PAGE 1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K /X/ Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 or / / Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the Transition period from to ------------ ------------- Commission File No. 0-1764 AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION ---------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) Colorado 83-0178547 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) P.O. Box 2713 82602 Casper, Wyoming (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (307) 265-7912 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Name of each exchange Title of each class on which registered ------------------- --------------------- None ---- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, 4 cent par value ------------------------------ (Title of Class) 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 registrant 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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. /X/ Based upon the bid prices of the common stock on January 31, 1997 of $0.001 per share, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held on that date by non-affiliates of the registrant was $7,677. Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of December 31, 1996: 4 cent par value - 7,696,739 This report consists of pages, including 2 pages constituting the cover page. PAGE 2 PART I ------ Item 1. Business. ------- --------- Discontinuance of Operations The Company's uranium mining and milling activities were discontinued in 1982 as a result of the depressed market price for uranium concentrate. Thereafter the Company offered its inactive mill tailings ponds as a location for the disposal and reclamation of large amounts of mill tailings previously generated by another uranium producer. Those efforts over several years did not result in award of a disposal contract to the Company. In 1984 the Company began reclamation of its milling site, as required by federal and state law. In 1988, the Company decommissioned its uranium mill and began reclamation of the mill site. In 1990 the Company shifted its efforts from uranium, for which the market price remained depressed, to the new and developing industry of byproduct material disposal for various uranium ore processors. The Company fulfilled several such disposal contracts between 1990 and 1993. After extensive marketing efforts, it became apparent that the byproduct disposal business would not produce revenues adequate to sustain the Company's operations unless it raised adequate capital for expanding the byproduct disposal business into a large commercial byproduct disposal operation. The Company's efforts in 1992 and 1993 to raise additional capital from investors were not successful. Starting in 1993, the Company advertised its mining properties for sale to raise funds for development of the commercial disposal operation through a sale of its principal asset, the Peach mining properties. The Company's efforts to sell its mining properties in 1993 and early 1994 were not successful. While potential purchasers continued to express interest through early 1994, the Company did not receive any offer greater than the amount of the debt due to Cycle Resource Investment Corporation (CRIC) that was secured by a mortgage against the properties. Inability to sell the mining properties, lack of capital, and lack of revenues from both its uranium properties and its byproduct disposal business deprived the Company of operating capital. The mining properties were the only major asset of the Company, and selling them to raise working capital was the Company's only remaining means to stay in business. The Company determined to discontinue business operations during May 1994, to liquidate its miscellaneous property, and to pay its current liabilities and other expenses associated with an orderly closing of business operations. Marketability of Common Stock Effective May 9, 1994, the Company's common stock was delisted and removed from the NASDAQ Small Cap Market. There is no regular trading market for the Company's common stock. Isolated trades may occur on the electronic bulletin board. PAGE 3 Development of Business Before Discontinuance in 1994 American Nuclear Corporation, the Company, was incorporated in 1955 as one of the first uranium exploration companies formed after the commercial importance of uranium as a source of energy and fuel was realized. The Company acquired uranium mining properties by locating mining claims and purchasing other mining claims. Uranium Mining for Atomic Energy Commission and Others Starting in 1959 the Company was engaged, with its partner, Federal Resources Corporation, in mining and milling uranium concentrates in the Gas Hills area in central Wyoming for sale to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and various utilities that supply electricity. The mining was conducted by open pit surface mining. The mill was also operated on a custom basis to mill uranium ores for other uranium producers. The Atomic Energy Commission discontinued purchases in 1971 when its inventory goals and strategic plans were met and a United States uranium industry had been created. The partnership continued to operate its mill for producing its own properties and custom milling of uranium ores for other producers for sales to commercial users. Expansion of Uranium Industry in the 1970's The modern uranium industry was shaped in the 1970s in response to growth in nuclear power generation by utilities. The embargoes of imports of foreign oil in the early 1970s caused an energy crisis in the United States and resulted in increased construction of nuclear power plants and plans for more plants. Demand for uranium increased significantly from spot prices for short-term deliveries of less than $10 per pound of uranium concentrate in 1971 to more than $40 per pound by 1978. Tennessee Valley Authority Agreements In 1972 the Company entered into an arrangement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), an agency wholly owned by the United States, for the joint acquisition of uranium properties to be produced for use by TVA to fuel its nuclear power plants. In 1973 Federal American Partners leased its mining properties to TVA. From 1979 through 1982, the partnership mined its properties and milled its ores for TVA. In the late 1970's annual production reached a level of 1.2 million pounds of uranium concentrates per year. TVA discontinued the operations in 1982 because world-wide production of uranium concentrates exceeded demand and it cost less to purchase from inventoried uranium stocks than to mine and mill. A total of 14.5 million pounds of uranium concentrates had been produced through the mill over its operating life. PAGE 4 Termination of Tennessee Valley Authority Agreements In 1984 the Company acquired the uranium mill and associated lands from the partnership, and it also acquired approximately one-half of the uranium lands it had jointly held and explored with TVA. These lands, consisting of approximately 2,700 acres of uranium properties, are known as the Peach properties. In May 1994 when the Company discontinued business, the Peach properties were the Company's only principal asset. They were subject to a mortgage held by Cycle Resource Investment Corporation (CRIC), which commenced foreclosure in November 1995. The Company subsequently lost title to the Peach properties as a result of that foreclosure and the transfer of its equity of redemption. In 1984 TVA also placed approximately $3.8 million cash in a $4.1 million reclamation bond fund with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to assure the DEQ and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that the reclamation obligations of TVA, the Company and the partnership for the mill site would ultimately be performed. The Company began reclamation of the land at the mill site in 1984. TVA also entered into a management agreement with the Company under which, in exchange for management fees, the Company closed the mining operations, returned leased mining equipment, and sold the other mining equipment for TVA's account. The Company's entire financial obligation to TVA for the Company's cost of acquiring and exploring its interests in the uranium properties was eliminated. Status of Uranium Business After the Tennessee Valley Authority terminated its mining activities in 1982 that were conducted through the Company's partnership called Federal American Partners, the Company has ceased to be engaged in mining or milling uranium. The Company identified significant quantities of uranium resources in the ground among its uranium properties, but market prices were never adequate thereafter to enable the properties to be economically mined. The market for uranium remained low, and it was still not economically feasible to mine the Company's uranium properties at those prices. Imports of foreign uranium at low prices, especially from Russia and Canada, and excess inventories of uranium were the primary factors that dampened prices to a low of approximately $7.15 per pound in 1991. In 1993 and 1994, spot prices for short-term deliveries of uranium were approximately $9.50 per pound. In efforts to generate working capital, the Company, during the fourth quarter of 1993, offered its mineral properties for sale. No purchase offers that exceeded the CRIC debt against the properties were received. Therefore, in May 1994 the Company was forced to discontinue all its business operations due to lack of operating capital. For a more complete discussion of the uranium properties formerly held by the Company, see Item 2, Properties. PAGE 5 Reclamation of Mill Site and Tailings Ponds Based upon the Company's determination in 1988 that use in the future of its uranium processing mill would not comply with the revised licensing requirements of the NRC, the Company began demolition of the mill in 1988 and completed that work in 1989. Before the Company's discontinuance of operations in 1994, the Company had undertaken substantial reclamation work on the mill site as required by the NRC and the DEQ. The mill and associated buildings were dismantled and the building materials were buried in one of the two adjacent tailings ponds where the processed ores produced by the mill (mill tailings) were impounded after milling. The mill tailings in the two impoundments were graded by earth moving equipment into mounds covering approximately 40 and 80 acres respectively. A cover of native earth was placed over the mounds of mill tailings, and the tailings piles were allowed to settle and compact naturally. The reclamation work is not complete and includes filling and shaping the side slopes of the tailings piles to such a grade as to preclude erosion of the soil cover that would allow erosion of the tailings, placing a final cover of earth over the tailings to limit emission of radon gas into the atmosphere to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, applying erosion protection to the piles and associated drainages, and revegetating and fencing the site. Byproduct Material Disposal Starting in 1990 the Company shifted most of its efforts to a developing industry of byproduct material disposal. Byproduct material consists of waste generated from ores processed by others for their uranium or thorium content. Federal regulations require the generators of these low level radioactive materials to dispose of them in licensed depositories. In part because the Company's mill site was undergoing reclamation work to stabilize the mill tailings, which are low level radioactive materials, the NRC initially granted permission in the fall of 1990 for the Company to accept byproduct materials totaling 1,100 cubic yards from four generators under four specific waste disposal contracts. After the NRC authorized receipt of the initial byproduct material, the NRC amended the Company's license in September of 1991 to authorize it to receive and dispose of an additional 12,500 cubic yards of material from other sources. The material terms of the disposal contracts that were completed by the Company required the generator of the byproduct materials to deliver them to the Company's mill site. The byproduct material was placed on the surface of the mill tailings impoundment number one, compacted and covered with an interim cover of native soils. The addition of the byproduct materials reduced the volume of earthen fill material that ultimately must be placed on the mill tailings to meet the reclamation design requirements. The income received on account of past disposal contracts generated revenues for the Company of $322,624, $318,814, and $120,352 from operations in 1993, 1992, and 1991, respectively. These contracts were completed, and there were no disposal revenues in 1994 or thereafter. PAGE 6 During May 1994 the Company notified the NRC and the DEQ that it was discontinuing all business operations and would be unable to perform under the approved reclamation plan. All byproduct disposal activities, which had been conducted as part of the approved reclamation work, were discontinued at that time. Abandonment of Efforts to License Commercial Byproduct Disposal During 1993 the Company abandoned its efforts to obtain new licenses from the NRC and DEQ to establish a commercial byproduct disposal business near its mill site that was undergoing reclamation. In order to complete the environmental studies required for the new licenses, continue to pursue its license applications, and take other steps for opening such a business, the Company sought to raise $5 million to $8 million through private placements of its common stock. When this effort proved unsuccessful in 1993, the Company terminated further efforts to enter the commercial byproduct disposal business. Termination of Byproduct Disposal and Discontinuance of Business The Company did not realize adequate revenues from its byproduct disposal business commenced in 1990 to fund its operations. Since 1991 the Company relied for a large part of its operating capital upon loans by Cycle Resource Investment Corporation (CRIC), holder of approximately 30 percent of the Company's outstanding stock. The Company was unable to obtain additional loans from CRIC or any other source after 1993. The Company's efforts to raise capital by placement of its common stock were unsuccessful. The Company was not able to obtain joint ventures or long term supply contracts for exploitation of its uranium properties in the future when market prices for uranium were expected to be higher. In efforts to repay its loan to CRIC and to raise additional capital to continue its reclamation work over the next several years as required by law, the Company in 1993 offered its uranium properties for sale. Through May 1994, several prospective buyers expressed interest in purchasing the uranium properties, but no purchase offers were received that were greater than the CRIC debt. The uranium properties could not be sold under those circumstances. Due to the lack of a sale of its uranium properties and limited operating capital, the Company was compelled to discontinue all business operations during May 1994. At the time the Company discontinued business operations, it was unable to continue required reclamation work at the level required by law. The DEQ declared the Company in default of its reclamation obligations and began reclamation bond forfeiture proceedings against the Company. These proceedings resulted in forfeiture of the bond fund of $3,213,255 to the State of Wyoming in October 1994. The Company has continued to monitor the reclamation site, as ordered by the NRC and required by the terms of the NRC license. The Company expects that reclamation of the mill site will ultimately be performed by the DEQ to the extent of the available funds. The state of Wyoming has assumed certain NRC license obligations under conditions that limit its ultimate liability. The Company will continue to be the licensee and responsible for all NRC license requirements. By statute the DEQ may hold the company liable for any reclamation costs incurred by the DEQ in excess of the bond. The total reclamation cost for which the Company remains obligated will not be known for several years until reclamation work is completed. PAGE 7 Financial Information About Industry Segments In 1991 the Company entered into the business of uranium byproduct material disposal. Between 1982 and that time, the Company's only business was winding down its former mining operations with the partnership and TVA and maintaining its uranium properties with the intent of eventually producing uranium concentrate. Before it discontinued its business operations in May 1994, the Company had no foreign operations or export sales. It had not segregated its business activities into geographic areas within the United States except to the extent that its operations were located within Wyoming. Potential Unasserted Reclamation Liabilities The Company's reclamation work and its discontinued byproduct materials disposal business activities were and are highly regulated by the NRC and Wyoming DEQ, which have licensing authority and jurisdiction. The Company's reclamation fund of $3,213,255 was declared forfeited by the DEQ in 1994 and acquired by the DEQ to be applied to the reclamation costs of the mill site. Even though the Company discontinued its business operations in May 1994, it remains liable for completion of the reclamation and the cost of any reclamation work that is not funded by the bond fund and other funds of the Company transferred to the state of Wyoming. Employees As of December 31, 1996, the Company had no employees. Item 2. Properties ------- ---------- The Peach properties previously held by the Company consisted of unpatented mining claims located on the public domain of the United States in the Gas Hills area of central Wyoming. The Company had been unable to mine the properties or sell them to another uranium producer because of the continued low market price for uranium. The Peach properties, which were previously the Company's major asset, were subject to a mortgage given to secure a loan made by Cycle Resource Investment Corporation (CRIC). The Company was unable to pay the loan, and in 1995 CRIC instituted foreclosure against the Peach properties. The foreclosure sale was held in November 1995, and CRIC was the high bidder at the foreclosure sale, bidding the principal loan amount of $2,031,200 plus interest and costs. In 1996, before the end of the Company's right to redeem the properties from foreclosure for a total redemption price of approximately $3,000,000, which would have finally terminated all interest of the Company in the Peach properties, the Company transferred its interest in the properties, including its right to redemption for approximately $146,000. PAGE 8 Item 3. Legal Proceedings. ------- ----------------- There are no legal proceedings pending against the Company. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. ------- --------------------------------------------------- No matters for decision were submitted to a vote of shareholders during the year ended December 31, 1996. PART II ------- Item 5. Market For Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters. ------- ------------------------------------------------- Through January 1994 the common stock of the Company was traded over-the-counter on the NASDAQ national market system. Effective February 1, 1994 the Company's common stock began trading on the NASDAQ small cap market under the symbol ANUC. Effective May 9, 1994 the Company's common stock was delisted and removed from the NASDAQ small cap market. Trades between market makers may occur on the over the counter bulletin board. The range of high and low sales prices of the stock for each calendar quarter period during the past three years through May 9, 1994, as quoted by NASDAQ, are given in the following table. The over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down, or commission, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. Price Ranges (closing bid) For Calendar Years Ended December 31 ------------------------------------ 1996 1995 1994 ------ ------ ------ Low High Low High Low High ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- First Quarter ..... .001 .001 0.001 0.001 0.12 0.25 Second Quarter ..... .001 .001 0.001 0.001 0.09 0.15 Third Quarter ..... .001 .001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 Fourth Quarter ..... .001 .001 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.001 <FN> <F1> (a) The low and high prices for the stock on January 31, 1997 were $.001 and $.001. <F2> (b) Based solely upon the number of record holders, the approximate number of stockholders of the common stock of the Company as of January 31, 1997 was 1716. <F3> (c) No dividends have been declared with respect to the common stock during the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994. </FN> PAGE 9 Item 6. Selected Financial Data. - ------- ----------------------- Year Year Year Year Year Ended Ended Ended Ended Ended December December December December December 31,1996 31,1995 31,1994 31,1993 31,1992 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ($000's are omitted except per share amounts) INCOME STATEMENT Revenue From Discontinued Operations $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- $ 323 $ 319 Net Income (Loss) $ 205 $ 386 $(4,991) $(4,074) $ (381) BALANCE SHEET Working Capital(1) $ 154 $ (62) $ (391) $(2,214) $(1,590) Total Assets $ 257 $ 218 $ 72 $ 9,845 $13,413 Total Liabilities $ -0- $ 167 $ 406 $ 5,189 $ 4,683 Long-Term Obligations $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- $ 2,786 $ 2,913 Common Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) $ 257 $ 51 $ (335) $ 4,656 $ 8,730 LOSS PER COMMON SHARE(2) Income (loss) from Operations $0.03 $ 0.05 $ (0.65) $ (0.53) $ (0.05) Dividends Paid Per Common Share $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- <FN> <F1> (1) Exclusive of assets held for sale. <F2> (2) The weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994 were 7,696,739 all three years. </FN> PAGE 10 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. ------- ------------------------------------------------- (See, in addition to Selected Financial Data, the financial statements of the Company referred to in Item 14) Discontinuation of Operations The Company's efforts to sell its mining properties, starting in 1993, were unsuccessful, preventing it from raising operating capital necessary to continue in business. As a result, the Company discontinued business operations in May 1994. Inability to sell its properties and lack of capital and revenues deprived the Company of operating capital. The Company determined to discontinue operations during May 1994 and to liquidate its miscellaneous property and to pay a portion of its current liabilities and other expenses associated with an orderly closing of business operations. These financial statements have been prepared on a liquidation basis. Results of Operations During 1996 the Company continued to monitor the reclamation site in accordance with NRC and Wyoming DEQ regulations. The funds were provided primarily through payments received during 1995 and 1996 from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program Title X federal funds. During 1995 and 1996 the Company applied, under the Title X federal program administered by the (DOE), for reimbursement of some of the expenses of reclamation work it has previously performed to clean up its mining and milling site. The Company's claim was for approximately $734,000 of which the Company received $ 229,707 and $175,555 during 1995 and 1996 respectively. The remaining payment is expected to be paid over the next several years. Under the prevailing law and agreements with the Wyoming DEQ, and under the terms of the license and order of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that requires the Company to continue to monitor the site, the funds and any future funds that may be received under this program will be applied by the Wyoming DEQ and the Company to reclamation and ongoing monitoring and maintenance obligations over the next several years, including payments to the Company's independent contractors to perform monitoring services. None of the money will be applied to claims of creditors, and no funds will be available for distribution to shareholders because the reclamation obligations are projected to exceed any of the funds that become available. The DEQ has notified the Company that the reclamation bond may be deficient by as much as $3 million. The DEQ has statutory authority to sue the Company for the bond deficiency. The DEQ has entered into an agreement with the Company providing that the state will not bring a deficiency action in court if the Company transfers Title X funds to the state to be applied to the deficiency and used by the state to perform reclamation. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which had asserted a right to the funds based on its 1984 contract with the Company, released the Company from such claims due to an agreement between TVA and the state. The agreement between the Company and DEQ provides that the Company and DEQ will use the DOE Title X funds primarily toward monitoring and reclamation of the mill site in accordance with the NRC reclamation plan. PAGE 11 During 1995 CRIC foreclosed upon the Company's Peach properties for non-payment of its $2,031,200 loan. The loan plus accrued interest totaled approximately $3,000,000 at November 28,1996, the end of the one year redemption period the Company had to reacquire the properties. General and administrative expenses increased approximately 43% compared to the 1995 reported general and administrative expenses due to the ongoing and ultimately the finalization of agreements between the Company, NRC and DEQ and the sale of the Peach property redemption rights. General and administrative expenses decreased approximately 54% and 67% during the years ended December 31,1996 and 1995 compared to 1994 due to the discontinuance of operations during 1994. In December 1993, the Company determined that its decision to sell its primary uranium properties rather that hold the properties for future potential development required greater consideration be given to in-ground market values and the Company's financial position. The Company determined its range of potential loss for the mineral properties to be from approximately $3 million to approximately $7 million. Because of the Company's continuing process to solicit bids for its mineral properties, the lack of an active market for in-ground uranium reserves, and uncertainties as to the ultimate intent of the major shareholder, management was unable to determine at that time whether any amount in that range provided a better estimate than any other amount. Therefore, in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. (Statement) 5, Accounting for Contingencies, a $3 million property impairment was recognized during 1993 which represents a 31% reduction in the mineral property valuation at December 31, 1993. In March 1994, after the Company's efforts to sell the uranium properties failed, the uranium properties were written down to the amount of the CRIC notes, for which the uranium properties were collateral. Management determined that a $4,200,000 write-down in the carrying value of the Company's uranium properties was warranted. The valuation of the uranium properties at approximately $2.2 million equaled the $2.2 million debt obligations to CRIC. CRIC commenced foreclosure upon the properties during 1995. During 1996 the Company sold its redemption rights for approximately $146,000 since it had no way of repaying the outstanding debt. On August 31, 1994 the Company abandoned, through non-payment of the $100 per claim annual rental fees due on that date, 500 mining claims with a remaining book value of $-0-. During December 1993 and March 1994, mineral property impairments of $3 million and $4.2 million, respectively, for the remaining mining claims were recorded. During 1996 and 1995 there were no property abandonments or mineral property impairments. Reclamation reimbursements of $175,555 and $229,707 were received from the DOE during 1996 and 1995 respectively. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 1994 was $125,660. Interest expense for the years ended December 31,1996 and 1995 were zero due to the foreclosure by CRIC upon the Company's Peach properties. PAGE 12 Liquidity and Capital Resources During 1994 the Company discontinued operations due to the lack of operating capital. For financial reporting purposes the Company has offset its $219,000 contractual obligations towards incompleted byproduct disposal contracts and $173,000 obligation to third parties for payments they made to the Wyoming DEQ upon the reclamation bond forfeiture. These liabilities totaling $392,000 were recognized as income because the Company has no way of repaying the obligations under liquidation basis accounting. The remaining Company cash deposits are being utilized to maintain compliance as long as possible with the NRC license requirements. The state of Wyoming declared the Company in default of its reclamation obligations when the Company terminated its business operations in May 1994. Subsequently the reclamation bond fund of $3,213,255 was acquired by the DEQ through forfeiture proceedings. The bond fund had been funded in the full amount fixed by the DEQ, and approved by the NRC, as the entire cost of completing the required reclamation work and performing under the Company's license. The reclamation requirements have been changed and the amount required to perform the reclamation under the new requirements increased. By state of Wyoming statute, the Company is liable for any cost overruns, none of which exist at this time. The Company expects to be able to continue in compliance with the licensing requirements through 1999. The Company's working capital at December 31,1996 was $154,000 compared to a deficit at December 31, 1995 of $163,000, while at December 31, 1994 the deficit was $390,000. The increased working capital during 1996 is the direct result of the sale of the Company's redemption right for $146,000 and DOE reclamation reimbursement of $176,000. The reduced working capital deficit during 1995 occurred because of the method used in reporting the unpaid liabilities as income during 1995. The reduced working capital deficit during 1994 occurred because of the method used in reporting the offset of the CRIC debt against the mineral properties. The past three years the Company has relied upon the payment of funds from the DOE Title X reclamation reimbursements to continue the required ongoing reclamation and monitoring obligations of the Company. On August 24, 1993, the Company reached an agreement with Cycle Resource Investment Corporation (CRIC), a stockholder, for CRIC to increase its total loans to $2,031,200. The Company was not able to repay the notes on August 31, 1993 when due. On January 20, 1994, the payment date for this $2,031,200 debt plus approximately $143,000 in accrued interest was extended to June 30, 1994. CRIC foreclosed upon the Company's Peach properties in the approximate amount of $2,750,000 during 1995. Since the Company was not able to sell the properties prior to the extended due date of the notes on June 30, 1994, and had no other funds to continue as a going concern, the Company was unable to prevent foreclosure of the Peach properties. The remaining Company cash deposits are being utilized to maintain compliance, as long as possible, with the NRC license monitoring requirements. During 1996 the Company sold its redemption rights related to the Peach mineral properties for approximately $146,000. PAGE 13 Income Taxes See Note 2 to Financial Statements included in Item 14 herein. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. ------- ------------------------------------------- See Item 14 of this report. Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. ------- --------------------------------------------- Due to the Company's discontinuance of business operations in 1994, the Company dismissed its independent auditors, Mitchell - Finley and Company, on January 26, 1995. PART III -------- Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant. -------- -------------------------------------------------- The following table sets forth certain information concerning directors and executive officers of the Company: Year Name and All Positions First Became Currently Held With A Director/ the Corporation Age Officer --------------- --- ------------ William C. Salisbury, President 49 1993 Director 1993 Dennis A. Eckerdt, Secretary 48 1994 Chief Financial Officer 1991 Director 1992 <FN> The executive officers of the Company serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and do not have fixed terms. </FN> Business Experience of Directors and Officers The principal occupations of each officer for at least the past five years are as follows: PAGE 14 William C. Salisbury was appointed President of the Company in August 1993. He served in that office until August 1995 when he became the Secretary and Treasurer of the Company. He was reappointed President during 1996. He is currently self-employed as a consultant providing land management, environmental and regulatory services to the Company and other natural resources companies. From October 1991 until his appointment as President, he was Vice President of the Company, and from October 1990 to October 1991 he was manager of special projects for the Company. From July 1983 to October 1990 he was a self-employed consultant providing land management, environmental and regulatory services to the Company and other natural resource companies. From November 1970 to July 1983 he was manager of land and contracts for the Company. He was appointed to the Board of Directors in August 1993. Dennis A. Eckerdt became President of the Company in August 1995. He resigned as President during 1996 and was reappointed as Secretary/Treasurer. He was previously the Chief Financial Officer since November 1991. He is currently General Manager of a Denver Colorado Corporation. From July 1995 through January 1997 he was employed as Controller for a Boulder Colorado Corporation. Prior to July, 1995, he was self-employed. Prior to his self-employment, he was Controller for Centennial Media Corporation and Denver Directory Company from November 1988, through August 1991. From November 1985, to November 1988, he was employed as Controller for Video Exchange, Inc. From February 1972, to November 1988, he held various accounting titles and positions with the Company including Controller and Chief Financial Officer. He was also a Director of the Company from 1984 through 1988 and was reappointed to the Board of Directors in August 1992. The Company's executive officers and directors are required to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the Company's securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required under provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based solely on the information provided to the Company by individual directors and executive officers, the Company believes that during the last fiscal year all directors and executive officers have complied with applicable filing requirements. Item 11. Executive Compensation. -------- ----------------------- Cash Compensation The following table shows all cash compensation paid or to be paid by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, as well as other compensation paid or accrued during the fiscal years indicated to the Chief Executive Officer and the four other highest paid executive officers of the Company as of the end of the Company's last fiscal year whose salary and bonus for such period in all capacities in which the executive officer served exceed $100,000. PAGE 15 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE Long Term Compensation ---------------------- Annual Compensation Awards Payouts ------------------- --------------------- ----------------- (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) Other Restricted All Annual Stock LTIP Other Name and Principal Compen- Award Options/ Payouts Compen- Position Year Salary($) Bonus($) sation($) ($) SARs ($) sation($) - ------------------ ---- --------- -------- --------- ---------- -------- ------- --------- William C. Salisbury(1) 1996 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- President 1995 --- --- --- --- --- --- $37,360(3) 1994 $46,896 --- $6,558(2) --- --- --- $53,500(3) - ----- <FN> <F1> President from August 1993 until August 1995 then from May 1996 to the present time. <F2> Contributions to the Company's money purchase pension plan established to provide retirement benefits to employees. The plan was terminated in 1994. <F3> After employment as chief executive officer was terminated as of May 31, 1994, upon the close of the Company's business, other compensation was received for services performed in winding up the Company's business and reclamation obligations. </FN> The executive officers of the company serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and do not have fixed terms. Executive officers generally are elected at the annual director meeting immediately following the annual stockholder meeting. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be served thereby without prejudice, however to contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed. The Company's policy is to pay employees, upon termination of employment by the Company, severance pay equal to one week of their salary for each full year of employment. The officers are not employees of the company. There are no family relationships among the directors. There are no arrangements of understandings between any director and any other person pursuant to which that director was elected. Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management. -------- -------------------------------------------------------------- The following table shows beneficial ownership of shares of the Company's outstanding common stock as of the record date (i) by all persons, insofar as is known to the Company, owning more than 5% of such stock and (ii) by each director, each director nominee, each of the executive officers named in the tables under "Executive compensation" and all directors and executive officers as a group: PAGE 16 Amount and Nature of Name of Positions and Beneficial Percent of Title of Class Beneficial Owner Offices Held Ownership Class - -------------- ---------------- ------------ --------- ---------- Common Stock William C. Salisbury President 4,024 * Director Common Stock Dennis A. Eckerdt Secretary 0 0% Director Common Stock Cycle Resource Shareholder 2,300,000 29.9% Investment Corporation 300 Atlantic Avenue Stamford, CT 06901 Common Stock General Electric Capital Shareholder 593,072 7.7% Corporation 260 Long Ridge Road Stamford, CT 06902 Common Stock All directors and Officers and 4,024 * executive officers as Directors a group (2 persons) - --------------- <FN> *Less than one percent </FN> Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions -------- ---------------------------------------------- Cycle Resource Investment Corporation (CRIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of NUKEM, Inc., loaned the Company a total of $2,031,200 for operating capital. The loan was evidenced by notes due June 30, 1994 with interest at three percent over the prime rate. The notes were considered paid in full upon foreclosure of the Peach properties by CRIC in 1995. Salt Ridge Energy, Inc., which is wholly owned by Mr. Salisbury, was paid $77,769 during 1996 and $51,000 during 1995 for site monitoring work, reclamation obligations, and winding up the Company's business during October 1995 through December 1997. PAGE 17 PART IV ------- Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K. -------- ------------------------------------------------------- (a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report: 1. Financial Statements: - Balance Sheets, December 31, 1996 (unaudited), December 31, 1995, (Unaudited) and December 31, 1994 (Unaudited). - Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) for the years ended December 31,1996 (Unaudited), 1995, (Unaudited), and 1994 (Unaudited). - Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1996 (Unaudited), 1995 (Unaudited), and 1994 (Unaudited). - Notes to Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 1996 (Unaudited), 1995 (Unaudited), and 1994 (Unaudited). All other schedules are omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which they are required or because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto. (b) Reports on Form 8-K. -------------------- A report on Form 8-K was filed on January 27, 1995, reporting the Company's dismissal of its independent auditors due to the Company's discontinuance of business operations in 1994. c) Exhibits. -------- Exhibit Sequential Number Description Page No. - ------- ----------- EX-3.1(i).1 Restated Articles of Incorporation, dated October 28, 1991 (incorporated herein by reference from the exhibits to Registrant's report filed on Form 10-Q dated September 30, 1992). EX-3.(ii).1 Bylaws, dated August 15, 1980 (incorporated herein by reference from the exhibits to Registrant's report filed on Form 10-Q dated October 10, 1980). EX-3.(ii).2 Amendment to Bylaws, dated December 7, 1994 incorporated herein by reference from the exhibits to Registrant's Report filed on Form 8-K dated January 27, 1995. EX-27 Financial Data Schedule. PAGE 18 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. REGISTRANT: AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION By: (Signature) -------------------------------- William C. Salisbury, President Date: March 15, 1997 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. By: (Signature) --------------------------------------- Dennis A. Eckerdt, Secretary, Treasurer and Director Date: March 15, 1997 By: (Signature) --------------------------------------- William C. Salisbury, President, and Director Date: March 15, 1997 PAGE 19 AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 1996 (Unaudited), 1995 (Unaudited), and 1994 (Unaudited) ASSETS - ------ December 31, December 31, December 31, 1996 1995 1994 NOTES (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) ----- ----------- ----------- ----------- CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 154,137 $ 3,974 $ 16,121 ----------- ----------- ---------- Total current assets 154,137 3,974 16,121 ----------- ----------- ---------- OTHER ASSETS: Reclamation deposit 1 113,232 Other 102,700 101,358 55,841 ----------- ----------- --------- Total other assets 102,700 214,590 71,962 ----------- ----------- ---------- TOTAL $ 256,837 $ 218,564 $ 71,962 =========== =========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - ------------------------------------ CURRENT LIABILITIES: Trade accounts payable $ 53,979 $ 14,724 Deferred revenue 219,000 Other current liabilities 113,232 173,000 ----------- ----------- ---------- Total current liabilities -0- 167,211 406,724 ----------- ----------- ---------- ESTIMATED RECLAMATION COSTS 1 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 1 REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK 3 PAGE 20 AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 1996 (Unaudited), 1995, (Unaudited), and 1994 (Unaudited) LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - ------------------------------------ December 31, December 31, December 31, 1996 1995 1994 NOTES (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) ----- ----------- ----------- ----------- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: 3 Common stock (7,696,739 shares standing) 314,080 314,080 314,080 Additional paid-in capital 13,304,849 13,304,849 13,304,849 Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (12,732,965) (12,938,450) (13,324,545) Less cost of common stock held in treasury (629,126) (629,126) (629,126) ------------ ----------- ----------- Stockholders' equity (deficit) 256,837 51,353 (334,762) ------------ ----------- ----------- TOTAL $ 256,837 $ 218,564 $ 71,962 ============ =========== =========== See notes to financial statements. PAGE 21 AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS (ACCUMULATED DEFICIT) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (Unaudited), 1995 (Unaudited), and 1994 (Unaudited) Year Ended Year Ended Year Ended December December December 31, 1996 31, 1995 31, 1994 NOTES (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) ----- ----------- ----------- ----------- REVENUE FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS: Total revenues from discontinued operations -0- -0- -0- ------------ ------------ ------------ DISCONTINUED EXPENSES: General and administrative 96,936 67,786 208,701 Reclamation 1 80,984 182,180 668,146 Impairments and abandonments 1 4,200,000 ------------ ------------ ------------ Total discontinued operating expenses 177,920 249,966 5,076,847 OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE): Reclamation Reimbursement 175,555 229,707 DEQ Interest income 9,624 4,374 178,833 Gain (loss) on sale of investments and other 10,000 32,628 Interest expense (125,660) Other Income 198,226 392,000 ------------ ------------ ------------ NET INCOME (LOSS) 205,485 386,115 (4,991,046) RETAINED EARNINGS (Accumulated Deficit): Beginning of period (12,938,450) (13,324,565) (8,333,519) ------------ ------------ ------------ End of period $(12,732,965) $(12,938,450) $(13,324,565) ============ ============ ============ NET LOSS BEFORE DISCONTINUED OPERATION PER SHARE $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- DISCONTINUED OPERATION PER SHARE $ 0.03 $ 0.05 $ (0.65) ------------ ------------ ------------ NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE $ 0.03 $ 0.05 $ (0.65) ============ ============ ============ WEIGHTED-AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING 1 7,696,739 7,696,739 7,696,739 ============ ============ ============ See notes to financial statements. PAGE 22 AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (Unaudited), 1995 (Unaudited), AND 1994 (Unaudited) Year Year Year Ended Ended Ended December December December 31, 1996 31, 1995 31, 1994 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) ----------- ----------- ----------- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income (loss) $ 205,485 $ 386,115 $(4,991,046) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities: Mining property impairment 4,200,000 Depreciation and amortization 6,544 Reclamation Expense 473,000 Decrease (increase) in Assets: Reclamation deposit 113,232 (113,232) 3,011,871 Reclamation deposit income receivable 3,392 Plant and Equipment (Net) 85,176 Other assets (1,343) (45,517) 20,560 Increase (decrease) in Liabilities: Accrued interest payable (142,929) Trade accounts payable (53,979) 39,255 6,918 Deferred revenue (219,000) 16,500 Other liabilities (113,232) (59,768) Estimated reclamation costs ( 3,213,290) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash from operating activities 150,163 (12,147) (523,304) ----------- ----------- ----------- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of investment securities (2,772,000) Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities 2,772,000 Additions to mining properties, plant and equipment (688) ----------- ----------- ----------- Net cash flows from investing activities -0- -0- (688) ----------- ----------- ----------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds recorded from pending foreclosure on mineral properties 2,297,811 Borrowing (payments to/from) stockholder (2,031,200) Borrowings from others 173,000 Borrowing (payments on long-term debt) (63,800) ----------- ----------- ----------- (Continued on following page) PAGE 23 Net cash flows from financing activities -0- -0- 375,811 ----------- ----------- ----------- NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 150,163 (12,147) (148,181) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 3,974 16,121 164,302 ----------- ----------- ----------- CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD 154,137 $ 3,974 $ 16,121 =========== =========== =========== SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Interest paid $ -0- $ -0- $ 129,908 =========== =========== =========== Issuance of stock for ESOP contribution $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- =========== =========== =========== Issuance of stock for stock bonus $ -0- $ -0- $ -0- =========== =========== =========== See notes to financial statements. PAGE 24 AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (Unaudited), 1995 (Unaudited), AND 1994 (Unaudited) 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Liquidation Basis of Presentation --------------------------------- The accompanying unaudited 1996, 1995 and 1994 financial statements have been prepared on a liquidation basis, which recognized the realization of assets and the satisfaction of a portion of the liabilities during 1996, 1995 and 1994. The statements of operations and retained earnings and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. As of December 31, 1996 the Company's current assets exceed current liabilities by approximately $154,000. The Company's current assets are reserved for site reclamation and mill site monitoring. For financial reporting purposes the Company has offset its $219,000 contractual obligations towards uncompleted byproduct disposal contracts and $173,000 obligation to third parties for payments they made to the Wyoming DEQ upon the reclamation bond forfeiture. These liabilities totaling $392,000 were recognized as income during 1995 because the company has no way of repaying the obligations under liquidation basis accounting. The remaining Company cash deposits are being utilized to maintain compliance with the NRC license requirements as long as possible. Per Share Amounts ----------------- Per share amounts are computed on the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the respective periods. Shares under option and warrants have been disregarded because their effect is anti-dilutive. Major Customer ---------------- The Company had no customers in 1996, 1995 and 1994. Statement of Cash Flows ----------------------- For purposes of the Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. PAGE 25 Reclamation of Mill Site and Tailings Ponds ------------------------------------------- Liabilities for estimated reclamation costs are recognized and charged to operations for remedial activities when the cleanup becomes probable and the cost can be reasonable estimated. Based upon the Company's determination that use in the future of its uranium processing mill would not comply with the revised licensing requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Company began demolition of the mill in 1988 and completed that work in 1989. Since then the Company has undertaken substantial reclamation work on the mill site as required by the NRC and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The mill and associated buildings have been dismantled and the building materials buried in one of the two adjacent tailings ponds where the processed ores produced by the mill (mill tailings) were impounded after milling. The mill tailings in the two impoundments have been graded by earth moving equipment into mounds covering approximately 40 and 80 acres respectively. A cover of native earth has been placed over the mounds of mill tailings, and the tailings piles are being allowed to settle and compact naturally. The remaining reclamation work consists of filling and shaping the side slopes of the tailings piles to such a grade as to preclude soil erosion and exposure of the tailings, placing a final cover of earth over the tailings to limit emission of radon gas into the atmosphere to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, applying erosion protection to the piles and associated drainages, and revegetating and fencing the site. When the Company discontinued business operations, the DEQ began reclamation bond forfeiture proceedings against the Company. These proceedings resulted in bond forfeiture in October 1994. The reclamation of the mill site will now be performed by the DEQ to the extent of the available funds. The Company continues to be responsible for all NRC license requirements until such time as the license is terminated or transferred to another responsible entity by the NRC. The state of Wyoming has indicated that it will not assume the NRC license, but will consent to certain reclamation obligations. By statute the DEQ may recover reclamation costs in excess of the bonded amount from the Company. The total reclamation cost will not be known for several years but the State has notified the Company that a potential $3 million cost overrun may exist and the Company remains liable for any costs in excess of the reclamation deposit. 2. INCOME TAXES. The Company adopted Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, as of January 1, 1993. There was no cumulative effect of this change in accounting for income taxes. Prior years' financial statements have not been restated to apply the provisions of Statement 109. At December 31, 1996 the Company had approximately $20.0 million of net operating loss carryovers which expire during 1997 through 2009. The Company also has investment tax and new jobs credit carryovers of approximately $40,000 and $200,000, respectively, which are available to be offset against future income taxes through 1999. The future utilization of both net operating loss and credit carry-overs are subject to rules and regulations of the internal revenue service that could be significant. PAGE 26 3. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY The Company has authorized 25,000,000 shares of $.04 par value common stock. Changes in common stock issued and outstanding during the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 were as follows: Common Stock ----------------------------------------- Held in Issued Treasury (at cost) Additional ------------------- ------------------- Paid-in Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital --------- -------- ------- --------- ----------- Balance, December 31, 1994 7,852,183 $314,080 155,444 $(629,126) $13,304,849 --------- -------- ------- --------- ----------- Balance, December 31, 1995 7,852,183 $314,080 155,444 $(629,126) $13,304,849 --------- -------- ------- --------- ----------- Balance, December 31, 1996 7,852,183 $314,080 155,444 $(629,126) $13,304,849 ========= ======== ======== ========= =========== Redeemable Preferred Stock -------------------------- The Company has authorized 15,000,000 shares of $1 par value Series A preferred stock with a liquidation value of $10.00 per share. There were no outstanding preferred shares during the periods ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994. Stock Warrants ------------- The Company had warrants outstanding for the purchase of 49,020 shares of common stock, exercisable at $0.875 per share, which expired on August 26, 1995. Employee Stock Ownership Plan ------------------------------ The Company had an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for the benefit of its employees. Contributions to the Plan were made at the Company's discretion. On March 6, 1992 the Board of Directors resolved to terminate the ESOP and replace it with a money purchase plan. The money purchase plan received approval by a vote of the shareholders on June 17, 1992. During the year ended December 31, 1992, the Company made contributions to the Plan of 5,272 shares of the Company's common stock. At December 31, 1994 the Plan held 4,235 shares of the Company's common stock for the account of prior participating employees that cannot be located. On December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 the common stock had relatively no market value. PAGE 27 Non-qualified Stock Options --------------------------- There were no options exercised during the three years ended December 31, 1996 and there were no outstanding options under this Plan at December 31,1996. 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan -------------------------------- As of December 31,1996 there were no stock options outstanding under the 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan. 1992 Stock Option Plan In Lieu of Directors Fees ------------------------------------------------ This plan was terminated by the Board of Directors on January 13, 1994 because the extremely low price of the Company's common stock resulting in the granting of options in amounts which were considered excessive by the Board of Directors. Money Purchase Pension Plan --------------------------- During 1992 the Company adopted a Money Purchase Pension Plan (herein "Plan"), with a plan year ending each December 31, whereby the Company contributed to all participants. The Company accrued contributions of $11,705, for 1994. The Money Purchase Pension Plan was terminated in 1994 upon termination of all of the Company's employees. Employment Agreements --------------------- The Company had no employment contracts with any employees at December 31, 1996.