Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2007 consisted primarily of professional fees of approximately $226,000, licensing fees of $150,000, management and employee salaries and benefits of approximately $72,000, and stock option expense (employees) of approximately $393,768. Operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 consisted primarily of professional fees of approximately $200,000, management and employee salaries and benefits of approximately $270,000, stock option expense (to employees) of approximately $557,005, and travel related expenses of approximately $48,000.
The majority of the professional fees result from legal and accounting fees, and from the engagement of various consultants to assist us in marketing our business.
Our operating expenses decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2007 in comparison to the three months ended September 30, 2006 because we have focused primarily on raising additional capital in fiscal 2007 and on the development of projects. This has decreased travel related expenses and professional fees. Additionally, we have reduced the number of salaried employees, and ceased paying salaries to employees.
The shift to providing services for royalties or ownership rights instead of solely for cash fees may act to increase our operating expenses significantly as a percentage of revenues, as revenues from royalties or ownership rights may take years to be realized.
If we are successful in raising new capital or generating substantial service projects, we would expect our operating expenses to increase as we would have the capital to engage in various oil and gas and mining exploration projects. The increase in operating expenses could result from the hiring of geologists and other oil and gas professionals to assist us in carrying out the farmin aspect of our business strategy. Travel related expenses could increase in the future, as many of our customers, and prospective customers and projects, and the territories for which our services are requested or utilized, are located in western United States and in foreign countries. Further, if sufficient funding were available, we would contemplate opening a Houston office which would decrease travel related expenses but would increase office expenses significantly. Additionally, subject to financial resources, we would
recommence payment of salaries to our employees.
Interest Expense
For the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the net interest expense was $0 and $741,139, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, we accrued approximately $999,249 in interest on the outstanding amount of the debentures, and we also recognized $253,554 of income relating to accrued interest which were not paid due to the conversion. The interest expense related to issuance of 6% convertible debentures, convertible into shares of common stock, due December 31, 2007 in the aggregate principal amount of $4 million that were issued in 2005 and 2006 and the issuance of 7% convertible debentures, convertible into shares of common stock, due December 31, 2008 in the principal amount of $1 million that were issued in 2006. Because the conversion price of the debentures was less than the closing trading prices of our common stock on the commitment date, the convertible debentures
contained a beneficial conversion feature. We estimated the beneficial conversion feature of the debentures issued in 2005 to be $750,000 and $500,000 for the debentures issued in 2006. These debentures were converted in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.
Net Loss
The net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 were $965,984 and $5,148,973, respectively. The decrease in net loss principally resulted from a decrease in operating expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. In addition, in the quarter ended September 30, 2006, we had writeoffs of oil and gas properties of approximately $4.9 million.
Our net loss per common share (basic and diluted) attributable to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 were $0.01 and $0.01, respectively.
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Nine Month Period Ended September 30, 2007
Compared to Nine Month Period Ended September 30, 2006
Revenues
Revenues from services for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 were $0 and $260,000, respectively. The lack of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 arose principally from our seeking to perform services for an ownership or royalty interest in projects or leaseholds rather than for a cash service fee. The revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were derived from sales to one customer and related to our mapping and surveying services. This sale made during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was made to a customer that was identified during calendar year 2005 and the bulk of the services to such client were delivered in 2005.
Cost of Revenues
Our costs of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 and $0 and $49,000, respectively. As a percentage of net revenues, cost of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were approximately 19%. The cost of revenues consists of payments to a related foreign professional services firm that specializes in the development and application of remote sensing and geographic information technologies. We anticipate that our costs of revenue will ordinarily be approximately 60% of such revenue. We do not believe the costs incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 are, on a percentage basis, indicative of the costs of future revenue as we received cost concessions in connection with rendering such services. In connection with our own exploration and/or joint venture projects, our costs are based on a discount to the Institutes published rates for
services and are subject to negotiation.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses (before the writeoff of oil and gas properties) for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 were $2,787,518 and $5,541,329, respectively. Because revenues were $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, operating expenses as a percentage of revenues cannot be calculated. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were approximately 2,131%.
Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 consisted primarily of professional fees of approximately $763,000, licensing fees of $450,000, management and employee salaries and benefits of approximately $247,000, independent contractor fees of approximately $24,000, and stock option expense (employees) of approximately $393,768. Operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 consisted primarily of professional fees of approximately $1,048,000, management and employee salaries of $870,000, stock option expense (to employees) of approximately $1,247,000, and travel related expenses of $325,000
The majority of the professional fees result from legal and accounting fees.
Our operating expenses decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 in comparison to the nine months ended September 30, 2006 because we have focused primarily on raising additional capital in fiscal 2007 and on the development of projects. This has decreased travel related expenses and professional fees. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we have reduced the number of salaried employees, reduced the compensation rate of many employees, and as of March 2007, ceased payment of salaries to employees.
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Interest Expense
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, the net interest expense was $713 and $1,025,885, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we accrued approximately $1,293,673 in interest on the outstanding amount of the debentures, and we also recognized $253,554 of income relating to accrued interest which were not paid due to the conversion. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the interest expense related to issuance of 6% convertible debentures, convertible into shares of common stock, due December 31, 2007 in the aggregate principal amount of $4 million that were issued in 2005 and 2006 and the issuance of 7% convertible debentures, convertible into shares of common stock, due December 31, 2008 in the principal amount of $1 million that were issued in 2006. Because the conversion price of the debentures was less than the closing trading prices of our common stock on
the commitment date, the convertible debentures contained a beneficial conversion feature. We estimated the beneficial conversion feature of the debentures issued in 2005 to be $750,000 and $500,000 for the debentures issued in 2006. These debentures were converted in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.
Net Loss
The net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 were $2,458,268 and $8,365,992, respectively. The decrease in net loss principally resulted from the lack of revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 in comparison to the same period in 2006, and a decrease in operating expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. In addition, in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we had writeoffs of oil and gas properties of approximately $5.0 million.
Our net loss per common share (basic and diluted) attributable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 were $0.04 and $0.19, respectively.
Non-operating Revenue
During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we received $329,963 relating to a cash call on the holder of the noncontrolling interest resulting from cost overruns on the Sage well.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our primary sources of liquidity have been proceeds generated by the sale of our common stock, convertible debentures to private investors, and sales of noncontrolling interests in limited partnerships. As of September 30, 2007, we had cash on hand of $8,847.
Operating Activities
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, cash flows from operating activities resulted in deficit cash flows of $1,802,503, primarily due to a net loss of $2,458,268, plus non-cash charges of $645,206 and adjustments for a decrease in prepaid expenses of $47,313 and an increase in other assets of $23,950, a decrease in accounts payable of $12,804.
Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was $9,459 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 relating to an increase in oil and gas properties.
Depending on our available funds and other business needs, it is our intention to (i) engage in fee for service activities, (ii) engage in a farmin strategy during calendar year 2007 in which we make small investments in the exploration projects of others, and (ii) to complete land acquisition relating to the West Deweyville prospect and to farmout such prospect. There is no assurance we will have the financing to pursue this strategy or if pursued that it will be successful in developing reserves of hydrocarbons.
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Financing Activities
For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, cash provided by financing activities was $765,253, comprised of a sale of common stock and warrants to an investor totaling $100,000, proceeds from noncontrolling interest in limited partnership of $329,963, and loans from related parties of $335,290.
Future Needs
Our management has concerns as to the ability of our company to continue as a going concern in the absence of raising additional equity capital, debt financing or obtaining significant new fee for service business. We believe that our available cash is inadequate to support our month-to-month obligations for the next twelve months. Establishing ownership or other interests in natural resource exploration projects will require significant capital resources.
Our current business plan for 2007 calls for us to farmin to eight to twelve prospects and farmout the West Deweyville prospect it has been developing. This business plan calls on our company to raise $4 to $6 million dollars. If we are unable to raise such funding, we will not be able to act on this business plan. To the extent we raise a lesser amount, we will only be able to act on a portion of our business plan.
Pursuant to our licensing agreement and a services agreement with the Institute, an entity owned and operated by Ivan Railyan, our President and Chairman, we are required to pay the Institute minimum annual fees of at least $600,000, which we have satisfied with respect to our fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. In 2006, the fees were paid exclusively from the revenue from fee for service work.
The annual fees to the Institute represent a significant continuing obligation. In 2007 and future years, we intend to fund such payment obligations from revenues generated by operations or making alternative arrangements for payment. If our operating activities do not generate enough revenues to finance the minimum annual fees, we will need to use our available working capital to pay such minimum annual fees. If we lack sufficient working capital, we intend to fund such payment obligations in the future through proceeds from the sales of securities or debt or bank financing. Alternatively, we would seek to obtain a waiver or deferral of payment obligations from the Institute. In the event that we become unable to pay the minimum annual fees or to obtain a waiver or deferral of payment obligations from the Institute, we would be in default of our agreements with the Institute and our business will be
irreparably impaired, as most of our mapping and analytic services are performed with the use of technology and services obtained from the Institute. In July 2007, we entered into an amendment of our licensing agreement with the Institute, pursuant to which the annual license fee for 2007 payable to the Institute has been deferred to 2008, and commencing in 2008, subject to certain financial criteria, the annual license fee is payable a rate of no more than $300,000 per year. We have entered into preliminary discussions with the Institute pertaining to further modifications of the license agreement, including a waiver of fees in connection with fiscal 2007.
It is our intention to sell securities and incur debt when the terms of such transactions are deemed favorable to us and as necessary to fund our current and projected cash needs. While we have raised capital to meet our working capital and financing needs in the past, additional financing is required in order to meet our current and projected cash flow deficits from operations and development of oil and gas properties. We are seeking financing, which may take the form of equity, convertible debt or debt, in order to provide the necessary working capital. While we have been in negotiations with a private investor for the sale of our common stock and common stock purchase warrants, we currently have no commitments for financing. There is no guarantee that we will be successful in consummating the transaction.
We are in the process of discussions with several investment banks and venture capital funds to obtain bridge and long term debt or equity funding. To date, we have not been successful in raising significant additional equity or debt capital. We have not received certain funding we expected to receive from Enficon Establishment or Kiev Investment Group as a result of the breaches of certain agreements by Kiev Investment Group and Enficon Establishment.
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There can be no assurance that additional private or public financing, including debt or equity financing, will be available as needed, or, if available, on terms favorable to us. Any additional equity financing may be dilutive to shareholders and such additional equity securities may have rights, preferences or privileges that are senior to those of our existing authorized shares of common or preferred stock. Furthermore, debt financing, if available, will require payment of interest and may involve restrictive covenants that could impose limitations on our operating flexibility. However, if we are not successful in generating sufficient liquidity from operations or in raising sufficient capital resources, on terms acceptable to us, this will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, and we will have to delay our planned or proposed operations
and development and continue to conduct activities on a limited scale.
AUDITOR'S OPINION EXPRESSES DOUBT ABOUT THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO CONTINUE AS A "GOING CONCERN"
The report of the former independent registered public accounting firm on our December 31, 2006 financial statements included in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2006 states that our recurring losses from operations and net capital deficiency, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. If we are unable to raise new investment capital, we will have to discontinue operations or cease to exist, which would be detrimental to the value of our common stock. We can make no assurances that our business operations will develop and provide us with significant cash to continue operations.
We have a working capital deficiency and substantially no cash. We have been and are seeking financing, which may take the form of equity, convertible debt or debt, in order to provide the necessary working capital. While we have been seeking equity or debt capital since September 2006, to date, we have not been successful in closing on any significant equity or debt capital raise. Further, in the event we obtain an offer of private or public funding, there is no assurance that such funding would be on terms favorable to us. The failure to obtain such funding will threaten our ability to continue as a going concern.
PLAN OF OPERATIONS
Addressing the Going Concern Issues
Our ability to continue as a going concern is subject to our ability to raise additional equity or debt capital and to develop profitable operations. We are devoting substantially all of our efforts to developing our business and raising capital. We continue to experience net operating losses. During the next twelve months, we plan to continue to restructure our operations to reduce operating costs
The primary issues management will focus on in the immediate future to address the going concern issues include: seeking institutional investors for debt or equity investments in our Company, and initiating negotiations to secure short term financing through promissory notes or other debt instruments on an as needed basis.
To improve our liquidity, our management is actively pursing additional financing through discussions with investment bankers, financial institutions and private investors. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our effort to secure additional financing.
During 2005 and the first part of 2006, we focused primarily on obtaining royalty or ownership rights in projects on which we provide professional services with a secondary effort on obtaining cash fee for service business. In mid 2006, we refocused our efforts to obtain more cash fee for service business. This resulted in our company obtaining a $2.5 million dollar service contract from Petrobras International Braspetro BV, a major oil and gas exploration company, during the second half of 2006.
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During the next twelve months, we anticipate focusing on obtaining additional investment capital to restart our service and exploration efforts, and to create case studies demonstrating the value of the STeP technology. We intend to demonstrate the value of our licensed technology by pursuing (i) a fee for service business model with exploration companies, which may include seeking royalties on the exploration project and (ii) a farmin strategy of investing in drilling projects when our STeP technology concurs with the available seismic studies on the projects. Our goal is to demonstrate a success rate which is better than industry averages and thereby establish the value of our technology while generating hydrocarbon reserves and internally generating cash flow to support our cost of operations.
Our goal continues to be to enter into agreements whereby we provide our services, such as providing site locations and depth locations, to natural resource exploration companies in exchange for royalties or ownership rights, and fees, with regard to a specific natural resource exploration property. We may also seek to finance or otherwise participate in the efforts to recover natural resources from such properties. Our intent, in the event our cash flow permits, is to finish the land acquisition in connection with the West Deweyville prospect and farmout the project to obtain financing for the drilling program on this prospect.
While we have oil exploration experience, we need substantial additional capital to conduct oil exploration activities alone. We continue to seek joint ventures to develop our operations, including examining, drilling, operating and financing such activities. We will determine our plan for our existing leases and for future leases we acquire based on our ability to fund such projects.
Product Research and Development
Under our past business model, we do not anticipate incurring significant research and development expenditures during the next twelve months. We are changing our business model to focus on utilizing our licensed technology in connection with the acquisition of royalties, ownership rights or land rights for purposes of oil or mineral exploration, and such exploration may involve significant development expenditures.
Acquisition or Disposition of Plant and Equipment
We do not anticipate the sale of any significant property, plant or equipment during the next twelve months. Depending on our future business prospects and the growth of our business, and the need for additional employees, we may seek to lease new executive office facilities or to open another office location in Texas.
Acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties
We are seeking to raise $4 to $6 million to pursue development efforts during the next twelve months. We plan to use this money to complete development efforts of the West Deweyville prospect and to engage in several farmin projects.
Employees
As of September 30, 2007, we have six employees. We also utilize the services of consultants in connection with certain projects. Our employment plans are uncertain given our working capital deficit and our inability to plan future development efforts until funding is achieved. Because of our insolvency, as of March 2007, we have ceased paying salaries to employees. Notwithstanding the salary deferrals, certain employees have continued to work for the company.
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INFLATION
We do not expect inflation to have a significant impact on our business in the future.
SEASONALITY
We do not expect seasonal aspects to have a significant impact on our business in the future.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT
To date, we do not maintain off-balance sheet arrangements nor do we participate in non-exchange traded contracts requiring fair value accounting treatment.
TRENDS, RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
We anticipate that high oil prices this year may cause natural resources exploration companies to conduct more drilling activities and investigate the potential of previously undiscovered oil reserves, and if oil prices remain high, we anticipate that our services will be in higher demand. However, that may create a short supply of drilling rigs and other equipment needed for exploration activities, which may drive up the costs of exploration activities.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115" ("SFAS 159"). This standard permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. Most of the provisions in SFAS 159 are elective; however, the amendment to SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities", applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading securities. The fair value option established by SFAS 159 permits all entities to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. A business entity will report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings (or another performance indicator if the business entity does not report earnings) at each subsequent reporting
date. The fair value option (a) may be applied instrument by instrument, with a few exceptions, such as investments otherwise accounted for by the equity method, (b) is irrevocable (unless a new election date occurs) and (c) is applied only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. SFAS 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS 159 is not expected to have any impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
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