months ended September 30, 2005.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2005
Revenues. Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $299,285, a $210,820, or 238% increase from revenues of $88,465 in the comparable three months of 2005. The increase in revenues was due to higher sales of Specialty Chemicals, primarily to two customers, Petrobras America Inc and Castor Petroleum LTD. Specialty Chemicals revenues, which includes sales of our KH-30 products and Green Globe/Qualchem military sales, increased by $210,760 to $299,014, or 239% from the comparable three months of 2005 compared to $88,254 in the comparable three months in 2005. This increase was due primarily to higher sales of our KH-30 family of oil field dispersant products. There were no sales of our Uniproof proofing paper during the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold increased $32,099, or 43% to $107,181 or 36% of revenues, for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $75,082, or 85% of revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in cost of goods sold (which accounted for lower percentage of revenues) was due to the higher sales levels in the period compared to the comparable period in 2005.
Gross Profit. Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2006, increased by $178,721, or 1,335% to $192,104 or 64% of revenues compared with $13,383 or 15% of sales in the prior period. The increase in gross profit and gross profit percentage reflects the higher levels of sales of Specialty Chemicals.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $298,028 to $773,913 or 259% of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared with $1,071,941 for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily related to lower salaries due to the exercise of options in the prior comparable period and a decrease in travel and entertainment expenses, partially offset by an increase in bad debts and a slight increase in professional fees.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization remained relatively constant for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to September 30, 2005.
Interest Income. The Company had interest income of $48,950 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared with $13 in the corresponding period in 2005. The increase was due to the increased cash level in connection with the private placement completed in March 2006.
Interest Expense. The Company had interest expense of $374 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared with interest expense of $485,594 in the corresponding period in 2005. The decrease was due to the lower principal amount of indebtedness outstanding as a result of the convertible term note being satisfied in August 2005.
Net Loss. The three months ended September 30, 2006 resulted in a net loss of $552,003 or $0.02 per share as compared to a net loss of $1,561,554 or $0.06 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The average number of shares of common stock used in calculating net loss per share increased 5,982,463 shares to 31,030,115 as a result of 2,000,000 shares issued for the conversion of the note payable, 312,500 shares issued in connection with the exercise of stock options and 5,400,000 shares issued in connection with the private placement completed in March 2006.
Six Months Ended September 30, 2006 Compared to the Six Months Ended September 30, 2005
Revenues. Revenues for the six-month period ended September 30, 2006 were $524,352, a $359,277 or 217% increase from revenues of $165,075 in the comparable six-month period ended September 30, 2005. The increase in revenues was due to higher sales of Specialty Chemicals, primarily to two customers, Petrobras America Inc. and Castor Petroleum LTD. Specialty Chemicals revenues, which includes sales of our KH-30 products and Green Globe/Qualchem products, increased by $359,248 to $523,841, or 218% compared to $164,593 in the comparable six month period ended September 30, 2005. This increase was primarily related to higher sales of our
18
KH-30 family of oil field dispersant products. There were no sales of our Uniproof proofing paper during the six months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold increased $72,458, or 53% to $209,257 or 40% of revenues, for the six-month period ended September 30, 2006 from $136,799 or 83% of revenues, for the six-month period ended September 30, 2005. The increase in cost of goods sold (which accounted for a lower percentage of revenues) was due to the higher sales level in the period compared to the comparable period in 2005.
Gross Profit. Gross profit for the six months ended September 30, 2006, increased by $286,819, or 1,014% to $315,095 or 60% of revenues compared with $28,276 or 17% of revenues in the prior period. The increase in gross profit and gross profit percentage reflects the higher levels of sales of Specialty Chemicals.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $303,750 to $1,489,613 or 284% of revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2006 compared with $1,793,363 for the six months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily related to lower salaries due to the exercise of options in the prior comparable period, a decrease in professional fees, lower marketing expenses, and lower travel and entertainment expenses, partially offset by an increase in bad debts.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization remained relatively constant for the six months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to September 30, 2005.
Interest Income. The Company had interest income of [$93,498] for the six months ended September 30, 2006 compared with $23 in the corresponding period in 2005. The increase was due to the increased cash level in connection with the private placement completed in March 2006.
Interest Expense. The Company had interest expense of $1,229 for the six months ended September 30, 2006 compared with interest expense of $576,168 in the corresponding period in 2005. The decrease was due to the lower principal amount of indebtedness outstanding as a result of the convertible term note being satisfied in August 2005.
Net Loss. The six months ended September 30, 2006 resulted in a net loss of $1,119,657 or $0.04 per share as compared to a net loss of $2,375,892 or $0.10 per share for the six months ended September 30, 2005. The average number of shares of common stock used in calculating earnings per share increased 6,735,834 shares to 31,028,544 as a result of 2,000,000 shares issued for the conversion of the note payable, 312,500 shares issued in connection with the exercise of stock options and 5,400,000 shares issued in connection with the private placement completed in March 2006.
19
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2006, the Company had $3,814,794 in cash and cash equivalents, as compared to $5,194,748 at March 31, 2006.
The $1,379,954 decrease in cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2006 compared to March 31, 2006 was due to net cash used in operating activities of $1,191,804, net cash used in investing activities of $2,025 and net cash used in financing activities of $186,125 during the six months ended September 30, 2006. Cash used in investing activities consisted of fixed asset purchases of $2,025. Cash used in financing activities during the six months ended September 30, 2006 consisted of the payment of a related party payable of $200,000, partially offset by the receipt from the exercise of stock options of $13,875.
As of September 30, 2006 the Company had no backlog. Backlog represents products that the Company’s customers have committed to purchase. The Company’s backlog is subject to fluctuations and is not necessarily indicative of future sales.
We currently anticipate that our available cash in hand and cash resources from expected revenues will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months.
Concentration of Risk
We currently sell our Uniproof proofing paper to one customer, the Alameda Company of Anaheim, California. There were no sales to this customer during the six months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. Revenue from sales of our proofing paper is expected to continue to decline due to the paper technology switching to a digital technology. A decision by Alameda to discontinue its relationship with us could result in a significant loss of revenue to us.
We sold our Specialty Chemicals to four customers, which comprised 80.8% of our sales of Specialty Chemicals for the six months ended September 30, 2006. For the six months ended September 30, 2005, we sold our Specialty Chemicals to two customers, which comprised 40.1% of our sales of Specialty Chemicals.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not currently have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to our stockholders.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
There were no material changes from the information presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, with respect to the Company’s quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks.
20
As of September 30, 2006 (the end of the period covered by this report), our management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. The evaluation process, including the inherent limitations on the effectiveness of such controls and procedures, is more fully discussed below. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls were not effective due to the material weakness in our internal controls over the financial reporting process, as described below. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurances of achieving the desired control objectives, as ours are designed to do, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
In connection with the audit by our independent registered public accounting firm of our financial statements, as of March 31, 2006 and for the year then ended, our independent registered public accounting firm notified our management and the Board of Directors that they had identified a deficiency that they considered a material weakness in our internal controls over the financial reporting process relating to the communication between the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the CEO and the interim CFO. Adjustments were identified during the audit process relating to the recording of options that the Company issued during 2006 and 2005. These adjustments were made to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.
The reportable conditions have been discussed in detail among management and our independent registered public accounting firm, and we are committed to resolving the issue. We have taken the appropriate steps in correcting the matter by enhancing the communications process among the members of management to ensure more timely notification of current issues, including through the institution of more regularly scheduled meetings among management.
There are no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
21
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
| | | |
Item 6.Exhibits |
| |
| (a) | Exhibits. |
| | |
| | 31.1 | Chief Executive Officer’s Certificate, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | | |
| | 31.2 | Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | | |
| | 32.1 | Chief Executive Officer’s Certificate, pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | | |
| | 32.2 | Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate, pursuant to 18 U.S.C., Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
22
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the small business issuer has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| | |
Dated: November 13, 2006 | | UNITED ENERGY CORP. |
| | |
| By: | /s/ Brian King |
| |
|
| | Brian King, |
| | Chief Executive Officer |
| | (as principal executive officer) |
| | |
| By: | /s/ James McKeever |
| |
|
| | James McKeever, |
| | Interim Chief Financial Officer |
| | (as principal financial and accounting officer) |
23