UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K/A
[Part III Information Only]
(Mark One)
X | Annual report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 |
| |
| 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 000-6814
CRESTED CORP. |
(Exact Name of Company as Specified in its Charter) |
Colorado | | 84-0608126 |
(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) |
| | |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: | | (307) 856-9271 |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.001 par value |
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES NO X
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES 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
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 Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer X
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES NO X
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and ask price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. $6,707,700.
Class | | Outstanding at March 30, 2006 |
Common stock, $.001 par value | | 17,164,298 Shares |
Documents incorporated by reference: None.
PART III
ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers of The Registrant.
The board of directors are divided into three classes, to be elected until the third succeeding annual meeting and until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until death, resignation or removal. The terms of directors Keith G. Larsen and Harold F. Herron expire at the June 2006 meeting and they have been nominated for re-election. Current directors are:
The directors are:
| Other | | Meeting at |
Name | positions with | Director | which term |
and age | with the company | since | will expire |
| | | |
John L. Larsen (74) | CEO and Vice | 1975 | 2007 |
| President (a)(b)(c) | | |
| | | |
Daniel P. Svilar (77) | Secretary (a) | 1980 | 2008 |
| | | |
| | | |
Keith G. Larsen (47) | Co-Chairman(a) | 2003 | 2006 |
| | | |
Harold F. Herron (52) | President and Chairman (a)(d) | 2003 | 2006 |
(a) Member of the executive committee.
(b) Member of the audit committee.
(c) Trustee of the USE Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP").
(d) Member of the nominating committee.
Executive officers of the company are elected by the board at the annual directors' meetings, which follow each Annual Shareholders' Meeting, to serve until the officer's successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until death, resignation or removal by the board of directors.
Business Experience and Other Directorships of Directors and Nominees.
John L. Larsen, age 74, has been principally employed as an officer and director of USE and the Company for more than the past five years. Mr. Larsen is the Senior Vice President and a director of USE, and is the CEO, Vice President and a director of the Company. Mr. Larsen is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Plateau Resources Limited, Inc. and a director of Sutter Gold Mining Inc., Yellowstone Fuels, Inc., U.S. Moly Corp. and U.S. Uranium Ltd. Mr. Larsen was a director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. until its sale on June 1, 2005.
Keith G. Larsen, age 47, has been principally employed by the Company and USE for more than the past five years and is the Co-Chairman and a director of the Company. He has been a director of USE since November 25, 1997, and was its President and Chief Operating Officer from that date until August 23, 2005, when he became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Larsen also was the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. (until its sale on June 1, 2005). Mr. Larsen is a director of Plateau Resources Limited, Inc., U.S. Uranium Ltd., and U.S. Moly Corp. Mr. Larsen also serves on the board of directors for Pinnacle Gas Resources.
Harold F. Herron, age 52, is the President and Chairman of the Company and is the Senior Vice President and a director of USE. Mr. Herron is President and a director of Plateau Resources Limited, Inc., Chief Executive Officer and a director of Sutter Gold Mining Inc., a director of U.S. Moly Corp. and President of U.S. Uranium Ltd. Mr. Herron was a director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. until its sale on June 1, 2005. Mr. Herron received an M.B.A. degree from the University of Wyoming after receiving a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Mr. Herron was appointed a director and the President of the Company by the board of directors in 2003.
Daniel P. Svilar, 77, has been General Counsel for USE and Crested for more than the past five years. He also is Secretary of USE. His positions of General Counsel to, and as officers of the companies, are at the will of the board of directors. There are no understandings between Mr. Svilar and any other person pursuant to which he was named as officer or General Counsel. Mr. Svilar received a B.S. degree in Engineering from New Mexico State University and a J.D. from the University of Wyoming. He has no family relationships with any of the other executive officers or directors of USE or Crested.
Filing of Reports Under Section 16(a)
The Company has conducted a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 (as amended) and certain written representations of persons filing reports with the SEC under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. Based solely upon a review of those reports and written representations, there were five late filings during the year ended December 31, 2005 one each for John L. Larsen, Harold F. Herron, Keith G. Larsen, Daniel P. Svilar and Robert Scott Lorimer.
Information Concerning the Executive Officer Who Is Not a Director
The following information is provided pursuant to Item 401 of Reg. S-K, regarding the only executive officer of the company who is not also a director.
Robert Scott Lorimer, age 55, has been Chief Accounting Officer for both USE and Crested for more than the past five years. Mr. Lorimer also has been Chief Financial Officer for both these companies since May 25, 1991, their Treasurer since December 14, 1990, and Vice President Finance since April 1998. Mr. Lorimer received a B.S. in Finance, Accounting, Economics and German from Brigham Young University and worked towards a Masters in Accountancy at the University of Nebraska. He serves at the will of the board of directors. There are no understandings between Mr. Lorimer and any other person, pursuant to which he was named as an officer, and he has no family relationship with any of the other executive officers or directors of USE or Crested.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation.
Under a Management Agreement dated August 1, 1981, USE and Crested share certain general and administrative expenses, including compensation of the officers and directors of the companies (but excluding directors' fees) which have been paid through the USECC Joint Venture ("USECC"). Substantially all the work efforts of the officers of USE and Crested are devoted to the business of both companies and to their subsidiary companies.
All personnel of USECC are employees of USE, in order to utilize USE’s ESOP as an employee benefit mechanism. USE charges USECC for the direct and indirect costs of its employees for time spent on USECC matters, and USECC charges one-half of that amount to Crested and USE.
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the six executive officers of USE in the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2005. The table includes compensation paid for service by such persons to subsidiaries. References to shares and options are to shares and options of USE.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| | | | | | | | | | Long Term Compensation | | | |
| | | | Annual Compensation | | Awards | | Payouts | | | |
(a) | | (b) | | (c) | | (d) | | (e) | | (f) | | (g) | | (h) | | (i) | |
| | | | | | | | Other | | | | | | | | | |
Name | | | | | | | | Annual | | Restricted | | | | LPIT | | All Other | |
and Current | | | | | | | | Compen- | | Stock | | Options(6) | | Pay- | | Compen- | |
Principal | | | | | | | | sation | | Award(s) | | or | | outs | | sation | |
Position | | Year | | Salary($) | | Bonus($) | | ($) | | ($) | | SARs(#) | | ($) | | ($)(7) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
John L. Larsen | | | 2005 | | $ | 162,300 | | $ | 27,800(1) | | $ | 10,300 | | $ | 42,400(4) | | | 100,000 | | $ | -0- | | $ | 21,400 | |
Sr. Vice President | | | 2004 | | | 176,500 | | | 14,700(2) | | | -0- | | | 25,700(4) | | | 125,000 | | $ | -0- | | | 24,300 | |
| | | 2003 | | | 174,500 | | | 25,300(3) | | | -0- | | | 117,200(5) | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 22,700 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Keith G. Larsen | | | 2005 | | $ | 173,300 | | $ | 48,100(1) | | $ | 5,200 | | $ | 42,400(4) | | | 100,000 | | $ | -0- | | $ | 21,400 | |
CEO | | | 2004 | | | 162,000 | | | 24,500(2) | | | -0- | | | 25,700(4) | | | 125,000 | | | -0- | | | 24,300 | |
| | | 2003 | | | 156,000 | | | 40,000(3) | | | -0- | | | 62,000(5) | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 22,700 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mark J. Larsen | | | 2005 | | $ | 137,300 | | $ | 156,500(1) | | $ | 5,200 | | $ | 42,400(4) | | | 100,000 | | $ | -0- | | $ | 21,400 | |
President | | | 2004 | | | 124,600 | | | 23,500(2) | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 125,000 | | | -0- | | | 18,100 | |
2003** | | | | | | 120,000 | | | 33,300(3) | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 17,400 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Daniel P. Svilar | | | 2005 | | $ | 150,200 | | $ | 27,200(1) | | $ | 4,600 | | $ | 42,400(4) | | | 100,000 | | $ | -0- | | $ | 21,400 | |
General Counsel | | | 2004 | | | 155,100 | | | 14,300(2) | | | -0- | | | 25,700(4) | | | 125,000 | | | -0- | | | 19,500 | |
and Secretary | | | 2003 | | | 149,400 | | | 24,700(3) | | | -0- | | | 103,400(5) | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 22,700 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Harold F. Herron | | | 2005 | | $ | 145,700 | | $ | 26,900(1) | | $ | 700 | | $ | 42,400(4) | | | 100,000 | | $ | -0- | | $ | 21,400 | |
Sr. Vice President | | | 2004 | | | 138,000 | | | 13,800(2) | | | -0- | | | 25,700(4) | | | 125,000 | | | -0- | | | 22,600 | |
| | | 2003 | | | 106,200 | | | 65,700(3) | | | -0- | | | 89,600(5) | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 22,700 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
R. Scott Lorimer | | | 2005 | | $ | 149,300 | | $ | 47,100(1) | | $ | -0- | | $ | 42,400(4) | | | 100,000 | | $ | -0- | | $ | 21,400 | |
Treasurer and | | | 2004 | | | 141,000 | | | 16,400(2) | | | -0- | | | 25,700(4) | | | 125,000 | | | -0- | | | 23,900 | |
CFO | | | 2003 | | | 135,700 | | | 24,000(3) | | | -0- | | | 89,600(5) | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 22,700 | |
** Mr. Mark Larsen became President of RMG on October 15, 2003 and served in that position until RMG was sold in June 2005, and has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of USE since August 23, 2005. Compensation paid to Mr. Larsen as an employee of the Company (not an officer) before October 15, 2003 is not included in the table.
(1) Includes bonus paid at the conclusion of the RMG sale in June 2005 to John L. Larsen ($20,000); Keith G. Larsen ($40,000); Mark J. Larsen ($150,000); Harold F. Herron ($20,000); Daniel P. Svilar ($20,000); and Robert Scott Lorimer ($40,000). Also included in the 2005 Bonus is an annual Christmas bonus.
(2) Consists of a bonus paid at the successful conclusion of the purchase of the Hi-Pro properties by RMG. The amount paid to each individual in the table was: John L. Larsen $10,000, Keith Larsen $20,000, Daniel P. Svilar $10,000, Harold F. Herron $10,000, R. Scott Lorimer $12,500 and Mark Larsen $20,000. An annual Christmas bonus is also included in this amount.
(3) Consists of a bonus granted to officers and employees after the conclusion of the formation of Pinnacle Gas and an additional bonus granted to officers and employees after the successful release of a portion of the cash bond for reclamation of the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill and a Christmas bonus. Mr. Herron was instrumental in growing The Brunton Company to the level that it could be sold to a third party. For his efforts the Company granted Mr. Herron a bonus which is paid out over several years, ending in August 2004.
(4) Consists of 10,000 shares issued to each Officer pursuant to the Company’s 2001 Stock Compensation Plan. Under the terms of the plan, each Officer is to receive 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock or some other portion as approved by the compensation committee. The Company has agreed under the terms of the plan to pay all taxes due. The officer has agreed not to sell these shares to the market or pledge them on obligations until after his (i) retirement; (ii) total disability or (iii) in the case of the death of the officer, his estate may sell the shares of stock.
(5) Consists 20,000 shares issued to each Officer pursuant to the Company's 2001 Stock Compensation Plan. Under the terms of the plan each Officer is to receive 10,000 shares of the Company's common stock or some other portion as approved by the compensation committee. There were no issuances of shares under the plan during the years ended May 31, 2001 and 2002 or the seven months ended December 31, 2002. The issuance of these shares to the officers was therefore retroactive for the funding of the shares due each officer for 2002 and 2003. The Company has agreed under the terms of the plan to pay all taxes due. The officer has agreed not to sell these shares to the market or pledge them on obligations until after his (i) retirement; (ii) total disability or (iii) in the case of the death of the officer his estate may sell the shares of stock. Also includes shares issued under the 1996 stock award program multiplied by $3.50 (the closing market price on the issue date for the year ending December 31, 2003). These shares are subject to forfeiture on termination of employment, except for retirement, death or disability. If the Company were to pay a stock dividend, dividends would be paid on these shares. The shares issued to each officer were 15,774, 11,830, 7887 and 7887 shares to John L. Larsen, Daniel P. Svilar, Harold F. Herron and Robert Scott Lorimer, respectively. This is the final funding under the Company's 2001 Stock Compensation Plan.
(6) Stock options granted pursuant to the Company's 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan. See details of the options under "Grants to Executive Officers (Qualified and Nonqualified)" below.
(7) Dollar values for ESOP contributions.
Executive Compensation Plans and Employment Agreements
USE has adopted a plan to pay the dependents of Messrs. J. Larsen and Svilar amounts equivalent to the salaries they are receiving at the time of their death, for a period of one year after death, and reduced amounts for up to five years thereafter. The amounts to be paid in such subsequent years have not yet been established, but would be established by the boards of directors of USE and Crested.
Mr. Svilar has an employment agreement with the USE and Crested, which provides for a base annual salary of $100,000, with the condition that Mr. Svilar pay an unspecified amount of expenses incurred by him on behalf of USE and its affiliates. In the event Mr. Svilar's employment is involuntarily terminated, he is to receive an amount equal to the salary he was being paid at termination, for a year. If he should voluntarily terminate his employment, USE and Crested will pay him that salary for nine months thereafter. The foregoing is in addition to Mr. Svilar's Executive Severance and Non-Compete Agreement with USE (see below).
In fiscal 1992, USE signed Executive Severance and Non-Compete Agreements with Messrs. John L. Larsen, Svilar and Lorimer, providing for payment to such person upon termination of his employment with USE, occurring within three years after a change in control of USE, of an amount equal to (i) severance pay in an amount equal to three times the average annual compensation over the prior five taxable years ending before change in control, (ii) legal fees and expenses incurred by such persons as a result of termination, and (iii) the difference between market value of securities issuable on exercise of vested options to purchase securities in USE, and the options' exercise price. These Agreements also provide that for the three years following termination, the terminated individual will not compete with USE in most of the western United States in regards to exploration and development activities for uranium, molybdenum, silver or gold. During fiscal 2001, USE signed similar Agreements with Keith Larsen, Mark Larsen, Richard Larsen (an employee of USE but not an officer or director of USE or its affiliates), and Harold Herron. For such non-compete covenant, such persons will be paid monthly over a three year period an agreed amount for the value of such covenants. These Agreements are intended to benefit USE’s and Crested's shareholders, by enabling such persons to negotiate with a hostile takeover offer and assist the board of directors concerning the fairness of a takeover, without the distraction of possible tenure insecurity following a change in control.
USE and Crested provide all of their employees with certain forms of insurance coverage, including life and health insurance, with the exception of Messrs. John L. Larsen and Daniel P. Svilar. USE and Crested reimburse Messrs. John Larsen and Svilar for their Medicare supplement premiums. The health insurance plan does not discriminate in favor of executive employees; life insurance of $200,000 is provided to each member of upper management (which includes all persons in the compensation table except Messrs. John L. Larsen and Mr. Svilar), $100,000 of such coverage is provided to middle-management employees, and $90,000 of such coverage is provided to other employees.
Retirement Policy. USE and Crested have adopted retirement policies as of October 20, 2005. These policies were amended in February 2006. These policies include a mandatory retirement age of 70, unless the board of directors of the applicable company requests the services of officers or employees past that age. In this latter regard, the board of directors of USE and Crested each has requested John L. Larsen and Daniel P. Svilar to continue serving the companies, as executive officers, so long as they wish to do so.
Additionally, the retirement policies include a retirement benefit eligibility for an individual who has reached 60 years of age, has served for a minimum of 15 years as an executive officer (in one of the categories listed below), and remains in the employment on or after December 31, 2010. The executive officers eligible for this benefit are the Chairman/CEO, President/COO, CFO/Treasurer and Vice President of Finance, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Employee Board Members on the Executive Committee. Presently, only John L. Larsen and Daniel P. Svilar are eligible for this retirement benefit, but at the request of the boards of directors, both individuals are continuing service as executive officers.
Under the terms of the executive retirement plan, the named officers are to receive 50% of the greater of (i) that amount of compensation (annualized) which he has received as base cash pay (using his final regular pay check to calculate the annual rate), or (ii) the average annual pay rate, less all bonuses, which he received over the last five years of employment. This benefit for executives is to be paid monthly (in accordance with normal bi-weekly payroll practices) for five years following termination of employment, or, if later, the month in which the executive attains age 60. However, the first six months of benefits may be paid in the seventh month for a ‘specified employee’ (as that term is defined in section 409(a)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) instead of bi-weekly for the first six months. If the executive dies, the unpaid installments will be paid to his designee (or classes of preference beneficiaries, if there is no designee). The benefits otherwise are not assignable.
In return for this benefit, the retired executive officer will be available to USE and Crested for up to 1,040 hours per year for consulting or any other services the board deems is needed. Service in addition to this annual hourly amount would be compensated on an hourly basis at the compensation rate in effect at retirement. This retirement benefit can be extended beyond the five year period at the discretion of the Board of the respective corporation, at a rate which would be negotiated (but not less than the initial retirement rate).
The retirement benefit plan is not secured or funded by any arrangement, and would be funded only from the general funds of the company.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"). An ESOP has been adopted to encourage ownership of the common stock by employees, and to provide a source of retirement income to them. The ESOP is a combination stock bonus plan and money purchase pension plan. It is expected that the ESOP will continue to invest primarily in the common stock. Messrs. John L. Larsen and Harold F. Herron are the trustees of the ESOP.
Contributions to the stock bonus plan portion of the ESOP are discretionary and are limited to a maximum of 15% of the covered employees' compensation for each accounting year. Contributions to the money purchase pension portion of the ESOP are mandatory (fixed at ten percent of the compensation of covered employees for each year), are not dependent upon profits or the presence of accumulated earnings, and may be made in cash or shares of company's common stock.
USE made a contribution of 56,494 shares to the ESOP for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, all of which were contributed under the money purchase pension plan. At the time the shares were contributed, the market price was $4.65 per share, for a total contribution with a market value of $319,200 (which has been funded USE). USE and Crested each are responsible for one-half of that amount. 27,096 of the shares were allocated to the ESOP accounts of the executive officers of the Company. Additionally, 552 shares were allocated to the ESOP accounts of these same individuals from ESOP shares forfeited by terminated employees who were not fully vested.
Employee interests in the ESOP are earned pursuant to a seven year vesting schedule; after three years of service, the employee is vested to 20% of the ESOP account, and thereafter at 20% per year. Any portion which is not vested is forfeited upon termination of employment, other than by retirement, disability, or death.
The maximum loan outstanding during the twelve months ended December 31, 2005 under a loan arrangement between USE and the ESOP was $927,000. Interest owed by the ESOP was not booked. Crested pays one-half of the amounts contributed to the ESOP by USE. Because the loans are expected to be repaid by contributions to the ESOP, Crested may be considered to indirectly owe one-half of the loan amounts to USE.
401(k) Plan. In first quarter 2004, USE established a traditional qualified 401(k) plan for employees, by which USE will match $0.50 for each $1.00 contributed by participating employees, up to an annual $3,000 per employee maximum contribution by USE. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, USE contributed $52,700 to this plan. Plan eligibility and vesting rules are uniform for all employees, including executive officers.
1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan. USE's 1998 Incentive Stock Option Plan ("1998 ISOP") reserved an aggregate of 3,250,000 shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of options granted thereunder.
Options expire no later than ten years from the date of grant, and upon termination of employment for cause. Subject to the ten year maximum period, upon termination, unless terminated for cause, options are exercisable for three months or in the case of retirement, disability or death, for one year.
At December 31, 2005 there were 1,266,505 options outstanding. No more options will be issued under the 1998 ISOP.
USE’s 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan ("2001 ISOP"). USE’s 2001 ISOP was approved at the USE 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders meeting, and provides for the issuance of options to purchase up to three million (3,000,000) shares of common stock. The 2001 ISOP was amended in 2004 to provide that the number of shares available for issuance always shall equal 20% of the total shares issued and outstanding at any point in time. The options are intended to qualify under section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Options are issued at exercise prices equal to (or for holders of 10% or more of the outstanding stock at the time, 110% of) market price on grant dates, and would vest (become exercisable) at various times as determined by the executive committee and approved by the board of directors. All options are exercisable for cash, or through other means as determined by the executive committee and approved by the board of directors, in accordance with similar plans of public companies.
In 2005, 700,000 options were granted, 65,000 options were cancelled, and 304,729 options were exercised. At December 31, 2005, there were 2,989,271 options outstanding under this plan.
Option Grants to Executive Officers in the Twelve Months
Ended December 31, 2005 (Nonqualified)
| | Percent | | | |
| Number of | of All Options | | | |
| Shares Under | Granted to | | | |
| Lying Options | Employees | Exercise | Expiration | Grant Date |
Name | Granted | in 2005 | Price | Date (1) | Pres.Value(2) |
| | | | | |
John L. Larsen | 100,000 | 13.3% | $3.86 | 10/13/15 | $319,100 |
Keith G. Larsen | 100,000 | 13.3% | $3.86 | 10/13/15 | $319,100 |
Harold F. Herron | 100,000 | 13.3% | $3.86 | 10/13/15 | $319,100 |
Daniel P. Svilar | 100,000 | 13.3% | $3.86 | 10/13/15 | $319,100 |
R. Scott Lorimer | 100,000 | 13.3% | $3.86 | 10/13/15 | $319,100 |
Mark J. Larsen* | 100,000 | 13.3% | $3.86 | 10/13/15 | $319,100 |
* Formerly, President of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. Mr. Larsen resigned this position on the sale of RMG on June 1, 2005.
(1) Options were granted on October 14, 2005.
(2) The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used by USE to determine the grant date present value of the stock options that were granted to the named officer. The following facts and assumptions were used: An exercise price of $3.86 which was equal to the market value of the stock on the grant date; a zero dividend yield; expected volatility of 78.1%, risk-free interest rate of 4.38% and an expected life of 10 years.
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and
Twelve Months Ended 12/31/05 and Option/SAR Values at 12/31/05
The following table shows USE options exercised during the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, options outstanding and exercisable at December 30, 2005 and the dollar values for in-the-money options, at December 31, 2005 (closing market price on that date was $4.38).
(a) | | (b) | | (c) | | (d) | | (e) | | (f) | |
| | In Twelve Months | | | | | | Value of | |
| | Ended 12/31/05 | | Number of | | Number of | | In-the-Money | |
| | Shares | | | | Options/SARS | | Options/SARs | | Options/SARs | |
| | Acquired | | Value | | at 12/31/05 | | at 12/31/05 | | at 12/31/05 | |
Name | | On Exercise (#) | | Realized($) | | Outstanding | | Exercisable | | Exercisable | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
John L. Larsen, | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 34,782 | | | 34,782 | | $ | 52,347(10 | |
Sr. Vice President | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 77,718 | | | 77,718 | | $ | 184,969(2) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 184,400 | | | 184,400 | | $ | 365,112(3) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 48,000(4) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 97,000 | | | 97,000 | | $ | 206,610(5) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 125,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 192,000(6) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 52,000(7) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Keith G. Larsen | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | -0- | | $ | -0-(1) | |
Chairman/CEO | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 52,718 | | | 52,718 | | $ | 125,469(2) | |
| | | 11,321 | | $ | 20,800 | | | 267,734 | | | 267,734 | | $ | 530,113(3) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 48,000(4) | |
| | | 44,444 | | $ | 88,400 | | | 52,556 | | | 52,556 | | $ | 111,944(5) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 84,350 | | | 59,350 | | $ | 113,952(6) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 52,000(7) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Harold F. Herron, | | | 17,391 | | $ | 83,000 | | | -0- | | | -0- | | $ | -0-(1) | |
Sr. Vice President | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 20,109 | | | 20,109 | | $ | 47,859(2) | |
| | | 6,083 | | $ | 31,900 | | | 27,617 | | | 27,617 | | $ | 54,682(3) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 50,000 | | | 50,000 | | $ | 24,000(4) | |
| | | 22,222 | | $ | 120,000 | | | 26,278 | | | 26,278 | | $ | 55,972(5) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 125,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 192,000(6) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 52,000(7) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Daniel P. Svilar | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 34,782 | | | 34,782 | | $ | 52,347(1) | |
Secretary | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 40,218 | | | 40,218 | | $ | 95,719(2) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 121,900 | | | 121,900 | | $ | 241,362(3) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 48,000(4) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 97,000 | | | 97,000 | | $ | 206,610(5) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 125,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 192,000(6) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 52,000(7) | |
(a) | | (b) | | (c) | | (d) | | (e) | | (f) | |
| | In Twelve Months | | | | | | Value of | |
| | Ended 12/31/05 | | Number of | | Number of | | In-the-Money | |
| | Shares | | | | Options/SARS | | Options/SARs | | Options/SARs | |
| | Acquired | | Value | | at 12/31/05 | | at 12/31/05 | | at 12/31/05 | |
Name | | on Exercise (#) | | Realized($) | | Outstanding | | Exercisable | | Exercisable | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
R. Scott Lorimer | | | 34,782 | | $ | 43,500 | | | -0- | | | -0- | | $ | -0-(1) | |
CFO/Treasurer | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 40,218 | | | 40,218 | | $ | 95,719(2) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 80,233 | | | 80,233 | | $ | 158,861(3) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 48,000(4) | |
| | | 44,444 | | $ | 83,500 | | | 52,556 | | | 52,556 | | $ | 111,944(5) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 84,350 | | | 59,350 | | $ | 113,952(6) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 52,000(7) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mark J. Larsen | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 27,782 | | | 27,782 | | $ | 41,812(1) | |
President | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | -0- | | $ | -0-(2) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 41,248 | | | 41,248 | | $ | 81,671(3) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 48,000(4) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 97,000 | | | 97,000 | | $ | 206,610(5) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 125,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 192,000(6) | |
| | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 100,000 | | | 100,000 | | $ | 52,000(7) | |
(1) Equal to $4.38, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $2.875 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(2) Equal to $4.38, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $2.00 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(3) Equal to $4.38, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $2.40 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(4) Equal to $4.38, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $3.90 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(5) Equal to $4.38, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $2.25 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(6) Equal to $4.38, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $2.46 per share option exercise price, multiplied by the number of options exercisable.
(7) Equal to $4.38, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $3.86 per share option exercise price, multiplied by the number of options exercisable.
USE 1996 Stock Award Program. USE had an annual incentive compensation arrangement for the issuance of up to 67,000 shares of common stock each year (from 1997 through 2002) to executive officers of USE, in amounts determined each year based on earnings for the prior fiscal year. A total of 392,536 shares were issued under this plan. The compensation committee did not award any shares under this plan during the seven months ended December 31, 2002; 43,378 shares were issued in 2003 to close out the program. One-half of the compensation expense under the Program was the responsibility of Crested.
Each allocation of shares was determined by the compensation committee; the shares were issued in the name of the officer, and are being earned out (vested) over 5 years, at the rate of 20% as of May 31 of each year following the date of issue. However, none of the vested shares become available to or come under the control of the officer until termination of employment by retirement, death or disability. Upon termination, the share certificates will be released to the officer; until termination, the certificates are held by the Treasurer. Voting rights are exercised over the shares by the non-employee directors of the USE; dividends or other distributions with respect to the shares will be held by the Treasurer for the benefit of the officers.
The number of shares awarded each year out of such 67,000 shares aggregate limit was determined by the compensation committee.
USE’s 2001 Stock Compensation Plan. The USE shareholders approved the 2001 Stock Compensation Plan (the "plan") at the 2001 Annual Shareholders Meeting.
The plan has an initial term of seven years, with up to 10,000 shares of common stock to be issued in January of each year to six individuals (five officers of U.S. Energy Corp: John L. Larsen, Keith G. Larsen, Robert Scott Lorimer, Harold F. Herron, Daniel P. Svilar, and Mark J. Larsen, formerly President and a director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. and now President of USE and of U.S. Moly Corp.). The number of shares to be issued in any year is determined by the compensation committee and approved by the independent directors, taking into account our public stock prices at the date of grant and during the prior calendar year, USE's financial condition and business prospects, and other factors deemed appropriate. USE pays the income taxes owed by recipients as a result of receipt of the stock.
The stock recipients have agreed not to sell or transfer such shares during their employment. During the year ended December 31, 2005, 10,000 shares were granted under the Plan each to John L. Larsen, Keith G. Larsen, Robert Scott Lorimer, Harold F. Herron, Daniel P. Svilar and Mark J. Larsen.
The 2001 Stock Compensation Plan is now the sole mechanism for compensating management with stock, however options may be granted to management and others under the 2001 ISOP. This plan is designed to reward executives with equity, and encourage them to increase their ownership of the USE and not sell their shares in the market.
Crested’s 2004 Incentive Stock Option Plan. The Crested shareholders approved the Crested 2004 Incentive Stock Option Plan at the 2004 Annual Meeting. Options issued under the plan are qualified for the tax advantages available for option plans under section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Option Grants to Executive Officers in the Twelve Months
Ended December 31, 2005 (Nonqualified)
| | Percent | | | |
| Number of | of All Options | | | |
| Shares Under | Granted to | | | |
| Lying Options | Employees | Exercise | Expiration | Grant Date |
Name | Granted | in 2005 | Price | Date (1) | Pres.Value(2) |
| | | | | |
John L. Larsen | 200,000 | 11.8% | $1.71 | 06/09/15 | $317,900 |
Keith G. Larsen | 200,000 | 11.8% | $1.71 | 06/09/15 | $317,900 |
Harold F. Herron | 200,000 | 11.8% | $1.71 | 06/09/15 | $317,900 |
Daniel P. Svilar | 200,000 | 11.8% | $1.71 | 06/09/15 | $317,900 |
R. Scott Lorimer | 200,000 | 11.8% | $1.71 | 06/09/15 | $317,900 |
(1)Options were granted on June 10, 2005.
(2) The Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used by Crested to determine the grant date present value of the stock options that were granted to the named officer. The following facts and assumptions were used: An exercise price of $1.71 which was equal to the market value of the stock on the grant date; a zero dividend yield; expected volatility of 107.2%, risk-free interest rate of 4.38% and an expected life of 10 years.
2,000,000 shares of common stock are reserved under the plan. At such time as options have been granted to purchase 2,000,000 shares, the number of shares available for issuance under additional options will be automatically increased to be a number equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.
Options are issued from time to time by the board of directors only to officers and other employees, at an exercise price equal to market price of the stock at issue date. Generally, options have a maximum term of 10 years, vest at times determined by the board of directors, and are exercisable only while the grantee is employed by the company (and for 90 days thereafter if terminated other than for cause). If the grantee dies, the option would remain exercisable for 12 months thereafter.
Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and
Twelve Months Ended 12/31/05 and Option/SAR Values at 12/31/05
The following table shows Crested options exercised during the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, options outstanding and exercisable at December 30, 2005 and the dollar values for in-the-money options, at December 31, 2005 (closing market price on that date was $2.55).
(a) | | (b) | | (c) | | (d) | | (e) | | (f) | |
| | In Twelve Months | | | | | | Value of | |
| | Ended 12/31/05 | | Number of | | Number of | | In-the-Money | |
| | Shares | | | | Options/SARS | | Options/SARs | | Options/SARs | |
| | Acquired | | Value | | at 12/31/05 | | at 12/31/05 | | at 12/31/05 | |
Name | | On Exercise (#) | | Realized($) | | Outstanding | | Exercisable | | Exercisable | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
John L. Larsen, | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 200,000 | | | 200,000 | | $ | 168,000(1) | |
CEO and Vice President | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Keith G. Larsen | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 200,000 | | | 200,000 | | $ | 168,000(1) | |
Co-Chairman | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Harold F. Herron, | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 200,000 | | | 200,000 | | $ | 168,000(1) | |
President and Chairman | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Daniel P. Svilar | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 200,000 | | | 200,000 | | $ | 168,000(1) | |
Secretary | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
R. Scott Lorimer | | | -0- | | | -0- | | | 200,000 | | | 200,000 | | $ | 168,000(1) | |
CFO/Treasurer | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Equal to $2.55, the closing market price on December 30, 2005, less $1.71 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
Directors' Fees and Other Compensation
Crested has no non-employee directors.
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
The following table sets forth, as of April 25, 2006, certain information about the ownership of shares of common stock of the company. Unless otherwise noted, the listed record holder exercises sole voting and dispositive powers, held by each director of U.S. Energy Corp., and by all officers and directors of U.S. Energy Corp., and by Mark J. Larsen (formerly an officer and director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc., a subsidiary which was sold on June 1, 2005) over the shares reported as beneficially owned, excluding the shares subject to forfeiture. Voting and dispositive powers for certain shares are shared by or more of the listed holders. Such shares are reported opposite each holder having a shared interest therein, but are only included once in the shareholdings of the group presented in the table.
| | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | | Total | | | |
Name of | | Voting Rights | | Dispositive Rights | | Beneficial | | Percent | |
Beneficial Owner | | Sole | | Shared | | Sole | | Shared | | Ownership | | of Class(1) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
John L. Larsen(2) | | | -0- | | | 12,184,733 | | | -0- | | | 12,184,733 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 71.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Keith G. Larsen(2) | | | -0- | | | 12,184,733 | | | -0- | | | 12,184,733 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 71.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Harold F. Herron(3) | | | 3,466 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 3,466 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 12,188,199 | | | 71.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Don C. Anderson(4) | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | 12,024,733 | | | 70.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
H. Russell Fraser(4) | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | 12,024,733 | | | 70.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Michael T. Anderson (4) | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | 12,024,733 | | | 70.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Michael Feinstein(4) | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | -0- | | | 12,024,733 | | | 12,024,733 | | | 70.2 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Daniel P. Svilar(5) | | | 156,850 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 156,850 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 12,341,583 | | | 72.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
R. Scott Lorimer(6) | | | -0- | | | 12,184,733 | | | -0- | | | 12,184,733 | | | 12,199,733 | | | 71.3 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
All officer and Directors of USE as a Group (nine persons)(7) | | | 160,316 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 160,316 | | | 12,184,733 | | | 12,360,049 | | | 72.2 | % |
(1) Percent of class is computed by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned plus any options held by the reporting person, by the number of shares outstanding plus the shares underlying options held by that person.
(2) Consists of 12,024,733 Crested shares held by USE, 100,000 shares held by SGMC and 60,000 shares held by Plateau Resources Limited Inc. ("Plateau"), with respect to which shared voting and dispositive powers are exercised as a director with the other directors of those companies.
3) Consists of 3,466 directly held shares over which Mr. Herron exercises sole voting and investment powers, and the 12,024,733 Crested shares held by USE, 100,000 held by SGMC and 60,000 shares held by Plateau, with respect to which shared voting and dispositive powers are exercised as a USE, SGMC and Plateau director with the other directors of those companies.
(4) Consists of 12,024,733 Crested shares held by USE which shared voting and dispositive powers are exercised as a director with the other directors of USE.
(5) Consists of 156,850 directly held shares, over which Mr. Svilar exercises sole voting and dispositive powers. Also includes 12,024,733 Crested shares held by USE, 100,000 held by SGMC and 60,000 shares held by Plateau, with respect to which shared voting and dispositive powers are exercised as a USE, SGMC and Plateau directors with the other directors of those companies.
(6) Consists of 12,024,733 Crested shares held by USE, 100,000 held by SGMC and 60,000 shares held by Plateau. Total Beneficial Ownership includes 15,000 shares which are subject to forfeiture. None of the company's directors exercise any voting or dispositive powers over these shares. Such powers are exercised by the Crested non-employee director.
(7) Sole voting and dispositive rights are exercised over 160,316 directly held shares. Shared voting and dispositive rights are exercised over 12,024,733 shares held by USE, 100,000 shares held by SGMC and 60,000 shares held by Plateau. The total beneficial ownership includes 15,000 shares held by an employee which are subject to forfeiture.
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
Family Employment. Three of John L. Larsen's sons and one grandson are employed by USE or subsidiaries. Collectively, Mr. Larsen and these family members received $1,114,500 in total compensation for services during the twelve months ended December 31, 2005, including benefits and ESOP contributions.
Transactions Involving USECC and Crested. USE and Crested conduct most activities through their equally-owned joint venture USECC. From time to time USE and Crested advance funds to or make payments on behalf of USECC, which create intercompany debt. The party extending funds is subsequently reimbursed by the other venturer. Crested owed USE $10,821,800 at December 31, 2005.
Stock Options in UPC Held by an Employee. Chris M. Healy, Vice-President of exploration for USE , is a director of Uranium Power Corp., a public company traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange. UPC is buying a 50% interest in certain uranium properties owned by, and is a joint venture partner in a mining venture agreement with, USE and Crested. For services on the UPC board of directors, Mr. Healy has been granted options to purchase 200,000 shares of UPC common stock at Cdn.$0.50 per share. Mr. Healy is not a director, nor is he an executive officer, of USE or Crested.
Participation by Officers, Directors and Employees in Stock Ownership of Subsidiaries. Historically, our business strategy has been, and will continue to be, acquiring grass roots and/or developed mineral properties when commodity prices are low (such as they have been, in the past, in natural gas, gold, uranium and molybdenum), then operating, selling, leasing or joint venturing the properties, or selling the companies we set up to hold and explore or develop the properties to other companies in the mineral sector when prices are moving upward.
Typically, projects initially are acquired, financed and operated by USE and Crested in their joint venture. From time to time, some of the projects are later transferred to separate companies organized for that purpose, with the objective of raising capital from an outside source for further development and/or joint venturing with other companies. Examples of this corporate strategy are, for gold properties, Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (formerly Globemin Resources Inc., a publicly traded British Columbia company, which acquired Sutter Gold Mining Company, and then changed its name to Sutter Gold Mining Inc.); and Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. for coalbed methane gas. Additional subsidiaries have been organized but are not yet active: U.S. Uranium Ltd. for uranium, and U.S. Moly Corp. for molybdenum.
Initial ownership of these subsidiaries is by USE and Crested, with additional stock (plus options) issued by the subsidiary company’s board of directors to the officers, certain of the directors, and employees of USE. Additional stock and/or options may be issued to other persons with experience specifically related to the subsidiary company’s projects. The stock, and the options, will be forfeited if the individual’s employment is terminated for any reason except retirement. The subsidiary stock is issued to officers, directors and employees for nominal cash consideration. The subsidiary ownership percentages will vary, but in general, officers, directors and employees of USE collectively would not own more than 10% (on an initial fully diluted basis, including options), and USE and Crested would own 90%. USE’ and Crested’s participation in that 90% will depend on the properties and funding which each contributes to the subsidiary at inception. Subsequent investments by third parties would dilute the stock ownership of all the initial owners.
On the disposition of a subsidiary company through a merger, sale of assets, or other transaction, the equity positions in subsidiary companies held by officers, directors and employees of USE will be entitled to receive the same consideration (pro rata) as the equity positions of USE, Crested and third party investors; no preferential terms will be accorded to the officers, directors and employees. If a subsidiary becomes a public company through an underwritten initial public offering, some or all of the equity held by USE, Crested and the individuals might be subject to lock up restrictions for a period of time following the offering. Typically, those lock up restrictions would apply equally (have the same duration) for USE and Crested, and for the officers and directors, although equity held by non-management employees might not be locked up.
The profitability (if any) of the stock in the subsidiaries owned USE, Crested, and the individuals, will not be known until a disposition or a successful public offering occurs. A subsidiary company may be merged, its assets sold, or otherwise disposed of without the transaction being subject to a vote by the shareholders of USE and Crested, in which event the shareholders of USE and Crested would be relying on the judgment of the directors of USE and Crested who do not own stock or hold options to buy stock in the subsidiary.
On June 1, 2005, Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. was sold to Enterra Energy Trust. USE and Crested, and the other shareholders of RMG, including employees and officers and directors of USE, received compensation in this transaction. For information on such compensation, please see the proxy statement for the annual shareholders’ meeting held in July 2005.
As of the date of this proxy statement, USE and Crested, and their officers, certain of their directors, and their employees, own stock and options to buy stock in the subsidiaries shown below. Information about subsidiaries, which are not now active or expected to become active in 2005, is not shown.
· | U.S. Uranium Ltd. (“USUL”) has issued options to purchase a total of 3,080,000 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $0.25 per share, to officers, directors and employees of USE and Crested. All these options have a 10 year life and vest at the rate of 20% for 5 years. In 2006, it is possible that USUL will issue stock to these individuals, and will issue stock to USE and Crested for certain uranium properties to be transferred into USUL in 2005. The percentage ownership of USE and Crested would be approximately 90% on a combined basis, after the properties are transferred. USUL has not yet commenced operations and the uranium properties to be transferred into USUL have not yet been identified. |
· | U.S. Moly Corp. (“USMC”) has issued options to purchase a total of 3,080,000 shares of common stock, at an exercise price of $0.25 per share, to officers, directors and employees of USE and Crested. All these options have a 10 year life and vest at the rate of 20% for 5 years. In 2006, it is possible that USMC will issue stock to these individuals for nominal cash consideration, and will issue stock to USE and Crested for the Mt. Emmons, Colorado molybdenum properties, along with other rights and obligations associated with those properties. The percentage ownership of USE and Crested would be approximately 90% on a combined basis, after the properties are transferred. USMC has not yet commenced operations. |
· | Sutter Gold Mining Inc. (“SGMI”) is owned 64.2% by USE; 1.5% by Crested; and 4% by officers and some of the directors of USE and Crested. Options to purchase 1,500,000 shares are held by officers and directors of USE and Crested; additional options are held by USE employees, and also by officers and directors of SGMI who are not affiliated with USE or Crested . In 2006, SGMI plans to resume exploration activities on its gold property in California. |
Payment of Cash Bonuses. From time to time, USE pays cash bonuses to officers and employees, for example, a holiday bonus is usually paid each year. In addition, bonuses are paid from time to time for exemplary service. As an example, a bonus totaling $470,750 was paid in 2005 to certain employees, including officers (and Mark J. Larsen as former president of RMG) for the successful completion of the Enterra transaction. Of that amount, officers received $140,000; Mark Larsen as former president of RMG received $150,000; outside directors of USE received $20,000 and outside directors of RMG received $15,000. In the future, bonuses likely will be paid on the successful completion of similar transactions, for bringing an industry partner into a minerals project, or in connection with the acquisition of a business or significant properties. This form of compensation would be in addition to the benefits which would be realized by the officers and directors because of their ownership in a subsidiary which is sold, or which receives industry partner or institutional funding.
In addition, bonuses likely will be paid upon the conclusion of the litigation involving Nukem, which began in the early 1990s. Management has devoted extraordinary time to this litigation over the past 15 years, in addition to running the business. Neither the amount of the total bonus which would be paid, nor the allocation among individuals, will be determined until after the Nukem litigation has been finally resolved. However, the total bonus package could be from 10% to 25% of the total cash award, assuming we receive a cash award on final resolution. And, it is likely that bonuses would be paid even if USE and Crested do not receive a cash award. In this regard, we note that USE and Crested have received net cash awards in the past from this litigation (approximately $15 million in 1998). The bonus package will be determined by the independent directors of USE after consultation with the employees and outside counsel that were involved after final resolution of the litigation. Like most matters in litigation, the timing of such resolution, or the amount of awards (if any) cannot be predicted.
ITEM 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Previously reported in the Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2005.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by an undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| | CRESTED CORP. |
| | (Registrant) |
| | |
| | |
| | |
Date: May 3, 2006 | By: | /s/John L. Larsen |
| | JOHN L. LARSEN, |
| | CEO and Vice President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| | |
| | |
| | |
Date: May 3, 2006 | By: | /s/ John L. Larsen |
| | JOHN L. LARSEN, Director |
| | |
| | |
Date: May 3, 2006 | By: | /s/ Daniel P. Svilar |
| | DANIEL P. SVILAR, Director |
| | |
| | |
Date: May 3, 2006 | BY: | /s/ Harold F. Herron |
| | HAROLD F. HERRON, Director |
| | |
| | |
Date: May 3, 2006 | BY: | /s/ Keith G. Larsen |
| | KEITH G. LARSEN, Director |
| | |
| | |
Date: May 3, 2006 | By: | /s/ Robert Scott Lorimer |
| | ROBERT SCOTT LORIMER |
| | Principal Financial Officer and |
| | Chief Accounting Officer |