UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant X Filed by a party other than the Registrant
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Check the appropriate box:
Preliminary Proxy Statement
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CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE
--- 14A-6(E)(2))
X Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to '240.14a-12
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U.S. ENERGY CORP.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
X No fee required.
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(I)(1) and 0-11.
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1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
U.S. ENERGY CORP.
MINERALS PLAZA, GLEN L. LARSEN BUILDING
877 NORTH 8TH WEST
RIVERTON, WYOMING 82501
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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We are pleased to give you notice of our Annual Meeting of Shareholders:
Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Time: 10:00 AM MDT
Place: 877 North 8th West, Riverton, Wyoming 82501
Purpose: - Elect two directors to serve until the third succeeding
annual meeting of shareholders, and until their successors have
been duly elected or appointed and qualified;
- Amend the 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan to increase the
number of shares authorized for issue on exercise of options to
always be a number equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock;
- Ratify appointment of the independent auditor; and
- Transact any other business that may properly come before
the meeting.
Record Date: April 16, 2004. The stock transfer books will not be closed.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting,
please complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in
the enclosed envelope. We appreciate your cooperation.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Dated: May 21, 2004 Daniel P. Svilar, Secretary
INFORMATION ABOUT ATTENDING THE ANNUAL MEETING
Only shareholders of record on April 16, 2004 may vote at the meeting. Only
shareholders of record, and beneficial owners on the record date, may attend the
meeting. If you plan to attend the meeting, please bring personal identification
and proof of ownership if your shares are held in "street name" (i.e., your
shares are held of record by brokers, banks or other institutions). Proof of
ownership means a letter or statement from your broker showing your ownership of
shares on the record date.
A list of shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available
for inspection by any record shareholder at the Company's principal executive
offices in Riverton, Wyoming. The inspection period begins two days after the
date this Notice is mailed and ends at the conclusion of the meeting.
U.S. ENERGY CORP.
MINERALS PLAZA, GLEN L. LARSEN BUILDING
877 NORTH 8TH WEST
RIVERTON, WYOMING 82501
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2004
The Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2003, is mailed to shareholders together with these proxy materials on or about
May 21, 2004. The proxy materials consist of this proxy statement and notice of
annual meeting, the Annual Report, and the Audit Committee Certification, and
the Nominating Committee Charter.
This proxy statement is provided in connection with a solicitation of
proxies by the board of directors of U.S. Energy Corp. for use at the annual
meeting of shareholders (the "meeting") to be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 and
at any adjournments of the meeting.
WHO CAN VOTE
If you held any shares of common stock on the record date (April 16, 2004),
then you will be entitled to vote at the meeting. If you held stock in your own
name, you may vote directly. If you owned stock beneficially but in the record
name (street name) of an institution, you may instruct the record holder how to
vote when the record holder contacts you about voting and gives you the proxy
materials.
COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING ON THE RECORD DATE: 13,658,645 SHARES
QUORUM AND VOTING RIGHTS
A quorum for the meeting will exist if a majority of the voting power of
the shareholders is present at the meeting, in person or represented by properly
executed proxy delivered to us prior to the meeting. Shares of common stock
present at the meeting that abstain from voting, or that are the subject of
broker non-votes, will be counted as present for determining a quorum. A broker
non-vote occurs when a nominee holding stock in street name or otherwise for a
beneficial owner does not vote on a particular matter because the nominee does
not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not
received voting instructions from the beneficial owner.
You are entitled to one vote for each share of U.S. Energy Corp. common
stock you hold, except that in the election of directors you may cumulate your
votes. Cumulative voting generally allows each holder of shares of common stock
to multiply the number of shares owned by the number of directors being elected,
and to distribute the resulting number of votes among nominees in any proportion
that the holder chooses. Nominees in number equal to the seats to be filled, who
receive a plurality of votes cast, are elected. If you abstain from voting, your
shares will not be counted for or against any director.
The proposal to amend the 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan, and the
proposal to ratify management's appointment of independent auditors, each will
be approved if the number of votes cast in favor exceed the number of votes
opposed for each proposal, in accordance with Wyoming law.
Any other matter which properly comes before the meeting would be approved
if the number of votes cast in favor exceed the number of votes opposed, unless
Wyoming law requires a different approval ratio.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of
directors. Abstentions as to all other matters which properly may come before
the meeting will be counted as votes against those matters. Broker non-votes as
to all other matters will not be counted as votes for or against, and will not
be included in calculating the number of votes necessary for approval of these
matters.
HOW YOUR PROXY WILL BE VOTED; RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The board of directors is soliciting a proxy in the enclosed form to
provide you with the opportunity to vote on all matters scheduled to come before
the meeting, whether or not you attend in person.
The board of directors recommends you vote in favor of the nominees for
directors, in favor of amending the 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan, and in
favor of ratifying management's re-appointment of the audit firm.
GRANTING YOUR PROXY
If you sign properly and return the enclosed form of proxy, your shares
will be voted as you specify. If you make no specifications, your proxy will be
voted in favor of all proposals.
We expect no matters to be presented for action at the meeting other than
the items described in this proxy statement. However, as permitted by SEC rule
14a-4(c), the enclosed proxy will confer discretionary authority with respect to
any other matter that may properly come before the meeting, including any matter
of which we did not have notice at least 45 days before the date of mailing
proxy materials for last year's meeting. The persons named as proxies intend to
vote in accordance with their judgment on any matters that may properly come
before the meeting.
REVOKING YOUR PROXY
If you submit a proxy, you may revoke it later or submit a revised proxy at
any time before it is voted. You also may attend the meeting in person and vote
by ballot, which would cancel any proxy you previously submitted.
PROXY SOLICITATION
We will pay all expenses of soliciting proxies for the meeting. In addition
to solicitations by mail, arrangements have been made for brokers and nominees
to send proxy materials to their principals, and we will reimburse them for
their reasonable expenses. We have not hired a solicitation firm for the
meeting. Our employees and directors will solicit proxies by telephone or other
means, if necessary; these people will not be paid for these services.
REQUIREMENT AND DEADLINES FOR SHAREHOLDERS TO SUBMIT PROXY PROPOSALS
Generally, we hold the annual meeting on the first Friday of each June.
Under the rules of the SEC, if a shareholder wants us to include a proposal in
our proxy statement and form of proxy for presentation at our Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held in June 2005, the proposal must be received by us in
writing at least 150 calendar days in advance of the meeting date (which would
be approximately 120 days in advance of the mailing date), at U.S. Energy Corp.,
877 North 8th West, Riverton, Wyoming 82501; Attention: Daniel P. Svilar,
Secretary.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, AUDIT COMMITTEE, COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, AND NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. The board of directors, which held eleven formal
meetings in 2003, has primary responsibility for directing management of the
business. The board currently consists of seven members. All members attended at
least nine of the meetings. The board conferred informally on several other
occasions during the fiscal year. From time to time the directors also approve
various matters by consent minutes without conducting formal meetings.
ATTENDANCE BY DIRECTORS AT ANNUAL MEETINGS. Although most of the directors
attend annual meetings of shareholders, we do not require such attendance. One
director attended the annual meeting in June 2003, but five members were
available by telephone. The directors attended the regular meeting of the board
of directors following the 2003 annual meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM SECURITY HOLDERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Security
holders may send communications to the board of directors, by addressing their
communications to Keith G. Larsen, President and a director, or John L. Larsen,
Chief Executive Office and a director, at 877 N. 8th W., Riverton, Wyoming
82501. The independent directors have established a process for collecting and
organizing communications from security holders. Pursuant to this process, Keith
and John Larsen will determine which of the communications address matters of
substance and which should be considered by all directors, and will send those
communications to all the directors for their consideration.
AUDIT COMMITTEE. To provide effective direction and review of fiscal
matters, the board has established an audit committee. The audit committee has
the responsibility of reviewing our financial statements, exercising general
oversight of the integrity and reliability of our accounting and financial
reporting practices, and monitoring the effectiveness of our internal control
systems. The audit committee also recommends selection of an auditing firm and
exercises general oversight of the activities of our independent auditors,
principal financial and accounting officers and employees and related matters.
The members of the audit committee are Don Anderson, H. Russell Fraser, and Mike
Anderson, all of whom are independent directors under criteria established by
rule 4200(a)(15) adopted by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"). Mike Anderson was appointed to the audit committee in April 2003,
replacing Nick Bebout who resigned from the audit commitee.
The board of directors has determined that Mike Anderson is an audit
committee financial expert as defined in rule 401(h) of the SEC's regulation
S-K.
The audit committee has reviewed our financial statements for the twelve
months ended December 31, 2003 and discussed them with management. The committee
also discussed with the independent audit firm the various matters required to
be so discussed in SAS 63 (Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU
380). The committee received the written disclosure and the letter from the
independent audit firm as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No.
1 (Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, Independence Discussions with
Audit Committee), and the committee discussed with the audit firm their
independence. Based on the foregoing, the audit committee recommended to the
board of directors that the audited financial statements be included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003, which
was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2004.
The audit committee has adopted a written charter, a copy of which was
included in the proxy statement for the June 2003 Annual Meeting (a copy will be
next included with proxy materials for the 2006 Annual Meeting).
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The Company has a compensation committee, whose
members were Nick Bebout, Harold F. Herron, and H. Russell Fraser. Recently, Mr.
Herron resigned so that this committee would be comprised of directors who are
independent under criteria established by the NASD. This committee met formally
on one occasion during the twelve months ended December 31, 2003, and discussed
compensation matters informally several times throughout the fiscal year.
The compensation committee reviews and recommends to the board of directors
compensation packages for the officers of U.S. Energy Corp. and subsidiaries
(but not Crested Corp. which has its own compensation committee). The committee
takes into account the need for different types of executives (administrative,
financial, engineering, etc.), and the pay arrangements which corporations of
similar size have adopted in our industry on both the national and local levels.
Items considered include the experience of and contribution made (or to be made
for new hires or promotions) by each person, and the methods of paying them
(principally salary and stock options). In addition, the compensation committee
reviews and recommends to the board of directors the granting of stock options
to non-executive employees.
Compensation packages for the executive officers are approved by vote of
the independent directors.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The executive committee members are Keith G. Larsen,
John L. Larsen, Harold F. Herron, Nick Bebout and H. Russell Fraser. This
committee helps implement the board of directors' overall directives as
necessary. This committee usually does not conduct formal meetings (none were
held in 2003).
NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND NOMINATING PROCESS. When needed as determined by
the board of directors, the nominating committee considers and recommends to the
board of directors individuals who may be suitable to be nominated to serve as
directors. H. Russell Fraser and Don Anderson are the nominating committee
members; they are independent under criteria established by the NASD.
The nominating committee has adopted a written charter regarding the
Company's director nomination process. This charter is not available on the
company's website, but is included with this proxy statement. Copies also are
available on request (without charge) addressed to Daniel P. Svilar, Secretary,
U.S. Energy Corp., 877 North 8th West, Riverton, Wyoming 82501.
Pursuant to its charter, the nominating committee has adopted a policy for
consideration of any director candidates recommended by security holders, and
may (or may not) recommend to the board of directors that candidate(s) be put on
an Annual Meeting election slate and identified in the Company's proxy
statement, if:
* At least 150 calendar days before the meeting date, the security
holder requests in writing that the nominating committee consider an
individual for inclusion as a director nominee in the next proxy
statement for an Annual Meeting. The security holder must identify the
individual and provide background information about the individual
sufficient for the committee to evaluate the suggested nominee's
credentials. Such requests should be addressed to Keith G. Larsen,
President, or John L. Larsen, Chief Executive Officer, who will
forward the requests to the nominating committee.
* The candidate meets certain specific minimum qualifications:
Substantial experience in top or mid-level management (or serving as a
director) of public mineral exploration companies, with particular
emphasis on understanding and evaluating mineral properties for either
financing, exploration and development, or joint venturing with
industry partners; contacts with mining or oil and gas industry
companies to develop strategic partnerships or investments with the
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Company; and the ability to understand and analyze complex financial
statements. A security holder-recommended candidate also will have to
possess a good business and personal background, which the nominating
committee will independently verify. These same categories of
qualifications will be used by the nominating committee in considering
any nominee candidate, whether recommended by a security holder, an
officer, or another director.
* Although all security holder-recommended candidates, and all
candidates recommended by another director or by an officer, will be
evaluated by the nominating committee in good faith, the full board of
directors, by majority vote, will make the final decision whether to
include an individual on an Annual Meeting election slate and
identified in the proxy statement for that Annual Meeting.
* For the 2004 Annual Meeting, or for the next Annual Meeting, the
nominating committee has not received a request from any security
holder for consideration of a nominee candidate.
Both of the current director nominees for election at the 2004 Annual
Meeting are incumbent directors standing for re-election, except for Mike
Anderson, who was appointed by the board of directors in April 2003 to fill a
vacancy.
MANAGEMENT COST APPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE, established by USE and Crested in
1982, reviews the apportionment of costs between USE and Crested. John L. Larsen
and Robert Scott Lorimer are members of this committee.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY
The following is a list of all record holders who, as of the record date
for this Annual Meeting, beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding
shares of common stock, and the outstanding common stock beneficially held by
each director and nominee, and by all officers and directors as a group, as
reported in filings with the SEC, or as otherwise known to us. This list
includes shares held by Mark J. Larsen, an officer and director of a subsidiary,
but not an officer or director of the Company. Except as otherwise noted, each
holder exercises the sole voting and dispositive powers over the shares listed
opposite the holder's name, excluding the shares subject to forfeiture and those
held in ESOP accounts established for the employee's benefit. Dispositive powers
over the forfeitable shares held by employees who are not officers and a
non-employee director ("Forfeitable Shares") are shared by the Company's board
of directors. Voting and dispositive powers over forfeitable shares held by the
Company's five executive officers ("Officers' Forfeitable Shares") are shared by
the Company's non-employee directors (Messrs. Don Anderson, Mike Anderson,
Bebout and Fraser). The ESOP Trustees (John L. Larsen and Harold F. Herron)
exercise voting powers over non-allocated ESOP shares and dispositive powers
over all ESOP shares. It should be noted that voting and dispositive powers over
certain shares are shared by one or more of the listed holders. Such securities
are reported opposite each holder having a shared interest therein.
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Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
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Name and address Voting Rights Dispositive Rights Total Percent
------------------ -------------------
of beneficial owner Sole Shared Sole Shared Beneficial Ownership of Class(1)
------------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------------------- -----------
John L. Larsen*(2) 926,594 1,011,076 926,594 1,379,776 2,428,890 17.8%
201 Hill Street
Riverton, WY 82501
Keith G. Larsen*(3) 670,960 820,415 628,174 835,595 1,492,695 10.9%
4045 Valley Green Circle
Riverton, WY 82501
Harold F. Herron*(4) 253,674 973,226 235,625 1,337,426 1,607,870 11.8%
877 N. 8th W.
Riverton, WY 82501
Don C. Anderson*(5) 89,807 420,720 89,807 443,400 533,207 3.9%
P. O. Box 680
Midway, UT 84049
Nick Bebout*(6) 76,858 428,220 76,858 450,900 527,758 3.9%
4424 Skylane Drive
Riverton, WY 82501
H. Russell Fraser*(7) 68,252 422,020 68,252 444,700 512,952 3.8%
3453 Southfork Road
Cody, WY 82414
Michael T. Anderson*(8) -0- 420,720 -0- 443,400 443,400 3.2%
933 Main Street
Lander, WY 82520
Daniel P. Svilar**(9) 501,147 818,915 501,147 817,915 1,431,742 10.5%
580 S. Indiana Street
Hudson, WY 82515
R. Scott Lorimer**(10) 469,963 812,915 418,906 812,915 1,357,998 10.2%
11 Korrel Court
Riverton, WY 82501
Mark J. Larsen**(11) 317,488 4,600 286,184 -0- 317,488 2.3%
513 Westchester Circle
Riverton, WY 82501
All officers and
directors as a group
(ten persons)(12) 3,374,743 1,463,196 3,231,547 1,814,296 5,189,039 38.0%
----------------
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* Director
** Officer (Mr. Mark Larsen is president of the Company's majority-owned
subsidiary Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc., but not an officer of the Company).
(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) Mr. John L. Larsen exercises sole voting powers over 275,511 directly
owned shares, 106,000 shares held in joint tenancy with his wife, 500 shares
held in a street name account for his benefit, 50,683 shares held in an
Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") established for his benefit, and 493,900
shares underlying options. The directly owned shares include 27,500 shares
gifted to his wife, that have remained in Mr. Larsen's name. He exercises
shared voting rights over 42,350 shares held directly by his wife, 155,811
shares held by the ESOP, which have not been allocated to accounts established
for specific beneficiaries, and shares held by corporations of which Mr. Larsen
is a director consisting of 512,359 shares held by Crested Corp. ("Crested"),
125,556 shares held by Plateau Resources Limited ("Plateau"), and 175,000 shares
held by Sutter Gold Mining Company ("SGMC"). Mr. Larsen shares the voting
rights over such shares with the other directors of those corporations. Mr.
Larsen shares voting powers over the unallocated ESOP shares in his capacity as
an ESOP Trustee with the other ESOP Trustees. Shares over which sole
dispositive rights are exercised consist of 275,511 directly owned shares,
106,000 joint tenancy shares, 500 shares held in street name, 50,683 shares held
in his IRA, and the 493,900 shares underlying options. The directly owned
shares include 27,500 shares gifted to his wife, that have remained in Mr.
Larsen's name. Shared dispositive powers are exercised over 42,350 shares
directly held by wife, 501,831 shares held by the ESOP, 22,680 Forfeitable
Shares, 512,359 shares held by Crested, 125,556 shares held by Plateau and
175,000 shares held by SGMC. The shares listed under "Total Beneficial
Ownership" also include 145,200 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
(3) Mr. Keith Larsen exercises sole voting rights over 26,774 directly
held shares, 7,500 shares as custodian over shares held for his minor children
under the Wyoming Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (the "Custodial Shares"),
42,786 shares held in an ESOP account established for his benefit, 593,900
shares underlying options. He exercises shared voting rights over 7,500 shares
held directly by his minor children and shares held by corporations of which
Mr. Larsen is a director consisting of 512,359 shares held by Crested, 125,556
shares held by Plateau, and 175,000 shares held by Sutter. Mr. Larsen shares
the voting rights over such shares with the other directors of those
corporations. Mr. Keith Larsen exercises sole dispositive rights over 26,774
directly held shares, 7,500 Custodial shares, and 593,900 shares underlying
options. He exercises shared dispositive rights over 22,680 Forfeitable Shares
512,359 shares held by Crested, 125,556 shares held by Plateau and 175,000
shares held by SGMC. The shares listed under "Total Beneficial Ownership" also
include 8,820 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
(4) Mr. Herron exercises sole voting powers over 50,425 directly owned
shares, 11,000 shares held in an IRA established for his benefit, 4,500
Custodial Shares, 169,700 shares underlying options, and 18,049 shares held in
the ESOP account established for his benefit. Shared voting powers are
exercised over 4,500 Custodial shares, 155,811 shares held by the ESOP which
have not been allocated to accounts established for specific beneficiaries,
512,359 shares held by Crested, 125,556 shares held by Plateau, and 175,000
shares held by Sutter. Sole dispositive powers are exercised over 50,425
directly held shares, 11,000 shares held in his IRA, 4,500 Custodial Shares and
169,700 shares underlying options. Mr. Herron exercises shared dispositive
rights over 501,831 shares held by the ESOP, 512,359 shares held by Crested,
125,556 shares held by Plateau and 175,000 shares held by SGMC, and 22,680
Forfeitable Shares. Mr. Herron exercises shared dispositive and voting powers
over the shares held by Crested, Sutter and Plateau as a director of those
companies with the other directors of those companies and over the ESOP shares
in his capacity as an
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ESOP Trustee with the other ESOP Trustees. The shares listed under "Total
Beneficial Ownership" also include 39,450 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
(5) Mr. Don Anderson exercises sole voting powers over 34,252 directly
held shares, 3,055 shares held in an IRA established for his benefit, and 52,500
shares underlying options. He exercises shared voting powers over 420,720
Officers' Forfeitable Shares. Mr. Anderson exercises dispositive power over
34,252 directly held shares, 3,055 IRA shares, and 52,500 shares underlying his
options. He exercises shared dispositive powers over the 22,680 Forfeitable
Shares and 420,720 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
(6) Mr. Bebout exercises sole voting rights over 24,308 shares held
directly, 50 shares held in joint tenancy with his wife, and 52,500 shares
underlying options. He exercises shared voting rights over 420,720 Officers'
Forfeitable Shares, and 7,500 shares held by private companies of which he is a
director and officer. Mr. Bebout exercises sole dispositive rights over 24,308
shares held directly, 50 joint tenancy shares, and 52,500 shares underlying his
options. He exercises shared dispositive powers over 22,680 Forfeitable Shares,
420,720 Officers' Forfeitable Shares, and 7,500 shares held by the private
companies of which he is a director and officer.
(7) Mr. Fraser exercises sole voting rights over 10,752 directly held
shares, 4,000 shares held in an IRA for his benefit, 1,000 shares held in a
street name account for his benefit and 52,500 shares underlying options. He
exercises shared voting rights over 1,300 shares held directly by his wife and
420,720 Officers' Forfeitable Shares. Mr. Fraser exercises sole dispositive
rights over 10,752 directly held shares, 4,000 IRA shares, 1,000 held in a
street name account for his benefit and 52,500 shares underlying his options.
He exercises shared dispositive powers over 1,300 wife's shares, 22,680
Forfeitable Shares, and 420,720 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
(8) Mr. Mike Anderson exercises shared voting powers over 420,720
Officers' Forfeitable Shares. He exercises shared dispositive powers over the
22,680 Forfeitable Shares and 420,720 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
(9) Mr. Svilar exercises sole voting powers over 77,439 directly owned
shares, 2,125 shares held in joint tenancy with his wife, 26,053 shares held in
an IRA established for his benefit, 630 shares held in a street name account
established for his benefit, 1,000 Custodial Shares, and 393,900 shares
underlying options. He exercises shared voting over 512,359 shares held by
Crested 125,556 shares held by Plateau, and 175,000 shares held by Sutter,
1,000 Custodial shares and 5,000 shares held by a private corporation of which
he is a director and officer. He exercises sole dispositive power over 77,439
directly held shares, 2,125 joint tenancy shares, 26,053 IRA shares, 630 street
name shares, 1,000 Custodial Shares, and 393,900 shares underlying his options.
Mr. Svilar exercises shared dispositive rights over 512,359 shares held by
Crested, 125,556 shares held by Plateau and 175,000 shares held by SGMC and
5,000 shares held by a private corporation of which he is a director and
officer. The shares listed under "Total Beneficial Ownership" also include
112,680 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
(10) Mr. Lorimer exercises sole voting rights over 66,673 directly held
shares, 51,057 shares held in the ESOP account established for his benefit, and
352,233 shares underlying options. He exercises shared voting over 512,359
shares held by Crested, 125,556 shares held by Plateau, and 175,000 shares held
by Sutter. He exercises sole dispositive rights over 66,673 directly held
shares, and 352,233 shares underlying options. Mr. Lorimer exercises shared
dispositive rights over 512,359 shares held by Crested, 125,556 shares held by
Plateau and 175,000 shares held by SGMC. The shares listed under "Total
Beneficial Ownership" also include 75,120 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
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(11) Mr. Mark Larsen is listed in the table because he is president of
Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. ("RMG"), a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company
through which the Company conducts its primary business. He exercises sole
voting over 15,554 shares held directly, 4,600 Custodial Shares, 31,304 shares
held in the ESOP account established for his benefit, and 266,030 shares
underlying options. He exercises shared voting rights over 4,600 Custodial
shares. Mr. Larsen exercises sole dispositive rights over 15,554 shares held
directly, 4,600 Custodial shares, and 266,030 shares underlying his options.
(12) The group exercises sole voting rights over 581,688 directly held
shares, 109,175 shares held in joint tenancy, 94,791 shares held in IRAs, 1,130
shares held in street name, 17,600 Custodial Shares, 143,196 ESOP shares and
2,427,163 shares underlying options. Shared voting rights are exercised over
43,650 shares held in IRA accounts for spouses, 17,600 shares held by minor
children, 420,720 Officers' Forfeitable Shares, 155,811 shares held in the ESOP
which are not allocated to plan participants, 512,359 shares held by Crested,
125,556 shares held by Plateau, 175,000 shares held by SGMC, and 12,500 shares
held by private corporations. The sole dispositive shares consist of 581,688
directly held shares, 109,175 shares held in joint tenancy, 94,791 shares held
in IRAs, 1,130 shares held in street name, 17,600 Custodial Shares, and
2,427,163 shares underlying options. The group exercises shared dispositive
rights over 43,650 shares held in IRA accounts for spouses, 501,831 shares held
in the ESOP, 512,359 shares held by Crested, 125,556 shares held by Plateau,
175,000 shares held by SGMC, 12,500 shares held by private corporations, 22,680
Forfeitable Shares, and 420,720 Officers' Forfeitable Shares.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES OF COMPANY SUBSIDIARY - CRESTED
CORP.
The following table sets forth, as of the record date for this Annual
Meeting, the shares of common stock of the Company's majority-owned (71.5%)
subsidiary, Crested Corp., as a group. Unless otherwise noted, the listed record
holder exercises sole voting and dispositive powers, held by each director and
nominee of U.S. Energy Corp., and by all officers and directors of U.S. Energy
Corp., and by Mark J. Larson (an officer and director of a subsidiary) over the
shares reported as beneficially owned, excluding the shares subject to
forfeiture. It should be noted that 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.
9
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
--------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Voting Rights Dispositive Rights Total Percent
------------------- -------------------
beneficial owner Sole Shared Sole Shared Beneficial 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) 6,932 12,184,733 6,932 12,184,733 12,191,665 71.2%
Don C. Anderson(4) -0- 12,024,733 -0- 12,024,733 12,024,733 70.2%
Nick Bebout(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%
Daniel P. Svilar(5) 191,850 12,184,733 191,850 12,184,733 12,376,593 72.3%
R. Scott Lorimer(6) -0- 12,184,733 -0- 12,184,733 12,199,733 71.3%
Mark J. Larsen -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
All officers and
directors as a group
(ten persons)(7) 198,782 12,184,733 198,782 12,184,733 12,398,515 72.4%
(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 the Company, 100,000
shares held by SGMC and 60,000 shares held by 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 6,932 directly held shares over which Mr. Herron exercises
sole voting and investment powers, and the 12,024,733 Crested shares held by the
Company, 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 the Company which shared
voting and dispositive powers are exercises as a director with the other
directors of the Company.
(5) Consists of 191,850 directly held shares, over which Mr. Svilar
exercises sole voting and dispositive powers. Also includes 12,024,733 Crested
shares held by the Company, 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 the Company, 100,000
held by SGMC and 60,000 shares held by Plateau. Total Beneficial Ownership
includes 15,000 shares which are subject to forfeiture.
10
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 198,782 directly
held shares. Shared voting and dispositive rights are exercised over 12,024,733
shares held by the Company, 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. 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.
PROPOSAL ONE - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The directors are divided into three classes, each consisting of two
persons so far as practicable, 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 Harold
F. Herron and Mike Anderson expire at the June 2004 meeting and they have been
nominated for re-election. Current directors are:
Other Meeting at
Name, age and positions with Director which term
designation with the company since will expire
---------------------- --------------------- ------- -----------
John L. Larsen (73) Chairman and CEO 1966 2006
Annual
Meeting
Keith G. Larsen (45) President and COO 1997 2006
Annual
Meeting
Harold F. Herron (51) Senior Vice President 1989 2004
(nominee) Annual
Meeting
Don C. Anderson (76) 1990 2005
(continuing director) Annual
Meeting
Nick Bebout (53) 1989 2005
(continuing director) Annual
Meeting
H. Russell Fraser (62) 1996 2005
(continuing director) Annual
Meeting
Mike Anderson (52) 2003 2004
(nominee) Annual
Meeting
11
It is recommended that the shareholders vote for the re-election of Harold
F. Herron and Mike Anderson.
Executive officers are elected by the board of directors at the annual
directors' meeting, which follows each Annual Shareholders' Meeting, to serve
until the officer's successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until
death, resignation or removal.
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.
Keith G. Larsen, a director, President and COO, and Mark J. Larsen,
President of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc., are sons of John L. Larsen, Chairman, CEO
and a principal shareholder. Harold F. Herron, a director and Senior
Vice-President, is a former son-in-law of John L. Larsen. Nick Bebout, a
director, is a nephew of Daniel P. Svilar, a principal shareholder, Secretary
and General Counsel. There are no other family relationships among the executive
officers or directors of the Company.
Business Experience and Other Directorships of Directors and Nominees.
JOHN L. LARSEN has been principally employed as an officer and director of
the Company and Crested Corp. for more than the past five years. Mr. Larsen is
the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. He is also the Chairman
and a director of Crested, an affiliate of the Company. Crested has registered
equity securities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act"). Mr. Larsen is Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of
directors of Plateau Resources, Limited and President and a director of Sutter
Gold Mining Company, and he is a director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. and Yellow
Stone Fuels Corp.
KEITH G. LARSEN has been principally employed by the Company and Crested
for more than the past five years. He has been a director of the Company and its
President and Chief Operating Officer since November 25, 1997. Mr. Larsen is
also the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. and
is a director of Crested.
HAROLD F. HERRON has been the Company's Vice-President since January 1989,
and now is Senior Vice President. Mr. Herron was the President of The Brunton
Company, which was a wholly-owned subsidiary until Brunton was sold in February
1996. Mr. Herron is chiepresident and a director of NWG, President and a
director of Plateau, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Sutter Gold
Mining Company, and a director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. 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.
DON C. ANDERSON has been a Company director since May 1990. From January
1990 until mid-1993, Mr. Anderson was the Manager of the Geology Department for
the Company. Mr. Anderson was Manager of Exploration and Development for
Pathfinder Mines Corporation, a major domestic uranium mining and milling
corporation, from 1976 until his retirement in 1988. Previously, he was Mine
Manager for Pathfinder's predecessor, Utah International, Inc., from 1965 to
1976. He received a B. S. degree in geology from Brigham Young University.
NICK BEBOUT has been director of the Company since 1989. He has been a
director and President of NUCOR, Inc. ("NUCOR"), a privately-held corporation
that provides exploration and development drilling services to the mineral and
oil and gas industries, since 1987. Prior to that time, Mr. Bebout was Vice
President of NUCOR from 1984. Mr. Bebout is also an officer, director and owner
of other privately-held entities involved in the resources industry.
12
H. RUSSELL FRASER has been a director of the Company since 1996 and a
director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. since 1999. He is past President and
director of American Capital, Inc., the first "A" rated financial guarantee
company in New York, New York. Mr. Fraser was chairman of the board and chief
executive officer of Fitch Investors Services, L.P. for more than the past five
years. Fitch Investors Services, L.P., New York, New York, is a nationwide stock
and bond rating and information distribution company. From 1980-1989, Mr. Fraser
served as president and chief executive officer of AMBAC, the oldest municipal
bond issuer in the United States.
Before joining AMBAC, Mr. Fraser was senior vice president and director of
fixed-income research at PaineWebber, Inc. While a member of the board of
directors at PaineWebber, Mr. Fraser participated in both the corporate and
public finance departments and headed PaineWebber's trading and sales for all
corporate bond products. Previously, he managed corporate ratings at Standard &
Poor's, supervising research analysis of corporate bonds, preferred stock, and
commercial paper. Mr. Fraser holds a B.S. in finance and economics from the
University of Arizona. He is a member of the Municipal Analysts Group of New
York and founder of the Fixed Income Analysts Society.
MICHAEL THOMAS ANDERSON was appointed to the board of directors on May 23,
2003. Mr. Anderson has run his own accounting and consulting practice since
1993. Prior to that, he was chief financial officer for an operating unit of a
Fortune 500 company for eight years. From 1977 to 1985, Mr. Anderson worked in
public accounting. He is a member of the AICPA and The Wyoming Society of CPAs.
Mr. Anderson holds a B.S. degree in accounting from Brigham Young University.
FILING OF REPORTS UNDER SECTION 16(A)
The Company has reviewed reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 of ownership of common
stock in the Company, which have been filed with the SEC in 2003 under Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act in 2003, and has received written representations from
the filing persons. Based solely upon review of the reports and representations,
six officers or directors reported transactions late: John L. Larsen (3); Keith
G. Larsen (5); Harold F. Herron (5); Don Anderson (2); Daniel P. Svilar (1), and
R. Scott Lorimer(1). We know of no other untimely filings.
INFORMATION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS, AND AN
EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF A SUBSIDIARY
The following information is provided pursuant to Item 401 of Reg. S-K,
regarding the executive officers of the Company who are not also directors.
DANIEL P. SVILAR, age 75, has been General Counsel for USE and Crested for
more than the past five years. He also is Secretary and a director of Crested,
and 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. He has no family relationships with any of
the other executive officers or directors of USE or Crested, except his nephew
Nick Bebout is a USE director. During the past five years, Mr. Svilar has not
been involved in any Reg. S-K Item 401(f) proceeding.
ROBERT SCOTT LORIMER, age 53, has been Chief Accounting Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer for both USE and Crested for more than the past
five years. Mr. Lorimer also has been their Vice President Finance since April
1998. 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,
13
and he has no family relationship with any of the other executive officers or
directors of USE or Crested. During the past five years, he has not been
involved in any Reg. S-K Item 401(f) listed proceeding.
MARK J. LARSEN, age 41, became the President of RMG on October 15, 2003. He
was formerly the Director of Business Development for RMG and since its
inception has played a lead role in each of the company's financings,
acquisitions, the Carrizo partnership and the formation of Pinnacle Gas
Resources, Inc. Mr. Larsen is also the Director of Business Development and
Operations Manager for USE. Since 1997 he also has led the transition of USE
from uranium mining to natural gas development. Mr. Larsen is the son of John L.
Larsen, Chairman and CEO of U.S. Energy Corp.
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.
All USECC personnel are employees of USE, in order to utilize the Company's
ESOP as an employee benefit mechanism. The Company 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 the Company.
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the USE Chief
Executive Officer, and the four USE executive officers, and Mark J. Larsen,
President of RMG, in 2001, 2002 (and the seven months ended December 31, 2002),
and 2003. The Company changed its fiscal year in 2002 from the (former) period
ending May 31, to the calendar fiscal year ending December 31.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Chief Executive
Officer USE, and those of the four most highly compensated USE executive
officers and Mark J. Larsen, President of RMG, who were paid more than $100,000
cash in the (former) fiscal year ended May 31, 2002, more than $50,000 cash in
the fiscal period (seven months) ended December 31, 2002, and more than $100,000
cash in the full year ended December 31, 2003. The table includes compensation
paid such persons by Crested during these period for such persons' services to
such subsidiaries.
14
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Long Term Compensation
------------------------
Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
-------------------- ------ -------
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
Other
Name Annual Restricted All Other
and Compen- Stock LTIP Compen-
Principal sation Award(s) Options/ Payouts sation
Position Year Salary($) Bonus($) ($) ($) SARs(#) ($) ($)(1)
-------- ---- --------- -------- ---- -------- ---------- ----- --------
John L. Larsen 2003 $174,800 $25,300(2) $-0- $117,200(6) -0- $ -0- $22,700
CEO and Chairman 2002* 109,500 7,500(3) -0- -0- 97,000(9) -0- 11,700
2002 152,000 18,000(4) -0- 78,000(7) 100,000(9) -0- 17,000
2001 153,000 4,300(5) -0- 107,000(7) 184,400(10) -0- 15,700
Keith G. Larsen 2003 $156,000 $40,000(2) $-0- $ 62,000(6) -0- $ -0- $ 22,700
President and 2002* 90,000 7,200(3) -0- -0- 97,000(9) -0- 9,700
COO 2002 152,300 17,700(4) -0- -0- 100,000(9) -0- 17,000
2001 153,900 3,600(5) -0- -0- 309,400(10) -0- 15,700
Daniel P. Svilar 2003 $149,400 $24,700(2) $-0- $103,400(6) -0- $ -0- $ 22,700
General Counsel 2002* 86,200 6,900(3) -0- -0- 97,000(9) -0- 9,300
and Secretary 2002 149,400 17,400(4) -0- 58,500(7) 100,000(9) -0- 16,700
2001 140,400 4,000(5) -0- 80,250(7) 121,900(10) -0- 14,400
Harold F. Herron 2003 $106,200 $65,800(2) $-0- $ 89,600(6) -0- $ -0- $ 22,700
Sr. Vice President 2002* 60,500 27,800(8) -0- -0- 97,000(9) -0- 8,800
2002 99,500 53,600(8) -0- 39,000 (7) 100,000(9) -0- 15,300
2001 96,400 40,800(8) -0- 53,500(7) 96,900(10) -0- 13,700
R. Scott Lorimer 2003 $135,700 $24,000(2) $-0- $ 89,600(6) -0- $ -0- $ 22,700
Treasurer 2002* 83,500 6,800(3) -0- -0- 97,000(9) -0- 9,000
and CFO 2002 141,000 17,000(4) -0- 39,000 (7) 100,000(9) -0- 15,800
2001 136,900 3,900(5) -0- 53,500(7) 121,900(10) -0- 14,100
Mark J. Larsen 2003** $120,000 $33,300(2) $-0- $ -0- -0- $-0- $ 17,400
President of RMG
* For seven months June 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002
** Mr. Larsen became President of RMG on October 15, 2003. Compensation
paid to Mr. Larsen as an employee of the Company(not an officer) before
that date is not included in the table.
(1) Dollar values for ESOP contributions.
(2) 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. See note (8) for data on payments prior to 2003. A
break down of the bonuses paid to the officers of the Company during the
year ended December 31, 2003 is as follows:
15
Pinnacle Shootaring Brunton Christmas
Name Bonus Bonus Bonus Bonus
-------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------
John L. Larsen $10,000 $ 7,500 $ $7,800
Keith G. Larsen 25,000 7,500 7,500
Daniel P. Svilar 10,000 7,500 7,200
Harold F. Herron 10,000 12,500 36,900 6,400
Robert Scott Lorimer 10,000 7,500 6,500
Mark J. Larsen 20,000 7,500 5,800
(3) Consists of Christmas bonus amounts granted to employees during the
seven month period ended December 31, 2002.
(4) Consists of $10,000 bonus granted to officers and employees after the
conclusion of a coalbed methane gas transition, and a Christmas bonus
granted to employees. The Christmas bonus amounts granted for John L.
Larsen, Keith G. Larsen, Daniel P. Svilar, Harold F. Herron and Robert
Scott Lorimer during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002 were $8,000,
$7,700, $7,400, $6,700 and $7,000, respectively.
(5) Consists of a Christmas bonus paid in fiscal 2001.
(6) 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 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.
(7) Consists of shares issued under the 1996 stock award program
multiplied by $5.35 and $3.90 (the closing market price on the issue dates
for former fiscal years 2001 and 2002 respectively) 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 following table lists the number of
shares issued to each executive each year.
Number of Shares
------------------
Name 2001 2002
---------------- ------ ------
John L. Larsen 20,000 20,000
Keith G. Larsen -0- -0-
Daniel P. Svilar 15,000 15,000
Harold F. Herron 10,000 10,000
R. Scott Lorimer 10,000 10,000
16
(8) 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. The amount of the bonus paid was $21,200 $36,900, and $36,900
for the seven months ended December 31, 2002, and the fiscal years ended
May 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The total bonus paid to Mr. Herron
also includes a bonus of $6,600 for the seven months ended December 31,
2002, and $6,700 and $3,900 for fiscal years ended May 31, 2002 and 2001,
respectively, and a $10,000 bonus paid in 2002 to officers and employees
after the conclusion of a coalbed methane gas transaction.
(9) 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.
(10) Stock options granted pursuant to the Company's 1998 Incentive Stock
Option Plan. See details of the options under "Grants to Executive Officers
(Qualified and Nonqualified)" below.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has adopted a plan to pay the dependants 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 the
Company and Crested.
Mr. Svilar has an employment agreement with the Company and Crested, which
provides for an annual salary in excess of $100,000, with the condition that Mr.
Svilar pay an unspecified amount of expenses incurred by him on behalf of the
Company 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, the Company 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 the Company (see below).
In fiscal 1992, the Company 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 the Company,
occurring within three years after a change in control of the Company, 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, the
Company signed similar Agreements with Keith Larsen, Mark Larsen, Richard
Larsen, 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 the Company's shareholders,
by enabling such persons to negotiate with a hostile takeover offeror and assist
the board of directors concerning the fairness of a takeover, without the
distraction of possible tenure insecurity following a change in control. As of
this proxy statement, the Company is unaware of any proposed hostile takeover.
The Company 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. The Company and Crested
reimburse Messrs. John Larsen and Svilar for their medicare supplement premiums.
17
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), $100,000 of such coverage is
provided to middle-management employees, and $90,000 of such coverage is
provided to other employees.
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. J. Larsen and 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.
The Company made a contribution of 76,794 shares to the ESOP for the twelve
months ended December 31, 2003, all of which were contributed under the money
purchase pension plan. At the time the shares were contributed, the market price
was $3.10 per share, for a total contribution with a market value of $236,400
(which has been funded by the Company). The Company and Crested each are
responsible for one-half of that amount. 37,204 of the shares were allocated to
the ESOP accounts of the executive officers of the Company and the president of
Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. Additionally, 5,166 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,
2003 under a loan arrangement between the Company and the ESOP was $927,013 at
December 31, 2003. Interest owed by the ESOP was not booked by the Company.
Crested pays one-half of the amounts contributed to the ESOP by the Company.
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 the
Company.
401(K) PLAN. In first quarter 2004, the Company established a traditional
qualified 401(k) plan for employees, by which the Company will match $0.50 for
each $1.00 contribued by participating employees, up to an annual $3,000 per
employee maximum contribution by the Company. Through March 31, 2004, the
Company has contributed $3,382 to this plan. Plan eligibility and vesting rules
are uniform for all employees, including executive officers of the Company.
1998 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN. The Company's 1998 Incentive Stock Option
Plan ("1998 ISOP") reserved an aggregate of 2,750,000 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.
18
Options on 1,494,146 shares are outstanding. No more options will be issued
under the 1998 ISOP.
2001 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN ("2001 ISOP"). The 2001 ISOP was approved
at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders meeting, and provides for the
issuance of options to purchase up to 3.0 million shares of common stock; 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.
For information about options, please see the consolidated Financial
Statements in the Annual Report for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003.
In 2003, no options were granted, and previously granted options on 275,621
shares were exercised.
The board of directors has approved (subject to approval by shareholders)
an increase in the number of shares of common stock to be covered by the 2001
ISOP. See Proposal 2.
19
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 12/31/03 AND OPTION/SAR VALUES AT 12/31/03
The following table shows options exercised during the twelve months ended
December 31, 2003, options exercisable at December 31, 2003, and options
exercisable and the dollar values for in-the-money options, at December 31, 2003
(closing market price on that date was $2.98).
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
Value of
In Twelve Months Ended 12/31/03 Number of Number of In-the-Money
----------------------------
Shares Options/SARS Options/SARs Options/SARs
Acquired Value at 12/31/02 at 12/31/03 at 12/31/02
Name on Exercise (#) Realized($) Exercisable Exercisable Exercisable
------------------ --------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- -------------
John L. Larsen, -0- -0- 34,782 34,782 $ 3,652 (1)
CEO -0- -0- 77,718 77,718 $ 76,164 (2)
-0- -0- 184,400 184,400 $ 106,952 (3)
-0- -0- 100,000 100,000 $ (92,000)(4)
-0- -0- 97,000 97,000 $ 70,810 (5)
Keith G. Larsen -0- -0- 34,782 34,782 $ 3,652 (1)
President -0- -0- 52,718 52,718 $ 51,664 (2)
-0- -0- 309,400 309,400 $ 179,452 (3)
-0- -0- 100,000 100,000 $ (92,000)(4)
-0- -0- 97,000 97,000 $ 70,810 (5)
Harold F. Herron, -0- -0- 34,782 17,391 $ 1,826 (1)
Sr. Vice President -0- -0- 40,218 20,109 $ 19,707 (2)
-0- -0- 67,400 33,700 $ 19,546 (3)
-0- -0- 100,000 50,000 $ (46,000)(4)
-0- -0- 97,000 48,500 $ 35,405 (5)
Daniel P. Svilar -0- -0- 34,782 34,782 $ 3,652 (1)
Secretary -0- -0- 40,218 40,218 $ 39,414 (2)
-0- -0- 121,900 121,900 $ 70,702 (3)
-0- -0- 100,000 100,000 $ (92,000)(4)
-0- -0- 97,000 97,000 $ 70,810 (5)
R. Scott Lorimer -0- -0- 34,782 34,782 $ 3,652 (1)
Treasurer -0- -0- 40,218 40,218 $ 39,414 (2)
-0- -0- 80,233 80,233 $ 46,535 (3)
-0- -0- 100,000 100,000 $ (92,000)(4)
-0- -0- 97,000 97,000 $ 70,810 (5)
Mark J. Larsen -0- -0- 27,782 27,782 $ 2,917 (1)
President of RMG -0- -0- -0- -0- $ -0- (2)
10,000 $ 27,800 (6) 51,248 41,248 $ 23,924 (3)
-0- -0- 100,000 100,000 $ (92,000)(4)
-0- -0- 97,000 97,000 $ 70,810 (5)
--------------------
(1) Equal to $2.98, the closing market price on December 31, 2003, less
$2.00 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
20
(2) Equal to $2.98, the closing market price on December 31, 2003, less
$2.875 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(3) Equal to $2.98, the closing market price on December 31, 2003, less
$2.40 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(4) Equal to $2.98, the closing market price on December 31, 2003, less
$3.90 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(5) Equal to $2.98, the closing market price on December 31, 2003, less
$2.25 per share option exercise price, multiplied by all shares exercisable.
(6) Equal to $5.18, the closing market price on the date of exercise, less
$2.40 per share option exercise price, multiplied by the number of options
exercised. No shares acquired on exercise of these options have been sold.
1996 STOCK AWARD PROGRAM. The Company 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 the Company, in amounts
determined each year based on earnings of the Company for the prior fiscal. 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 issued in the name of the officer, and is
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 of the Company. Voting rights are exercised over the shares by the
non-employee directors of the Company; 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.
2001 STOCK COMPENSATION PLAN. The 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, president and a
director of Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc.). 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, the Company's financial condition and business
prospects, and other factors deemed appropriate. The Company pays the income
taxes owed by recipients as a result of receipt of the stock.
The stock recipients will agree not to sell or transfer such shares during
their employment with the Company. As of December 31, 2003, 100,000 shares had
been granted under the Plan (20,000 shares each
21
to John L. Larsen, Keith G. Larsen, Robert Scott Lorimer, Harold F. Herron, and
Daniel P. Svilar). No shares were issued under the Plan in 2001 or 2002. Mark J.
Larsen will be first elibigle to receive shares under the Plan in 2005.
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 Company and not sell their
shares in the market.
DIRECTORS' FEES AND OTHER COMPENSATION
The Company pays non-employee directors a fee of $150 per meeting attended.
All directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred with attending meetings.
In addition, non-employee directors are compensated for services at $400
per month, payable each year by the issue of shares of USE common stock based on
the closing stock market price as of January 15. In 2003, the Company issued
3,891 shares to the non-employee directors on that date (1,297 shares each to
Don Anderson, H. Russell Fraser, and Nick Bebout), at $3.70 per share (market
price on January 15, 2003).
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
DEBT OWED BY A DIRECTOR. In the early 1990s, Harold F. Herron, an officer
and director, had been living in and caring for a house owned by the Company. In
fiscal 1995, Mr. Herron purchased the house for $260,000 (equal to appraised
value), and was reimbursed by the Company for $22,830 of leasehold improvements
he had made to the property. The Company accepted a promissory note for $112,170
of the purchase price, with 7% annual interest; a payment schedule was entered
into and Mr. Herron is current in his payments on the note. This note was a
nonrecourse note secured by 30,000 shares of the Company's common stock owned by
Mr. Herron. At December 31, 2003, he owed $90,300 on the note. During 2003, he
gave up 5,000 shares of the collateral to reduce the debt. The collateral now
consists of 10,000 shares of the Company.
FAMILY EMPLOYMENT. Three of John L. Larsen's sons, one former son-in-law
(Harold F. Herron), and one grandson are employed by the Company or
subsidiaries. Collectively, Mr. Larsen and these family members received
$1,217,600 in total compensation for services during the twelve months ended
December 31, 2003. Not included is 2003 compensation paid to two sons-in-law who
ceased working for the Company or its subsidiaries ((including Peter
Schoonmaker, who is now employed by Pinnacle Gas Resources, Inc., a
minority-owned subsidiary).
TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING USECC AND CRESTED. The Company and Crested conduct
most activities through their equally-owned joint venture USECC. From time to
time the Company 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 the Company $9,403,300 at
December 31, 2003.
PROPOSAL 2. AMEND THE 2001 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
The 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan presently has 3,000,000 shares of
common stock authorized for issuance upon exercise of options. Options on
1,409,000 shares now are outstanding.
22
The board of directors is proposing to increase the number of shares
authorized for issue on exercise of options to always be a number equal to 20%
of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, and recommends that
shareholders vote in favor of this proposal.
Approval of this proposal by shareholders at the Annual Meeting will
eliminate the need to further amend the 2001 ISOP, or adopt a new incentive
stock option plan, at such time as the authorized number of shares is exhausted
(or nearly exhausted) by issuance of options in the future.
If this proposal is approved by shareholders, the number of shares
available for the 2001 ISOP always will be sufficient. By way of example, at
such time as there are 16,000,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding,
the number of shares available for the 2001 ISOP shares would be increased
automatically to 3,520,000 shares (a 20% increase). The number of shares
available for purchase on exercise of the options outstanding when an increase
is made, and all the other terms of outstanding options, would not be changed.
Approval of the 20% ceiling increase mechanism will not limit the number of
options which can be issued under the 2001 ISOP in any one year, or the number
of shares underlying options held by any employee of the Company.
PROPOSAL 3: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The board of directors seeks shareholder ratification of the board's
appointment of Grant Thornton LLP, certified public accountants, to act as the
auditors of our financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2004. The audit committee has recommended that the board retain this auditing
firm for 2004. Grant Thornton audited our financial statements for the fiscal
years ended May 31, 2002 and 2001, the seven month period ended December 31,
2002, and the calendar year ended December 31, 2003. The board has not
determined what action, if any, would be taken should the appointment of Grant
Thornton not be ratified at the meeting.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Grant Thornton LLP billed us for services as follows for the year ended
December 31, 2003, the seven months ended December 31, 2002, and the year ended
May 31, 2002. Amounts and percentages reflect billings received after December
31 of those periods.
Year Ended Seven Months Ended Year Ended
December 31, 2003 December 31, 2002 May 31, 2002
Audit Fees(a) $ 106,600 $ 90,500 $ 84,300
89% 92% 90%
Audit-Related Fees(b) $ -- $ -- $ --
Tax Fees(c) $ 12,800 $ 8,000 $ 9,000
11% 8% 10%
All Other Fees(d): $ -- $ -- $ --
(a) Includes fees for audit of the annual financial statements and review
of quarterly financial information filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and service provided for statutory and regulatory filings.
23
(b) For assurance and related services that were reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of the financial statements, which fees are
not included in the Audit Fees category. The Company had no Audit-Related Fees
for the periods covered.
(c) For tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning services, relating to
any and all federal and state tax returns as necessary for the periods covered.
(d) For services and products provided by the principal accountant other
than services included in (a) through (c) above. No such services and products
in this category were provided in the periods covered.
Our audit committee approves the terms of engagement before we engage Grant
Thornton for audit and non-audit services, except as to engagements for services
outside the scope of the original terms, in which instances the services have
been provided pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures, established by
the audit committee. These pre-approval policies and procedures are detailed as
to the category of service and the audit committee is kept informed of each
service provided. These policies and procedures, and the work performed pursuant
thereto, do not include any delegation to management of the audit committee's
responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The services provided for Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees
were delivered pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by
the audit committee.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
Grant Thornton LLP has audited the Company's financial statements for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2003. A representative of Grant Thornton LLP
will be present at the meeting in person or by telephone to respond to
appropriate questions, and will be provided the opportunity to make a statement
at the meeting. There have been no disagreements between the Company and Grant
Thornton LLP, concerning any matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which were not
resolved to the satisfaction of that firm.
COPIES OF OUR FORM 10-K
Promptly upon receiving a request from any shareholder, without charge we
will send to the requester a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2003, with exhibits, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Please address your request to Daniel P.
Svilar, Secretary, at U.S. Energy Corp., 877 North 8th West, Riverton, Wyoming
82501. You also may call or fax him at T 307.856.9271, F 307.857.3050.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
------------ ------------------------
99.1 Certification by Audit Committee
99.2 Nominating Committee Charter
24
PROXY U.S. ENERGY CORP. PROXY
KNOW ALL PERSONS: That the undersigned shareholder of U.S. Energy Corp.
(the "Company") in the amount noted below, hereby constitutes and appoints
Messrs. John L. Larsen and Keith G. Larsen, or either of them with full power of
substitution, as attorneys and proxies, to appear, attend and vote all of the
shares of stock standing in the name of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
the Company's shareholders to be held at the Company's Offices at 877 North 8th
West, Riverton, Wyoming 82501 on TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2004 AT 10:00 A.M., local
------------------------------------
time, or at any adjournments thereof upon the following:
THE PROXIES WILL VOTE: (1) AS YOU SPECIFY ON THIS CARD; (2) AS THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS WHERE YOU DO NOT SPECIFY YOUR VOTE ON A MATTER LISTED ON
THIS CARD, AND (3) AS THE PROXIES DECIDE ON ANY OTHER MATTER.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE DIRECTOR
NOMINEES, IN FAVOR OF AMENDING THE 2001 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN, AND IN
FAVOR OF RATIFYING THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
If you wish to vote on all matters as the Board of Director recommends,
please sign, date and return this card. If you wish to vote on items
individually, please also mark the appropriate boxes below.
INSTRUCTION: Mark only one box to each item.
1. Election of Directors:
--- FOR the nominee --- ABSTAIN
Michael Anderson ______ Harold F. Herron ______
IN THE VOTING FOR DIRECTORS, YOU HAVE THE OPTION: TO VOTE FOR SOME NOMINEES(S),
BUT ABSTAIN FROM VOTING FOR OTHER NOMINEE(S). TO DO SO, (1) CHECK THE FOR BOX,
AND (2) DRAW A LINE THROUGH THE NAME OF THE NOMINEE(S) YOU WANT TO ABSTAIN FROM.
TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING FOR ALL NOMINEES, CHECK THE ABSTAIN BOX AND DO NOT DRAW A
LINE THROUGH ANY NAME.
OR,
TO VOTE FOR NOMINEES BY CUMULATING YOUR VOTES, FOLLOW THESE STEPS: (1) CHECK THE
FOR BOX; (2) MULTIPLY THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU HOLD TIMES 2; AND (3) PRINT THE
NUMBER OF VOTES YOU WANT TO CAST ON THE LINE NEXT TO THE NOMINEE(S) YOU WANT TO
VOTE FOR, AND DRAW A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE(S) YOU DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR.
YOU MAY CAST YOUR VOTES FOR ONE NOMINEE, OR YOU MAY DISTRIBUTE YOUR VOTES AMONG
THE NOMINEES AS YOU WISH. THE TOTAL VOTES CAST MUST EQUAL THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
-----
SHARES YOU HOLD TIMES 2.
2. Amendment of the 2001 Incentive Stock Option Plan, to increase the number
of shares authorized for issue on exercise of options to always be a number
equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock
-- FOR the amendment -- AGAINST the amendment -- ABSTAIN
3. Ratification of appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as independent auditors
for the current fiscal year.
-- FOR the appointment -- AGAINST the appointment -- ABSTAIN
25
PROXY U.S. ENERGY CORP. PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE SHARES REPRESENTED
HEREBY WILL BE VOTED AS PROVIDED ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
Sign your name exactly as it appears on the mailing label below. It is
important to return this Proxy properly signed in order to exercise your right
to vote, if you do not attend in person. When signing as an attorney, executor,
administrator, trustee, guardian, corporate officer, etc., indicate your full
title as such.
-------------------------------------
(Sign on this line - joint holders
may sign appropriately)
-------------- ------------------
(Date) (Number of Shares)
PLEASE NOTE: Please sign, date and
place this Proxy in the enclosed
self-addressed, postage prepaid
envelope and deposit it in the mail
as soon as possible.
Please check if you are planning to
attend the meeting --
If the address on the mailing label
Is not correct, please provide the
correct address in the following
space.
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
26