-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Q6qGYr4onVM6MRNhRhoMYw69zyuMaLzoObjSBWEpr80JuMtXIKsJ6r+ND1ZhhEQn Kn1HylsVvPRo7hCBVRC+hg== 0000025743-96-000004.txt : 19960409 0000025743-96-000004.hdr.sgml : 19960409 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000025743-96-000004 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19951231 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960408 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CROFF OIL CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000025743 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311] IRS NUMBER: 870233535 STATE OF INCORPORATION: UT FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-16731 FILM NUMBER: 96544886 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1433 17TH ST STREET 2: STE 220 CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80202 BUSINESS PHONE: 3032973383 10-K/A 1 Amended to include signature page that was ommitted, to correct one typo- graphical error on 1995 gas volume produced, and to add ommitted headings FORM 10K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 MARK ONE X ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED] FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 OR _____ TRANSITION REPORT pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the securities exchange act of 1934 [No fee required] FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM N/A TO N/A COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 1-100 CROFF OIL COMPANY (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) UTAH 87-0233535 STATE OF INCORPORATION (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER) 1433 SEVENTEENTH STREET SUITE 220 DENVER, COLORADO 80202 ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL ZIP CODE EXECUTIVE OFFICES Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 297-3383 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Name of each exchange on Title of each class which registered Common - $0.10 Par Value None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark whether the Registration (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO _____ As of March 1, 1996, the aggregate value of the voting stock held by non- affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the average of the bid and ask price on such date was: $305,800 As of March 1, 1996, the Registrant had outstanding 516,515 shares of common stock ($.10 par value) An index of the documents incorporated herein by reference and/or annexed as exhibits to the signed originals of this report appears on page 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I Page ITEM 1 BUSINESS................................ 3 ITEM 2 PROPERTIES.............................. 8 ITEM 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS....................... 12 ITEM 4 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.................... 12 PART II ITEM 5 MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY ......................... 13 ITEM 6 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA................. 14 ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.................. 14 ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLE- MENTAL DATA............................ EX I. ITEM 9 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES.............. 15 PART III ITEM 10 DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT...................... 16 ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.................. 17 ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.................. 18 ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS........................... 19 PART IV ITEM 14 EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K............................ 20 SIGNATURES.............................. 21 PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS (a) Description of Business Croff Oil Company ("Croff" or "the Company"), was incorporated in Utah in 1907 as Croff Mining Company. The principal office of the Company is located at 1433 Seventeenth Street, Suite 220, Denver, Colorado 80202. The telephone number is (303) 297-3383. Croff is engaged in the business of oil and gas exploration and production, primarily through ownership of perpetual mineral interests and acquisition of oil and gas leases. The Company's principal activity is oil and gas production from non-operated properties. The Company also acquires, owns, and sells, producing and non-producing leases and perpetual mineral interests. Over the past fifteen years, Croff's primary source of revenue has been oil and gas royalties from producing mineral interests. Croff participates as a working interest owner in approximately 35 wells. Croff holds small royalty interests in over 200 wells. In 1993 Croff acquired a carved out production interest of from 200-360 barrels of oil per month from a stripper field of approximately 110 wells in South Texas. All of the wells from which Croff receives revenues are operated by other companies and Croff has no control over the factors which determine royalty revenues such as markets, prices and rates of production. During the period 1981 through 1985, the Company increased its participation in exploratory and development drilling ventures. In certain instances, Croff acquired leases for the purpose of initiating a drilling venture. In other instances, Croff chose to participate in drilling by paying its share of the drilling costs, or by farming out to others for a carried interest in the well. Over the past ten years, Croff's primary source of revenues has evolved from lease bonuses to oil and natural gas production. After the drop in oil prices during 1986, the Company did not participate in exploration drilling through 1990. The Company in 1990, after paying off the last of its' long-term debt, again began to acquire producing oil and gas leases, and took a minor interest in a new well in 1991 and 1992. In 1992 the Company purchased working interests in eleven wells, royalty interests in three wells, and participated in a workover of an existing working interest well. In 1993 the Company purchased a stripper field in South Texas, and sold it to a local operator, reserving a carved out production interest, secured by a mortgage on the field. In 1994, the Company continued to purchase producing oil and natural gas wells. In 1995, Croff purchased a two percent interest in a mortgage note secured by an equal interest in an Indiana Coal Mine. Previous to 1987, Croff owned investment securities in certain natural resource companies. These companies had a current market value and Croff sold these securities periodically to generate revenues. Since 1991 Croff has purchased interests in publicly traded oil and gas companies out of cash reserves. The Company intends to earn a better yield than cash on these current funds, which will be liquidated, as needed, to fund the purchase of oil and gas wells or other natural resource investments. Croff has three part-time employees, consisting of the President, and two Assistant Secretaries. (b) Current Activities In 1995, the Company determined it would seek to become large enough to create an active market for its common stock, ( the only class of stock the Company has ever issued). Croff's shares are not traded on any exchange, and no active market exists for the stock. Only a few transactions in trading the stock have occurred within the last ten years. The Board developed a Plan to be presented at the 1995 annual meeting of shareholders. The plan would authorize the pledge of the current oil and gas assets of the Company to a new class of preferred shares to be issued to each existing shareholder on the basis of one preferred share for each common share. The Company would then seek to grow by issuing common shares to acquire assets or business in order to grow the Company to a size to qualify for a listing on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. Because the Proxy statement was delayed, for a number of reasons, the annual meeting was actually held on February 28, 1996. At the Annual meeting, shareholders voted to create a new Class B preferred share. The oil and gas assets of the Company would be pledged for the benefit of these Preferred B shares. These Class B shares will be distributed, on a one for one basis, to the existing shareholders. The shareholders then authorized a new Class A preferred share to be issued to provide management of the Company with both preferred and common shares to be utilized in investing in new businesses. The shareholders also authorized the name of the Company to be changed to Croff Enterprises, Inc. The management, using the existing common shares and the newly authorized Class A shares now intend to use these shares and available cash to acquire assets or businesses in order to enable the Company, over time, to reach a size that its stock can be traded on the NASDAQ stock Exchange. Management presented no specific proposals for new acquisitions or businesses, to the shareholders, nor had any been discussed by the Board of Directors at or before the Annual meeting. The Board is currently considering a number of ideas for the growth of the Company in the future. It is expected that there will be very significant dilution to the existing shareholders in the common stock of Croff Enterprises, Inc. The assets of the Company, not being pledged to the Preferred B shares, are its status as a public company, its liquid assets, and its tax loss carryforward. With the distribution of the Class B preferred shares, which carry with it the benefit of the current oil and gas assets, the Board determined to set out to expand the Company by acquiring assets with more potential for growth. The Company in March of 1995, purchased a 2% interest in a $6 million note secured by a mortgage on a coal mine in Indiana. This investment of $100,000 was made using $50,000 in cash on hand and borrowing $50,000 from the Company's bank, Union Bank and Trust of Denver, Colorado. The note was repaid on March 1, 1996. The Company's investment is as a stockholder in Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C., a limited liability company formed in Indiana by a group of investors and the owners of the mine, who are in control of this venture. Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. purchased a non-performing $6 million note, secured by the Buck Creek Coal Mine, from the Old Nation Bank in Evansville, Indiana, for the discounted price of $3,500,000. Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. was funded with $5 million, of which $3,500,000 purchased the note and $1,500,000 provided working capital. Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. is secured by the mine and equipment, and has an option to acquire control of the mine following payoff of the note. The current mine owners have a right to retain 20% of the equity in the mine after the note is paid off. The mine operated during 1995 and interest payments were made on the $6 million note. In December of 1995, the major purchaser of the coal from the mine, a utility, cancelled the contract. Management of the mine determined to shut down the mine at that time, because a new contract was not likely, and losses at the mine would be significant without a market for the coal. Currently, no payments are being made on the note and the equipment at the mine is being liquidated. Buck Creek Mine has now filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C., as the major creditor of the Mine, expects to receive the mine and its equipment in the Plan of Reorganization in Bankruptcy, which is expected to be a plan of liquidation. Croff Oil Company has elected to treat the payments received so far as repayment on its investment and not as income. Croff expects to receive payments on its investment from the cash in Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C., the litigation against the utility, and the sale of equipment at the mine. At this time, management of the L.L.C. and the mine expect that investors in Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. will receive at least 100% of their investment returned. Management of the Company will continue to monitor this investment and seek to obtain a liquidation of this investment as soon as possible. In 1995, the Company also purchased a small interest in the Ash Unit, a pooled oil field in Campbell County, Wyoming. The Company also participated in a small interest in a gas well in Wyoming and as a royalty owner in continued development in the Bluebell-Altamont Field. In 1994, the Company purchased small non-operating working interest in three oil wells and one gas well. It also purchased a royalty interest in a gas well in Texas. This was a continuation of the Company's policy of continuing to purchase non-operated interest in long-lived wells. In 1994, the Company received an increase in production from coal seam gas wells in La Plata County, Colorado, and San Juan County, New Mexico. In 1993, the Company purchased a small stripper field in Medina County, Texas. The Company paid $135,000 in aggregate for this field during 1993 and 1994. The Company entered into an agreement with a local operator in Medina County to purchase the production company and the leases, subject to a carved-out production payment to Croff Oil Company. The carved-out production payment is secured by a mortgage on the leases and the equipment. The local operator does not have significant financial resources, so the continued payment of the "carved out production payment" is dependent on the ability of this operator to stay in business, which is dependent on the price of oil. Production Resources has continued to operate and rework many of the wells in this field. The Taylor Ina field has produced at a level enabling the operator to maintain the 200 barrel per month carved-out production during most of this time, but not the higher production payments the Company had anticipated might develop. Currently the production payments have totaled over $70,000 on the Company's $135,000 investment. (c) Major Customers Customers which accounted for over 10% of revenues were as follows for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995: 1993 1994 1995 Oil and gas: ANR Production Company 23.9% 20.0% 25.3% * Pennzoil Production Company 19.2% 12.5% 11.9% Oasis Oil Company/E&A Oil ----- 16.3% 15.6% * Includes Coastal Production Company (d) Financial Information About Industry Segments The Company's operations presently consist of oil and gas production. During previous years the Company has generated revenues through the purchase and resale of oil and gas leasehold interests, however, no significant revenues were generated from this source for the last five years. Further information concerning the results of the Company's operations in this one industry segment can be found in the Financial Statements. (e) Environmental and Employee Matters The Company's interest in oil and gas operations are indirectly subject to various laws and governmental regulations concerning environmental matters, as well as employee safety and health within the United States. The Company does not believe that it has any direct responsibility for or control over these matters as it does not act as operator of any oil or gas wells. The Company is advised that oil and gas operations are subject to particular and extensive environmental concerns, hazards, and regulations. Among these regulations would be included the Toxic Substance Control Act; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act; The Clean Air Act; The Clean Water Act; The Safe Drinking Water Act; and The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (also known as Superfund). Oil and gas operations are also subject to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations concerning employee safety and health matters. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), OSHA, and other federal agencies have the authority to promulgate regulations that have an impact on all oil and gas operations. In addition, various state and local authorities and agencies also impose and regulate environmental and employee concerns per-taining to oil and gas production, such as The Texas Railroad Commission. Often, though not exclusively, compliance with state environmental and employee regulations constitutes an exemption or compliance with federal mandates and regulations. As indicated above, the Company does not have any direct control over or responsibility for insuring compliance with such environmental or employee regulations as they primarily pertain to the operator of oil and gas wells and leases. In no instances does the Company act as the operator. The effect of a violation by an Operator of a well in which the Company had a working interest would be that the Company may incur its pro-rata share of the cost of the violation. In all events, the Company is not aware of any instance in which it was found to be in violation of any environmental or employee regulations or laws, and the Company is not subject to any present litigation or claims concerning such matters. It should be noted, however, that in some instances the Company could in the future incur liability even as a non- operator for potential environmental waste or damages or employee claims occurring on oil and gas properties or leases in which the Company has an ownership interest. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES (a) Oil and Gas Mineral Interests and Royalties The Company owns perpetual mineral interests which total approximately 4,600 net mineral acres, of which approximately 1,100 net acres are producing. These mineral interests are located in 110,000 gross acres in Duchesne, Uintah, Wasatch and Carbon Counties in Utah, and approximately 40 net mineral acres in La Plata County, Colorado, and San Juan County, New Mexico. In 1993, the Company purchased a carved out production payment in Medina County, Texas. This carved out production payment is for a fixed number of barrels, from 200 to 360 barrels per month, for which no operating expenses are charged other than taxes. For this reason, the carved out production payment is similar to an overriding royalty interest rather than a working interest. This carved out production payment is received from approximately 110 wells in Medina County, Texas . As of December 31, 1995, the Company was receiving royalties from approximately 200 producing wells in the Bluebell-Altamont field in Duchesne and Uintah Counties, Utah. Royalties were also received from scattered interests in Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Oil and gas revenues to the Company, primarily from royalties, were approximately $196,000 in 1995, $197,000 during 1994, and $201,000 during 1993. Royalty income is contingent upon market demand, prices, producing capacity, rate of production, and taxes, none of which are in the control of the Company. The most important factor to the Company's revenue and profit, is the price of oil and natural gas. Oil prices have fluctuated during the last year with posted prices for sweet oil in Utah ranging from almost $19 in January to a low of around $16 during the year, and back to $18 a barrel by the end of the year. Oil prices overall in 1995, maintained the recovery in the latter half of 1994 from the extremely low prices in 1993. In early 1996 the prices have increased from the prices of late 1995. The market in oil prices, having declined since late 1990, appears to have turned around, and average oil prices may be higher in 1996 than in 1995. Natural gas prices were definitely higher, averaging up to $2 per MCF by the final quarter of 1995. After hitting a low in the summer of 1995, the average price moved upward each month. The cold winter of 1995-1996 has sustained these prices during the first quarter of 1996. However, due to the low natural gas prices in the Rocky Mountains, Croff Oil Company's average price for natural gas was about the same in 1995 as in 1994. (b) Oil and Gas Working Interests In 1995, the Company purchased a working interest in the Ash Unit in Campbell County, Wyoming. This is a pooled field which has operating costs equal to about one half of the net revenue. The Company invested primarily in a note secured by a coal mine in 1995 and thus purchased less oil and natural gas leases. In 1994, the Company purchased small working interests in a gas well in New Mexico; a gas well in Alabama; a gas well in Oklahoma; and a waterflood in Wyoming in which the Company already had a working interest. The Company spent an aggregate of less than $25,000 on these purchases. The remaining cash flow of the Company was spent on acquiring the remaining one-third interest in the producing leases in Medina County, Texas. While the Company does not participate in expenses on this lease, it did loan Production Resources, Inc. the sum of $5,500 in order to buy equipment to increase production on this lease. The Company expects to recover this amount over a period of approximately 18 months. The Company anticipates improved income from higher prices from its natural gas sales during the next year. The Company plans on resuming its oil and gas well purchases in 1996. The Company sold its interest in one well in North Dakota in 1995. In 1993, the Company sold its working interest in the five wells which it had purchased in 1992 in Frio County, Texas. It determined these wells were not profitable and were sold for salvage value. The Company did not participate in any other drilling in 1993 and did not purchase any further working interests. In 1992, the Company purchased working interests in eleven wells in North Dakota. The Company sold its interest in three of these wells at a profit during the year. Of the remaining wells, six are currently producing and one is plugged and abandoned. All are operated by outside operators. The Company also purchased a small working interest in a well in Lea County, New Mexico. In 1991, the Company participated (less than a 1% interest) in the successful drilling of a natural gas well in Utah. In 1990, the Company participated in a rework of a Utah well, and purchased small working interests in 7 wells in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana. The Company owns an interest in two gas wells in Beaver County, Oklahoma, and owns an interest in two gas wells in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, one gas well in Washington County, Colorado, and seven wells in the Bluebell-Altamont field in Northeastern Utah. Except for purchasing a small interest in the one well in 1991, and another in 1995, the Company has not engaged in drilling activity. The Company has participated in the reworking of two existing wells, one in Utah and one in North Dakota. The Company participates in new wells drilled by other operators as a royalty owner. A royalty owner generally receives a smaller interest, but does not share in the expense of drilling or operating the wells. During 1993 the Company received a royalty interest in four wells drilled in the Bluebell-Altamont field in Utah. The Company is not involved in any current drilling activity, but may participate in drilling ventures during the next fiscal year. ESTIMATED PROVED RESERVES, FUTURE NET REVENUES AND PRESENT VALUES The Company's interests in proved developed and undeveloped oil and gas properties have been evaluated by management for the fiscal years ending December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993. All of the Company's reserves are located within the continental United States. The following table summarizes the Company's estimate of proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993. ____________________________________________________________________________ Reserve Category As of Proved Developed Proved Undeveloped Total 12/31 Oil (Bbls) Gas (Mcf) Oil (Bbls) Gas (Mcf) Oil (Bbls) Gas (Mcf) 1993 57,564 153,328 20,054 24,993 77,618 178,321 1994 56,772 167,394 17,047 21,246 73,819 188,640 1995 53,508 204,865 17,047 13,111 70,555 217,976 __________________________________________________________________________ The estimated future net revenues (using December 31, prices and costs for each respective year, and the present value of future net revenues (discounted at 10%) for the Company's proved developed and proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995 are summarized as follows: _______________________________________________________________________________ Proved Developed Proved Undeveloped Total ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Present Present Present Future Value of Future Value of Future Value of As of Net Future Net Net Future Net Net Future Net 12/31 Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue Revenue 1993 $ 760,586 $ 487,219 $ 284,954 $ 182,977 $ 1,045,540 $ 670,196 1994 $ 843,349 $ 528,504 $ 254,226 $ 200,831 $ 1,097,465 $ 729,335 1995 $ 866,034 $ 539,782 $ 246,791 $ 196,504 $ 1,112,824 $ 736,287 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Proved developed" oil and gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered from existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. "Proved undeveloped" oil and gas reserves are reserves that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relative major expenditure is required for recompletion. For additional information concerning oil and gas reserves, see the Supplemental Information - Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities - Unaudited, included with the Financial Statements filed as a part of this report. Since December 31, 1994, the Company has not filed any estimates of its oil and gas reserves with, nor were any such estimates included in any reports to, any state or federal authority or agency, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission. Oil and Gas Acreage During the last five fiscal years, the Company decreased its holdings in undeveloped oil and gas leases and generally retained its holdings in developed oil and gas leases. The Company's acreage position was relatively static during the fiscal years ending December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995. "Developed Acreage" consists of lease acres spaced or assignable to production on wells having been drilled or completed to a point that would permit production of commercial quantities of oil or gas. "Gross Acreage" is defined as total acres in which the Company has any interest; "Net Acreage" is the actual number of mineral acres in which the mineral interest is owned entirely by the Company. All developed acreage is held by production. The acreage is concentrated in Utah, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama widely dispersed in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. COMPANY'S INTEREST IN PRODUCTIVE WELLS (Gross and Net) The following table shows the Company's interest in productive wells as of December 31, 1995. Oil Wells (1) Gas Wells (2) Gross Net Gross Net 359 36.9 10 .75 (1) Primarily located in the Bluebell-Altamont field in Northeastern Utah, and Taylor-Ina field, Medina County, Texas. (2) Primarily located in Rio Blanco and LaPlata Counties, Colorado, Beaver County, Oklahoma, and San Juan County, New Mexico. HISTORICAL PRODUCTION TO COMPANY The following table shows approximate net production to the Company of crude oil and natural gas for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995: _________________________________________________________________ Crude Oil Natural Gas (Barrels) (Thousands of Cubic Feet) MCF Year Ended Dec. 31, 1993: 8,680 23,903 Year Ended Dec. 31, 1994: 8,823 30,884 Year Ended Dec. 31, 1995: 8,278 38,250 ______________________________________________________________ There are no delivery commitments with respect to the above production of oil and natural gas, except on wells in which the Company has a royalty interest. The Company is unaware of the circumstances of any delivery commitments on royalty wells. AVERAGE SALES PRICE AND COSTS BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA The following table shows the approximate average sales price per barrel (oil) and Mcf (1000 cubic feet of natural gas), together with production costs for units of production for the Company's production revenues for 1993, 1994 and 1995. ___________________________________________________________________________ 1993 1994 1995 Average sales price per bbl of oil $ 17.05 $15.59 $15.62 Average production cost per bbl $ 5.47 $ 4.62 $ 4.70 Average. sales price per Mcf of natural gas $ 2.17 $ 1.68 $ 1.40 Average production cost per Mcf of natural gas $ .50 $ .49 $ .47 _______________________________________________________________________ The average production cost for oil was stable in 1995 when compared to 1994, $4.62 per barrel in 1994 and $ 4.70 per barrel in 1995. The average production cost is dependent on the percent of working interest wells to total production. The Company's purchase of a "carved out" production interest which is free of operating expenses in 1994, nearly offset higher operating costs and workover costs on existing wells in 1995, resulting in a slight increase in overall production costs during the last year. The average production cost for natural gas remained stable the last three years, $0.50 in 1993, $0.49 in 1994, and $0.47 in 1995. This was caused by increased sales of natural gas against a fixed operating cost, and higher gas production from royalty wells, resulting in a lower price per MCF. The Company's oil and gas operations are conducted by the Company through its corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado. (c) Mining Interests The Company has an indirect interest in coal leases in Sullivan County, Indiana. These coal leases are security for a promissory note in which the Company holds a 2% interest. The leases were operated as the Buck Creek Coal Mine during 1995, but were shut down at the end of 1995, due to cancellation of a contract by the purchasing utility. The Company has not made any reserve estimates of coal in place on such leases as the interest is indirect and the Company does not anticipate that the mine will be operated in the future. The Company expects the mine to be sold and the equipment liquidated at the present time. The Company currently has no mining operations on its mineral interests. The Company owned patented mining claims in Tooele County, Utah which had a cost basis of $6,855. Management wrote off their value for financial reporting purposes in 1985. In early 1992, these claims were sold for $100. (d) Corporate Offices and Employees The corporate offices are located at 1433 Seventeenth Street, Suite 220, Denver, Colorado 80202. The Company is not a party to any lease but currently pays $1,400 a month to Jenex Operating Company, which is partially owned by the Company's president, for office space and all office services, including rent, phone, office supplies, secretarial, land, and geology. The Company's office expenses are approximately $17,000 per year. The Company's agreement with Jenex committed it to continuing this office sharing arrangement through 1992. Currently the Company is continuing this arrangement on a month-to-month basis. The Company believes this arrangement is below true market rate for equivalent facilities and services. The Company currently has five (5) directors. The Company has three (3) part-time employees, a president and two assistant secretaries employed at the Company's corporate offices. None of the officers or employees are represented by a union. (e) Foreign Operations and Subsidiaries The Company has no foreign operations, exports, or subsidiaries. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS There are no legal actions of a material nature in which the Company is engaged. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS The Company's 1995 annual meeting was held at the Croff Oil Company office in Denver, CO on February 28, 1996. The Company solicited proxies on the following matters, with the results of the balloting being as follows: RESULTS Election of Directors Approval of Auditors Gerald L. Jensen For: 283,284 For: 283,649 Against Abstain: 1,200 Abstain: 800 Richard H. Mandel, Jr. Class A Preferred Shares For: 278,649 For: 272,919 Abstain: 5,360 Against: 10,415 Dilworth A. Nebeker Abstain: 750 For: 255,248 Special Class B Shares Abstain: 9,593 For: 282,709 Edwin Peiker Against: 625 For: 278,649 Abstain: 750 Abstain 5,360 Julian Jensen For: 278,649 Abstain: 5,360 PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS In November 1991, the stock was reverse split 1 for 10 and the current trading range of approximately $1.00 bid $1.10 asked, was established. The pink sheets must be considered an arbitrary broker listing rather than an actual trading range. No assurance can be given that the stock will trade in such range, or at all. In all events, there is almost no trading in the Company's securities. The following tabulation represents the limited reported transactions known to the Company or reported on the local inter-dealer quotation system (pink sheets) during the last three years. There is no precise information available to the Company with respect to transactions in the pink sheets during the last twelve months, since only a very limited market exists for trading the shares. _______________________________________________________________ BID RANGE (1), (2), (3) Calendar Quarter Bid Asked 1993: First Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Second Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Third Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Fourth Quarter $1.00 $1.10 1994: First Quarter $1.10 $1.20 Second Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Third Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Fourth Quarter $1.00 $1.10 1995: First Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Second Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Third Quarter $1.00 $1.10 Fourth Quarter $1.10 $1.20 _________________________________________________________________ (1) Only a few transactions resulting in the transfer of stock took place in 1993, 1994 or 1995. (2) In 1991, the Company tendered for its own 1:10 reverse split shares at $1.00 per share net to the shareholder. Approximately 29,000 shares were purchased by the Company. All prices shown are following the implementation of the reverse split. (3) The Company repurchased approximately 10,000 of its shares for its treasury in 1995 at $1.00 and $1.05 per share from an estate and a bankruptcy trustee. As of December 31, 1995, there were approximately 1,200 holders of record of the Company's common stock. The Company has never paid a dividend and has no present plan to pay any dividend. ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fiscal Year Ended December 31: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ REVENUES Operations Oil and Gas $ 177,676 $ 183,171 $ 201,182 $196,780 $195,834 Other Revenues 13,742 6,993 7,606 6,139 9,596 Expenses 153,773 159,670 166,854 167,080 173,919 Net Income 37,645 23,350 42,579 34,183 31,511 Net Income Per Common Share (1) .07 .04 .08 .06 .06 Working capital 89,196 50,723 74,934 74,401 26,457 Long-term debt -- -- -- -- -- Total assets 332,752 356,486 402,414 430,327 505,018 Stockholders' equity 319,050 342,199 384,673 418,856 440,527 Dividends per share NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE _________________________________________________________________
(1) Amounts restated for reverse split in 1991. ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITIONS AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (a) Results of Operations Oil and gas sales for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, were on par with 1994, $195,834 in 1995 versus $196,780 in 1994. Carved out production payments was a larger percent of the total, and natural gas production from coal seam gas increased, which, because of its low price, brought the average gas price lower. Oil revenue, from slightly lower total production was increased by the higher prices. Lower prices for higher production of natural gas was due to expiration, in 1994 and 1995, of fixed price contracts where prices had been above market. While oil prices from various fields vary, the price of oil, rose during the first quarter of the year, fell in the second quarter, was flat in the third quarter and then rose in the fourth quarter of 1995. Overall the price increased by the end of the year approximately a dollar over the beginning of the year. This was the first year in the last three when oil production was essentially flat as the Company benefitted from higher prices. Natural gas prices were lower during the first half of 1995, and then began to rise. During the last half of the year, natural gas prices rose from around $1.20 MCF to about $1.70/MCF. Because some of Croff's natural gas production had been locked in at higher prices due to previous contracts, only a portion of Croff's natural gas production benefitted because of this increase. The natural gas production for Croff was higher with the increase in coal seam gas which is a lower priced product. The oil revenues of Croff comprise approximately seventy percent of its revenues and natural gas is approximately thirty percent. Operating costs increased from 1994 to 1995 from $51,983 in 1994 to $55,584 in 1995. This increase in lease operating expenses was due to higher costs in some of the Utah fields where Coastal completed workovers on wells acquired from Linmar Petroleum Company. The overall strategy of the Company in using its cash flow to purchase interests in oil and gas properties has resulted in gradual increases in net oil and gas production. The Company has sold or abandoned its interest in wells with high operational costs. General and administrative costs varied little in 1995 at $66,698 from $65,815 in 1994. There was no shareholders meeting in 1994 and the shareholders meeting in 1995 involved a reorganization of the Company. There were increased accounting and legal costs incurred as part of the proposed reorganization. The Company's other income in 1995 was the result of the sale of an oil well and interest on cash and liquid assets. (b) Capital Resources and Liquidity The Company increased its current assets in 1995 to $90,948. However, its current liabilities increased from $11,471 to $64,491 due investing in the promissory note secured by the coal mine in Indiana. The Company accumulated cash in order to pay off this note, which was paid off on March 1, 1996. Thus while the current ratio of the Company at the end of December, 1995 was approximately 3:2, the current ratio in early 1996 is approximately 3:1. The Company is currently seeking oil and gas assets which would set its investment criteria and would be likely to borrow funds again in order to purchase properties which would add to its cash flow. Since the Company has no long term debt, it would intend to repay any loans within less than two years. The Company continues to enjoy a positive cash flow that it will utilize to invest. Because of the recent reorganization of the Company, the Company intends to use its cash flow for oil and gas purchases which will benefit the new Class B preferred share stockholders, and to acquire assets using its stock, primarily to benefit the common shareholders of the Company. The Company would expect that future cash positions and liquidity will be dependent upon its success in finding acquisitions. Because the Company's revenues are primarily from royalty payments and the Company does not have significant operating expenses, inflation is favorable to the Company. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA See index to financial statements, financial statement schedules, and supplemental information, beginning with Page 26 (F-l) hereof. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None. PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT (a)(b)(c) Identification of Directors, Officer and Signifi- cant Employees. The Croff Board consists of Gerald L. Jensen, Dilworth A. Nebeker, Richard H. Mandel, Edwin W. Peiker, and Julian D. Jensen. Each director will serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders, or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. The following is provided with respect to each officer and director of the Company as of March 1, 1996. GERALD L. JENSEN, 56, PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR. President of Croff Oil Company since October, 1985. Prior to this date, Mr. Jensen was Chairman of Petro-Silver, Inc., a public company, for over five years. Mr. Jensen was a director of Pyro Energy Corp., a public company engaged primarily in coal production, from 1978 until the Company was sold in 1989. Mr. Jensen is also an owner of private real estate, development, and oil and gas companies. RICHARD H. MANDEL, JR., 66, DIRECTOR. Since 1982, Mr. Mandel has been President and a Board Member of American Western Group, Inc., an oil and gas producing company in Denver, Colorado. He is President and also a Board Member of Richard H. Mandel, Ltd., an oil and gas production company in Denver, Colorado. From 1977 to 1984, he was President of Universal Drilling Co., Denver, Colorado. Since May 1988, he has been a Board Member of Richmond Exploration Company. Since July 1994, he has been a Board Member of Wichita River Oil Company which is listed on the American Stock Exchange. DILWORTH A. NEBEKER, 55, DIRECTOR. Mr. Nebeker served as President of Croff from September 2, 1983 to June 24, 1985, and has been a director of Croff since December, 1981. He has been a lawyer in private practice for the past nine years. Prior thereto, he was a lawyer employed by Tosco Corporation, a public corporation, from 1973 to 1978. He was a lawyer with the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1967 to 1973. EDWIN W. PEIKER, JR., 64, DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY. Mr. Peiker was President of Royal Gold, Inc. from 1988 through 1991, and continues to be a director. Since 1986, Mr. Peiker has been a Vice President and director of Royal Gold, Inc., a public company engaged in gold exploration and mining activities. Prior thereto he was involved in private investments in oil and gas exploration and production. Mr. Peiker was employed in responsible positions with AMAX, Inc., a public corporation, from 1963 to 1983. AMAX is primarily engaged in mine evaluation and resource analysis. JULIAN D. JENSEN, 48, DIRECTOR Mr. Jensen is the brother of the Company's president and has served as legal counsel to the Company for the past seven years. Mr. Jensen has practiced law, primarily in the areas of corporate and securities law, in Salt Lake City, Utah, since 1975. Mr. Jensen is currently associated with the firm of Jensen, Duffin, Carman, Dibb & Jackson, which acts as legal counsel for the Company. The Company has no knowledge of any arrangements or understandings between directors or any other person pursuant to which any person was or is to be nominated or elected to the office of director of the Company. ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (a) Remuneration During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, there were no officers, employees or directors whose total cash or other remuneration exceeded $60,000. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Summary Compensation Table 1995 Compensation of C.E.O. (1) Salary Bonus Other Stock Options Total All Compensations $48,000 per 0 0 0 $48,000 annum ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Gerald L. Jensen is employed part time as the President and C.E.O. of Croff Oil Company. Directors, excluding the President, are not paid a set salary by the Company, but are paid $250 for each half-day board meeting and $350 for each full-day board meeting. (b) Proposed Remuneration During the current fiscal year, the Company intends to compensate outside directors at the rate of $250 for a half day meeting and $350 for a full day meeting, a rate which was instituted in October, 1985. Based on the current remuneration, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996, no officer or director shall receive total cash remuneration in excess of $60,000. (c) Options, Warrants or Rights Directors were authorized and issued stock warrants in 1991, that essentially provide each director a warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's stock at $1.00 per share through 1995. The President's warrant is for 20,000 shares. The warrants to purchase stock were extended for four more years at the Board of Directors meeting on November 1, 1995. The expiration date of the warrants is December 31, 1999. The chart below sets out the terms and value of the above warrants to all officers and directors. _ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Current Officers and Directors Warrants (1) Warrant to Termination Exercise Current Value Buy Date Price (Estimated) (2) Each Director except President 10,000 shares 12/31/99 $ 1.00 $ 1,100 President 20,000 shares 12/31/99 $ 1.00 $ 2,200 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) All warrants were granted in November, 1991. None have been exercised. (2) Current stock price $1.00 - $1.10. Warrant value estimated at 10% of current stock price. There is no market for warrants and extremely limited market for stock. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT (a)(b) Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Company as of December 31, 1995, by (a) each person who owned of record, or beneficially, more than five (5%) percent of the Company's $0.10 par value common stock, its only class of outstanding voting securities, and (b) each director and nominee and all directors and officers as a group. Shares Percentage of Beneficially Class of Owned Stock _________________________________________________________________ Jensen Development Company(1) 132,130 25.58% 1433 Seventeenth Street, Suite 220 Denver, Colorado 80202 Gerald L. Jensen 71,215 (2) 13.22% 1433 Seventeenth Street, Suite 220 Denver, CO 80202 Edwin W. Peiker, Jr. 14,000 (2) 2.66% 550 Ord Drive Boulder, CO 80401 Dilworth A. Nebeker 11,300 (2) 2.15% 201 East Figueroa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Richard H. Mandel, Jr. 10,100 (2) 1.92% 3333 E. Florida #94 Denver, Colorado 80210 Julian D. Jensen 46,532 (2)(3) 8.84% South State Street, Suite 380 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 Directors as a Group 285,277 49.48% _________________________________________________________________ (1) Jensen Development Company is wholly owned by Gerald L. Jensen. (2) Includes a warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's stock at $1.00 per share, expiring December 1999. Mr. Gerald Jensen's warrant is for 20,000 shares. None of the warrants have been exercised. (3) Includes shares held in Jensen Family Trust (21,432) and Jensen Revocable Trust (10,100) in which Julian D. Jensen is the Trustee and approximate 33% beneficial owner. Mr. Gerald L. Jensen holds an approximate 38% beneficial interest in these Trusts. ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS The Company currently is in an office sharing arrangement with Jenex Corporation, hereafter "Jenex", a company in which the President, Gerald L. Jensen, is a 50% shareholder. Jenex provides offices, phone, office supplies, photocopier, fax, and all normal and customary office services. In addition, the Company shares two assistant secretaries who are paid by Jenex. Jenex also provides assistance from a geologist. Croff currently reimburses Jenex $1,400 per month for all of these expenses. These arrangements were entered into in order to reduce the Company's overhead. The Company is currently continuing this arrangement on a month-to- month basis. In the opinion of management, the amounts paid by Croff to Jenex for the lease, equipment use, and other services is below the cost for such items if independently obtained. The Company retains the legal services of Jensen, Duffin, Carman, Dibb & Jackson. Julian Jensen, a director, as a professional corporation, is part of this association. Legal fees paid to this law firm for the years ending 1995, 1994 and 1993 are, respectively, $2,221, $370, and $1,594. ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a)(1) Financial Statements. See index to financial statements, financial statement schedules, and supplemental information as referenced in Part II, Item 8, and the financial index on Page F-1 (p.26) hereof. These reports are attached as Exhibits and are incorporated herein. (b) Reports on Form 8-K None. (c) Exhibit Index I. Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants II. Proxy Statement for Meeting on February 28, 1996 III. Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. Corporate Articles and By- Laws IV. Memo and Letter from Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. dated February 8, 1996 and December 26, 1995. V. Letter to Production Resources, Inc., dated March 4, 1996. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. REGISTRANT: CROFF OIL COMPANY Date:_______________ By:_____________________________ Gerald L. Jensen, President, Chief Executive Officer Date:_______________ By:_____________________________ M. Ward Smith Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated. Date:_______________ By:______________________________ Gerald L. Jensen, Director Date:_______________ By:______________________________ Richard H. Mandel, Jr., Director Date:_______________ By:______________________________ Edwin W. Peiker, Jr., Director Date:_______________ By:______________________________ Dilworth A. Nebeker, Director Date:_______________ By:______________________________ Julian D. Jensen, Director Page Number I. Financial Statements Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants. . . . . .F-2 Balance Sheet - December 31, 1994 and 1995. . . . . . . . . .F-3 Income Statement - Years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-5 Statement of Stockholders' Equity - Years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995. . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-6 Statement of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-7 Notes to Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-8 II. Supplemental Information - Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities - Unaudited. . . . . . . . . .. . F-13 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Board of Directors and Stockholders Croff Oil Company We have audited the balance sheet of Croff Oil Company at December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the related statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on them based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Croff Oil Company as of December 31, 1994 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for marketable equity securities in 1993. Denver, Colorado March 18, 1996 CAUSEY DEMGEN & MOORE INC. CROFF OIL COMPANY BALANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995 ASSETS 1994 1995 Current assets: Cash, including an interest bearing account of $13,953 (1994) and $28,051 (1995) $ 19,385 $ 37,933 Marketable equity securities 24,250 15,500 Accounts receivable: Oil and gas purchasers 26,684 28,425 Refundable income taxes 10,053 4,290 Note receivable 5,500 4,800 Total current assets 85,872 90,948 Property and equipment, at cost: Oil and gas properties, successful efforts method: Proved properties 457,198 457,874 Unproved properties 110,051 110,051 567,249 567,925 Less accumulated depletion and depreciation (222,794) (249,154) 344,455 318,771 Furniture, fixtures and equipment 4,536 - Less accumulated depreciation (4,536) - - - Net property and equipment 344,455 318,771 Coal investment (Note 2) - 95,299 $430,327 $505,018 CROFF OIL COMPANY BALANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1994 AND 1995 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 1994 1995 Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 10,934 $ 10,829 Accrued liabilities 537 3,662 Note payable (Note 2) - 50,000 Total current liabilities 11,471 64,491 Commitments (Notes 2, 4 and 9) Stockholders' equity (Notes 5 and 10): Common stock, $.10 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, 579,143 shares issued 57,914 57,914 Capital in excess of par value 909,983 909,983 Accumulated deficit (476,235) (444,724) 491,662 523,173 Less treasury stock at cost, 52,788 shares (1994) and 62,628 shares (1995) (72,806) (82,646) Total stockholders' equity 418,856 440,527 $430,327 $505,018 CROFF OIL COMPANY INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995 1993 1994 1995 Revenue: Oil and gas sales (Note 8) $201,182 $196,780 $195,834 Gain (loss) on disposal of oil and gas properties 645 (1,656) 5,289 Other income 7,606 6,139 4,307 Total revenue 209,433 201,263 205,430 Costs and expenses: Lease operating expense 59,346 51,983 55,584 General and administrative (Note 3) 69,633 65,815 66,698 Rent expense - related party (Note 4) 16,800 16,800 16,800 Depreciation and depletion 21,075 32,482 30,245 Interest - - 4,592 Total costs and expenses 166,854 167,080 173,919 Net income (Note 6) $ 42,579 $ 34,183 $ 31,511 Net income per share (Note 7) $ .08 $ .06 $ .06 CROFF OIL COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1993, 1994 AND 1995 Capital in Common Stock excess of Treasury Accumulated Shares Amount par value stock deficit Balance, December 31, 1992 579,143 $57,914 $909,983 $(72,701) $(552,997) Purchase of 100 shares of Treasury stock - - - (105) Net income for the year ended December 31, 1993 - - - -42,579 Balance, December 31, 1993 579,143 57,914 909,983 (72,806) (510,418) Net income for the year ended Balance, December 31, 1994 579,143 57,914 909,983 (72,806) (476,235) Purchase of 9,840 shares of treasury stock (Note 5) - - - (9,840) - Net income for the year ended December 31, 1995 - - - - 31,511 1993 1994 1995 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 42,579 $ 34,183 $ 31,511 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and depletion 21,075 32,482 30,245 Loss (gain) on disposal of properties (645) 1,656 (5,289) Loss (gain) on marketable equity securities (4,080) 4,250 (60) Bad debt expense 2,250 3,000 - Change in assets and liabilities: Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable (4,869) 3,558 4,022 Increase (decrease) in accounts payable 2,320 (5,046) (105) Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities 1,134 (1,224) 3,125 Total adjustments 17,185 38,676 31,938 Net cash provided by operating activities 59,764 72,859 63,449 Cash flows from investing activities: Note receivable - (5,500) 700 Proceeds from sale and leases of property 51,307 1,500 11,285 Purchase of oil and gas interests (90,000) (70,354) (10,557) Purchase of marketable equity securities (16,660) - - Proceeds from sale of marketable equity securities 8,910 - 8,810 Purchase of coal investment - - (100,000) Distributions from coal investment - - 4,701 Net cash used in investing activities (46,443) (74,354) (85,061) Cash flows from financing activities: Purchase of treasury stock (105) - (9,840) Proceeds from note payable - - 50,000 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (105) - 40,160 Increase (decrease) in cash 13,216 (1,495) 18,548 Cash at beginning of year 7,664 20,880 19,385 Cash at end of year $ 20,880 $ 19,385 $ 37,933 Supplemental disclosure of cash information: During the year ended December 31, 1995, the Company paid cash for interest in the amount of $4,138. See accompanying notes. F-7
CROFF OIL COMPANY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION- DISCLOSURES ABOUT OIL AND GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES- UNAUDITED 1. Summary of significant accounting policies Croff Oil Company (the Company) is engaged in the business of oil and gas exploration and development, primarily through ownership of perpetual mineral interests and acquisition of oil and gas leases. A summary of the Company's significant accounting policies is as follows: Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Marketable equity securities: In 1993, the Company changed its method of accounting for marketable equity securities as a result of adopting Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. This statement provides for reporting certain equity securities at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. The effect of this change on the operating results for the year ended December 31, 1993 is to recognize unrealized gains of $3,251 in earnings. The aggregate cost of marketable equity securities at December 31, 1994 and 1995 was $25,249 and $8,590, respectively. Accounts receivable: The Company considers accounts receivable to be fully collectible; accordingly, no allowance for doubtful accounts is required. If amounts become uncollectible, they will be charged to operations when that determination is made. Oil and gas property and equipment: The Company follows the "successful efforts" method of accounting for its oil and gas properties. Under this method, all property acquisition costs and costs of exploratory and development wells are capitalized when incurred, pending determination of whether the well has proven reserves. If an exploratory well does not result in reserves, the capitalized costs of drilling the well, net of any salvage, are charged to expense. The costs of development wells are capitalized, whether the well is productive or nonproductive. The Company annually evaluates the net present value of future cash flows, by lease, and records a loss if necessary, when net book value exceeds projected discounted cash flow. The acquisition costs of unproved properties are assessed periodically to determine whether their value has been impaired and, if impairment is indicated, the costs are charged to expense. Geological and geophysical costs and the costs of carrying and retaining undeveloped properties (including delay rentals) are expensed as incurred. Capitalized costs are amortized on a units- of-production method based on estimates of proved developed reserves. Other property and equipment: Depreciation is provided for on the straight-line method over estimated lives ranging from three to seven years. Income taxes: The provision for income taxes is based on earnings reported in the financial statements. Deferred income taxes are provided using a liability approach based upon enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the taxes become payable. Coal investment: The investment is recorded at cost. Revenues and distributions are recorded using the cost recovery method (see Notes 2 and 10). Cash equivalents: For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Financial statement reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years' financial statements to conform to the 1995 presentation. 2. Coal investment In March 1995, the Company purchased a 2% interest in a limited liability company (LLC) in exchange for $100,000, $50,000 of which was borrowed by the Company pursuant to a one year 10.5% bank loan, guaranteed by the Company' president. The LLC acquired a mortgage note on a coal mine in Indiana, and the Company has an option to acquire a 2% interest in the mine for a nominal payment. In December 1995, the major purchaser of coal from the mine, a utility, canceled the contract. The operations at the mine have subsequently been shut down and assets are being liquidated. Based upon an analysis of available assets, the Company believes that an impairment of the recorded asset is not indicated. 3. Related party transactions The Company retains the services of a law firm in which a partner of the firm is a director of the Company. Legal fees paid to this firm for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 amounted to $1,594, $370 and $2,222, respectively. 4. Operating lease commitments The Company has a month-to-month agreement with an affiliated company to provide for office services and sublease office space for $1,400 per month. 5. Common stock On November 1, 1991, the Company's shareholders approved the issuance of warrants to purchase 60,000 shares of the Company's common stock at $1.00 per share to members of the Company's Board of Directors. During 1995, the warrants were extended and are exercisable at any time through December 31, 1999. The warrants must be exercised for not less than 5,000 shares at any time of exercise. As of December 31, 1995, no warrants have been exercised. 6. Income taxes At December 31, 1995, the Company had net operating loss carry- forwards of approximately $550,500, which, if not used, will expire as follows: Year of expiration Amount 1997 $ 10,500 1998 93,000 2000 447,000 $550,500 In addition, the Company has a depletion carryover of approximately $512,000 which has no expiration date. The Company did not record an income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 due to the utilization of a tax loss carryforward for each of the years. The recognized tax benefit of the utilized carryforward was $7,600, $7,500 and $8,400 for each of the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995, respectively. The Company has a financial statement loss carryover of approximately $433,000 remaining at December 31, 1995. The difference in financial statement and tax return loss carryovers is principally the difference in the timing of deducting intangible drilling costs. Income tax credit carryovers for financial and tax purposes approximate $2,700 from pre-1986 transactions. As of December 31, 1994 and 1995, total deferred tax assets, liabilities and valuation allowance are as follows: 1994 1995 Deferred tax assets resulting from loss carryforwards $222,000 $205,000 Deferred tax liabilities (44,000) (44,000) Valuation allowance (178,000) (161,000) $ - $ - 7.Income per share Income per share information is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each year, approximately 526,000 shares in 1993 and 1994, and 521,000 shares in 1995. 8. Major customers Customers which accounted for over 10% of revenues were as follows for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995: 1993 1994 1995 Oil and gas: Customer A 23.9% 20.0% 25.3% Customer B 19.2% 12.5% 11.9% Customer C * 16.3% 15.6% * - less than 10% 9. Contingent note payable The Company executed a $50,000 note payable on October 1, 1993 to an individual in conjunction with an agreement to purchase certain oil and gas leases in Medina County, Texas. Pursuant to the agreement, the note bore interest at 8% and was due on September 30, 1994. Payment of the note principal and interest was contingent upon obtaining the one-third interest assignment of the underlying oil and gas leases. During the year ended December 31, 1994, certain assignments were received and the Company paid $45,000 in full settlement of its obligation under the note. 10.Subsequent events On February 28, 1996, the shareholders of the Company approved the creation of 5,000,000 authorized Class A Preferred shares and 520,000 authorized Special Class B Preferred shares. The shareholders also approved the issuance of the Special Class B Preferred shares to existing shareholders of the Company on the basis of one share per each share of common stock currently held, to operate and pledge the oil and gas assets of the Company for the benefit of the Special Class B Preferred shares, and to change the name of the Company to Croff Enterprises, Inc. In November, 1982, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued and the SEC adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69 (SFAS 69) "Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities". SFAS 69 requires that certain disclosures be made as supplementary information by oil and gas producers whose financial statements are filed with the SEC. These disclosures are based upon estimates of proved reserves and related valuations by the Company. No attempt is made in this presentation to measure "income" from the changes in reserves and costs. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved reserves as computed under SFAS 69 guidelines may not necessarily represent the fair value of Croff's oil and gas properties in the market place. Other factors, such as changing prices and costs and the likelihood of future recoveries differing from current estimates, may have significant effects upon the amount of recoverable reserves and their present value. The standardized measure does not include any "probable" and "possible" reserves which may exist and may become available through additional drilling activity. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is developed as follows: 1. Estimates are made of quantities of proved reserves and the future periods during which they are expected to be produced based on year-end economic conditions. 2. The estimated future production of proved reserves is priced on the basis of year-end prices except that future prices of gas are increased for fixed and determinable escalation provisions in contracts (if any). 3. The resulting future gross revenue streams are reduced by estimated future costs to develop and produce the proved reserves, based on year-end cost and timing estimates. 4. A provision is made for income taxes based upon year-end statutory rates. Consideration is made for the tax basis of the property and permanent differences and tax credits relating to proved reserves. The tax computation is based upon future net cash inflow of oil and gas production and does not contemplate a tax effect for interest income and expense or general and administrative costs. 5. The resulting future net revenue streams are reduced to present value amounts by applying a 10% discount factor. (Continued) Changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows are calculated as follows: 1. Acquisition of proved reserves is based upon the standardized measure at the acquisition date before giving effect to related income taxes. 2. Sales and transfers of oil and gas produced, net of production costs, are based upon actual sales of products, less associated lifting costs during the period. 3. Net changes in price and production costs are based upon changes in prices at the beginning and end of the period and beginning quantities. 4. Extensions and discoveries are calculated based upon the standardized measure before giving effect to income taxes. 5. Purchase of reserves are calculations based on increases from the Company's acquisition activities. 6. Revisions of previous quantity estimates are based upon quantity changes and end of period prices. 7. The accretion of discount represents the anticipated amortization of the beginning of the period discounted future net cash flows. 8. Net change in income taxes primarily represents the tax effect related to all other changes described above and tax rate changes during the period. All of the Company's oil and gas producing activities are in the United States. Oil prices During the year ended December 31, 1995, crude oil prices and natural gas prices remained relatively flat. The ultimate amount and duration of oil and gas price fluctuations and their effect on the recoverability of the carrying value of oil and gas properties and future operations is not determinable by management at this time. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR PRODUCING ACTIVITIES The results of operations for oil and gas producing activities, excluding capital expenditures, corporate overhead and interest costs, are as follows for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995: 1993 1994 1995 Revenues $201,182 $196,780 $195,834 Lease operating costs 59,346 51,983 55,584 Depletion, depreciation, and amortization 21,075 32,482 30,245 80,421 84,465 85,829 Income tax expense - - - Results of operation from producing activities (excluding corporate overhead and interest expense) $120,761 $112,315 $110,005 CROFF OIL COMPANY STANDARDIZED MEASURE OF DISCOUNTED FUTURE NET CASH FLOWS AND CHANGES THEREIN RELATING TO PROVED OIL AND GAS RESERVES Year ended December 31, 1993 1994 1995 Future cash inflows $1,475,000 $1,465,000 $1,480,000 Future production and developmentcosts (430,000) (368,000) (367,000) 1,045,000 1,097,000 1,113,000 Future income tax expense - - - Future net cash flows 1,045,000 1,097,000 1,113,000 10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows (375,000) (367,000) (377,000) Standardized measure of dis- counted future net cash flows $ 670,000 $ 730,000 $ 736,000 The following are the principal sources of change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows: Beginning balance $ 660,000 $ 670,000 $ 730,000 Evaluation of proved undeveloped reserves, net of future production and development costs (12,000) 18,000 6,000 Purchase of proved reserves 90,000 70,000 10,000 Sales and transfer of oil and gas produced, net of production costs (142,000) (145,000) (140,000) Net increase (decrease) in prices and costs (193,000) 51,500 81,000 Extensions and discoveries 33,000 16,500 7,000 Revisions of previous quantity estimates 224,000 - 36,000 Accretion of discount 10,000 49,000 6,000 Net change in income taxes - - - Other - - - Ending balance $ 670,000 $ 730,000 $ 736,000 CROFF OIL COMPANY PROVED OIL AND GAS RESERVE QUANTITIES (All within the United States) Oil reserves Gas reserves (bbls.) (Mcf.) Balance, December 31, 1992 45,744 113,700 Revisions of previous estimates 16,054 50,000 Purchase of reserves 21,000 - Extensions, discoveries and other additions 3,500 38,524 Production (8,680) (23,903) Balance, December 31, 1993 77,618 178,321 Revisions of previous estimates - - Purchase of reserves 3,980 31,400 Extensions, discoveries and other additions 1,044 9,803 Production (8,823) (30,884) Balance, December 31, 1994 73,819 188,640 Revisions of previous estimates 2,514 36,000 Purchase of reserves 2,500 - Extension, discoveries and other additions - 28,586 Production (8,278) (35,250) Balance, December 31, 1995 70,555 217,976 Proved developed reserves December 31, 1993 57,564 153,328 December 31, 1994 56,772 167,394 December 31, 1995 53,508 204,865 Costs incurred in oil and gas producing activities for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 are as follows: 1993 1994 1995 Property acquisition, exploration and development costs capitalized $90,000 $70,354 $10,557 Production costs 59,346 51,983 55,584 Depletion and depreciation 21,075 32,482 30,245 EXHIBIT II. PROXY STATEMENT CROFF OIL COMPANY 1995 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS February 28, 1996 THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS BEING MAILED TO SHAREHOLDERS OF RECORD IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF THEIR VOTE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CROFF OIL COMPANY (the Company) with regard to the Annual Meeting to be held on February 28, 1996 at 10:00 a.m. at 1433 Seventeenth Street, Suite 220, Denver, Colorado 80202, Telephone: (303) 297-3383. This Proxy Statement should be reviewed in connection with the enclosed copy of the Annual Report filed on SEC Form 10-K dated December 31, 1994, and the most recent 10-Q unaudited report for the quarter ending September 30, 1995. VARIOUS ITEMS OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND ACCOUNTING FOR THE COMPANY RELATED TO THIS PROXY STATEMENT ARE SET-OUT IN THE ENCLOSED ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K OR THE MOST RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10- Q. SUCH DETAILED INFORMATION MAY BE RELEVANT IN REVIEWING THIS PROXY STATEMENT, BUT IS NOT REPEATED IN THIS DOCUMENT. ACCORDINGLY, EACH SHAREHOLDER SHOULD REFER TO THE FORMS 10-K & 10-Q BEFORE COMPLETING THEIR PROXY BALLOT. Proxies voted in accordance with the accompanying ballot form which are properly executed and received by the Secretary to the Company prior to the Annual Meeting will be voted. Revocability of Proxy A shareholder returning the enclosed proxy ballot has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised and may do so by written notice to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth above, effective upon receipt of such written notice, or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting, in and of itself, will not constitute revocation of a proxy. Voting Securities The record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is the close of business on December 31, 1995. There were issued, outstanding and entitled to vote on such date approximately 516,515 shares of the 20,000,000 authorized shares. The Company has only one class of Common Shares, each of which is entitled to one vote. The Company does not have cumulative voting. Accordingly, each shareholder may vote all of his shares on each separate ballot proposal. The Company will bear all costs of this proxy solicitation. Shares entitled to vote will be determined based upon the official shareholder record of January 1, 1996. Actual votes cast will be determined by the physical counting of votes in person or proxy by the inspector of elections to be appointed prior to the meeting by the Board of Directors. Any dispute as to votes or entitlement to vote will be decided by majority vote of the Board of Directors. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted for either quorum or ballot purposes. As to each item to be voted upon in this Proxy, a numerical majority of the issued and outstanding shares must be present or voted by Proxy at the meeting (258,258 shares, or as otherwise determined by the inspector of elections at the time of meeting). Each proposal to be voted upon will only be adopted by a majority vote of shares voted at the meeting, provided a quorum is present. That is, each item will be adopted by an affirmative vote of not less than 129,129 shares, or a greater majority of those shares present as otherwise determined by the inspector of elections. There are no matters to be voted upon as described by this Proxy upon which management will proceed absent majority shareholder approval as described above. The Company knows of no person or group, except the following, which, as of the date of this Proxy Statement, beneficially owns and has the right to vote more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock: Names and Address of Beneficial Owner Shares Beneficially Owned Percent of Class 1. Jensen Development Company (1) 132,130 25.10% 1433 17th Street, Suite 220 Denver, Colorado 80202 2. Gerald L. Jensen (2) 71,215 13.03% 3. Julian D. Jensen (2)&(3) 46,532 8.68% Jensen Revocable Trust 4. Directors as a Group (2) 285,277 49.50% ___________________________________________________________________ (1) Jensen Development Company is wholly owned by Gerald L. Jensen. (2) Includes warrants to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company's stock by each director at $1.00 per share, expiring December 31, 1998. Mr. Gerald Jensen's warrant is for 20,000 shares. None of the warrants have been exercised. (3) Mr. Julian D. Jensen owns 5,000 shares directly and holds a warrant for 10,000 shares (see Note 2, above); 21,432 are held by him as the Trustee of the Jensen Family Trust and 10,000 as the Trustee of the Jensen Revocable Trust. Mr. Julian D. Jensen has an approximate 25% beneficial interest in these Trusts and Mr. Gerald L. Jensen has an approximate 33% beneficial interest. MATTERS SUBJECT TO SHAREHOLDER VOTE I. Election of Directors The Croff Board consists of Gerald L. Jensen, Dilworth A. Nebeker, Richard H. Mandel, Jr., Edwin W. Peiker, Jr., and Julian D. Jensen. Each director will serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders, or until his successor is duly elected and qualified. The following information is provided with respect to each current officer and director of the Company who are current nominees for re-election. GERALD L. JENSEN, 55, PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR. President of Croff Oil Company on a part-time basis since October, 1985. Prior to this date, Mr. Jensen was Chairman of Petro-Silver, Inc., a public company, for over five years. Mr. Jensen was a director of Pyro Energy Corp., a public company engaged primarily in coal production from 1978 until the company was sold in 1989. Mr. Jensen is also an owner of private real estate, development, and oil and gas companies. RICHARD H. MANDEL, JR., 66, DIRECTOR. Since 1982, Mr. Mandel has been President and a Board Member of American Western Group, Inc., an oil and gas producing company in Denver, Colorado. He is President and also a Board Member of Richard H. Mandel, Ltd., an oil and gas production company in Denver, Colorado. From 1977 to 1984, he was President of Universal Drilling Co., Denver, Colorado. Since May 1988, he has been a Board Member of Richmond Exploration Company. Since July 1994, he has been a Board Member of Wichita River Oil Company, listed on the American Stock Exchange. DILWORTH A. NEBEKER, 54, DIRECTOR. Mr. Nebeker served as President of Croff from September 2, 1983 to June 24, 1985, and has been a director of Croff since December, 1981. He has been a lawyer in private practice for the past seven years. Prior thereto, he was a lawyer employed by Tosco Corporation, a public corporation, from 1973 to 1978. He was a lawyer with the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1967 to 1973. EDWIN W. PEIKER, JR., 63, DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY. Mr. Peiker was President of Royal Gold, Inc. from 1988 through 1991, and continues to be a director. Since 1986, Mr. Peiker has been a Vice President and director of Royal Gold, Inc., a public company engaged in gold exploration and mining activities. Prior thereto he was involved in private investments in oil and gas exploration and production. Mr. Peiker was employed in responsible positions with AMAX, Inc., a public corporation, from 1963 to 1983. AMAX is primarily engaged in mine evaluation and resource analysis. JULIAN D. JENSEN, 47, DIRECTOR. Mr. Jensen is the brother of the Company's president and has served as legal counsel to the Company for the past seven years. Mr. Jensen has practiced law, primarily in the areas of corporate and securities law, in Salt Lake City, Utah since 1975. Mr. Jensen is currently associated with the firm of Jensen, Duffin, Carman, Dibb & Jackson which acts as legal counsel for the Company. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION AS TO DIRECTORS NAME Director Since Compensation Number of Shares Percentage (Beneficial &Legal) of Issued Outstanding GERALD L. JENSEN (1) 1985 Salary as 203,345 38.13% President: (See Principal $48,000 - No Shareholder Chart Benefits - above) No Director Compensation See Below DILWORTH NEBEKER 1981 Normal 11,300 2.11% (2) Director Stipend Only (See Below) RICHARD MANDEL 1985 Normal 10,100 1.88% (2) Director Stipend Only (See Below) EDWIN PEIKER, JR. 1985 Normal 14,000 2.61% (2) Director Stipend Only (See Below) JULIAN D. JENSEN 1990 Normal 46,532 8.68% (2) & (3) Director (See Principal Stipend Only Shareholder Chart, (See Below) above (1) Includes shares held by Jensen Development Corporation (132,130) as wholly owned by Gerald L. Jensen. (2) Includes warrant expiring December 31, 1998 to acquire 10,000 shares by each Director, except Gerald L. Jensen, who holds a warrant for 20,000 shares. No warrant has been exercised to date. Warrants may be extended by majority vote of the Board. (3) Includes shares held in Jensen Family Trust (21,432) and Jensen Revocable Trust (10,100) in which Julian D. Jensen is the sole Trustee and an approximate 25% beneficial owner. Mr. Gerald L. Jensen holds an approximate 33% beneficial interest in these Trusts. Executive Compensation Certain additional required information concerning remuneration, other compensation and ownership of securities by the Directors and Officers is set-out in the enclosed 10-K Report and incorporated by this reference. See particularly pg. 21. Proposed Remuneration During the current fiscal year, the Company intends to compensate outside directors at the rate of $250 for a half-day meeting and $350 for a full day meeting, a rate which was instituted in October, 1985. No changes are currently contemplated in officer salaries. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions Certain significant relationships and related transactions are set-out in the enclosed 10-K Report and incorporated by this reference. See particularly pg. 24. Management's Stock Rights and Options A discussion of managements stock rights and options are discussed at page 22 of the enclosed and incorporated 10-K Report. II. Creation and Issuance of Class B Preferred Stock The Board of Directors of your corporation, over a period of time, has discussed solutions to the problem of achieving shareholder value and liquidity considering the size, nature and structure of the business of Croff Oil Company. Specifically, the Board of Directors believes that the present oil and gas interests, consisting chiefly of small royalty interests in numerous non- operating holdings, creates unique problems when these assets are vested in a public company which is too small to have an active trading market. In summary, the Board is concerned about the following issues: 1 While revenues and income from Croff's oil and natural gas interests have been generally stable, they are insufficient for significant growth and expansion of the Company. Management does not expect that the present Company can substantially grow in value or size with existing income from its present oil and gas assets. 2 At present, there is no active trading market for Croff stock; nor is there any foreseeable probability that an active trading market will develop. Based upon preliminary inquiries, there seems to be very little interest in the brokerage community for any underwriting to raise additional capital for the Company, as presently constituted, in order to expand its present oil and gas operations. In considering various alternative solutions to the foregoing problems, the Board has considered and approved a proposal for shareholder ratification whereby the oil and gas assets of the Company would be pledged to secure a new Class B of preferred stock. This preferred stock would be distributed to shareholders on a one share for one share basis (1:1) to the existing shareholders. The oil and gas assets would remain in the Company, but the benefit of these assets would be exclusively represented by the preferred Class B shares held by each shareholder instead of the common shares, as more particularly described below. There will be 520,000 Preferred Class B shares authorized. The purpose of this proposal is to protect, so far as possible, the existing perpetual mineral interests and other oil and gas assets of the Company, for the benefit of existing shareholders, while management seeks to grow the Company through more risky business ventures with potentially greater growth potentials. It is proposed, for the reasons explained below, that each of the present shareholders in Croff Oil Company will receive one (1) new share of preferred Class B stock in the Company (to be renamed Croff Enterprises, Inc.) for each common share currently owned. To avoid confusion, and to reflect the future business activities of the old Croff, it is proposed that Croff Oil Company become known as Croff Enterprises, Inc., ("CEI"). The Board believes that this name will more accurately reflect the intent of the Board of Directors to search out diversified business opportunities, domestically or internationally, for the company, and that such business activities may or may not be related to its historical oil and gas operations or interests. The Board intends to continue to employ the trade name Croff Oil Company for existing oil and gas operations where appropriate. If the within proposal to create the special Class B preferred shares is adopted, management of Croff will then enter into a Pledge Assignment whereby the company's beneficial interest in all oil and gas or other mineral assets, including products and revenues, (oil and gas assets) will be irrevocably and exclusively assigned to the Class B preferred shareholders (the current Croff shareholders), subject only to the terms of the Assignment, as generally outlined below. In essential terms, the assignment of the beneficial interest will mean that all income or other distributions from the oil and gas assets will only be paid or distributed to the Class B shareholders, pro rata to your sharehold interest. It would further mean that the Class B shareholders would have the exclusive right to claim their proportional interest in the oil and gas assets, or proceeds therefrom, in the event of the liquidation and final distribution or other sale or transfer of the company's assets. While the company will retain legal title and ownership of the oil and gas assets for administrative, liability and management reasons, it is intended to beneficial interest (beneficial interest is defined for this Proxy as that aspect or attribute of any asset or interest having monetary value after all normal costs of production or operations are paid) is believed to be subject to claims by any person or entity other than the Class B shareholders. It should be understood Croff will reserve management control over the oil and gas assets, to include, the right to buy and sell oil and gas leases or other interests or products, pay all normal and customary costs of production and operations from revenues, and to enter into farmouts, pooling agreements or operating contracts with the oil and gas assets as is customary or typical in the oil and gas industry. However all such transactions will be subject to the preservation of the Class B shareholder's security in the beneficial interest of such assets, or proceeds therefrom, unless released by the Class B shareholders pursuant to majority vote. It is intended that any net income (net income being defined for this Proxy as income remaining from revenues of oil and gas production after payment of normal costs of production and operations) will be used either: (i) to acquire other oil and gas interest, (ii) to buy back preferred Class B shares if such a program is subsequently adopted by the Board and the shareholder elects to participate, (iii) or to pay dividend distributions to Class B shareholders from the net income derived from the oil and gas assets. The company has no present plans to pay dividends. The foregoing purports to be a general description of the Pledge Assignment to be entered by Croff in favor of the Class B shareholders if the proposed reorganization, as described herein, is adopted by the required number of shareholders. Any shareholder wishing to examine the proposed Pledge Assignment or Amended Articles may obtain a copy of such documents by contacting the company offices at the address indicated at the beginning of this Proxy Solicitation and a copy will by promptly mailed or faxed to you. IT IS REPRESENTED THAT WHILE MANAGEMENT HAS ATTEMPTED TO DRAFT THE PLEDGE ASSIGNMENT TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM PRIORITY AND PROTECTION TO THE CLASS B SHAREHOLDERS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THIRD PARTY CREDITOR CLAIMS; NO WARRANTY OR ASSURANCE, HOWEVER, CAN BE MADE THAT THE COMPANY WILL, IN ALL INSTANCES, BE SUCCESSFUL IN ASSERTING THE PRIORITY OF THE CLASS B SHAREHOLDERS IN THE OIL AND GAS ASSETS AS TO ANY FUTURE THIRD PARTY CLAIMANTS. The company does represent the oil and gas assets are not presently subject to any current third party claims, liens or charges, nor does Croff presently intend to create any future subordinate liens or encumbrances in the oil and gas assets. As a net result of approval of the reorganization, each Croff shareholder will hold one (1) share of preferred Class B stock in the new CEI for each share of common stock which you presently hold. You would continue to own your common stock in Croff, which would be designated common stock of CEI. The existing Board of Croff Oil Company will continue as the Board of the renamed Company (Croff Enterprises, Inc.). None of you, as prospective preferred Class B shareholders of CEI, will have any additional voting interest in or control over CEI. The preferred shares will have voting rights only in special situations, such as any sale, pledge, mortgage or exchange of the oil and gas assets. EACH PRESENT SHAREHOLDER OF THE COMPANY SHOULD NOTE THAT, AT PRESENT, MANAGEMENT, OR PARTIES AFFILIATED WITH MANAGEMENT, HOLD A NEAR MAJORITY OF VOTING SHARES (43.60%) AND WILL MOST LIKELY CONTINUE TO EXERCISE AN EFFECTIVE CONTROL POSITION IN THE COMPANY IN THE EVENT OF THE CLOSE OF THE PROPOSED REORGANIZATION. FURTHER, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT CEI, TO ACHIEVE ITS PURPOSES, WILL BE REQUIRED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL WHICH WOULD FURTHER REDUCE THE VOTING INTEREST OF ALL OF ITS PRESENT SHAREHOLDERS. CEI will not only continue to operate in the oil and natural gas business, but intends to act as an investor or principal in new business ventures or endeavors either in the United States or on an international basis. It should be emphasized that there are no present business plans, proposals, contracts or agreements defining any potential business activities in which CEI may engage in the future. It is the desire of the Board that CEI may engage in various aspects of international start-up and development businesses, or acquire existing domestic businesses desiring to be part of a public company. Future business activities may or may not include companies in the oil and natural gas business. CEI has no present capital commitments or proposals to engage in its intended business enterprises and can give no assurance that it will be successful in efforts to raise sufficient start-up capital through private funding to engage in new business activities. CEI will continue to operate the existing oil and gas and other mineral interests of the Company as described in the periodic reports (10K & 10Q). The Board of Directors will create amended Articles of Incorporation for CEI which, together with the pledge documents, will provide that each of you as preferred Class B shareholders will have a preferred and priority interest in and to the oil and gas assets, and an exclusive right to receive any net income distribution from the oil and gas assets of CEI, as may be approved by its Board. However, even these provisions within the Articles and pledge documents will not create a priority in such assets in derogation of legitimate third party creditor rights and claims against CEI. The preferred Class B shareholders, however, will have claim to the assets or income of the oil and gas assets in the event of liquidation, merger, acquisition or spin-off. These assets are reserved for the preferred shareholders. No provision exists, nor is there any proposal, to change the present compensation to management of CEI as set-out above under the section on "Executive Compensations" in the event of approval of the proposed reorganization. It is further intended and proposed that the Board of Directors of CEI may utilize a portion of its cash flow to repurchase preferred Class B shares as requested by preferred shareholders. The exact details of any stock repurchase program are not presently available and will not be formulated in detail, if at all, prior to the recommendation to shareholders to adopt the proposals set-out above. It is generally intended that any repurchase would be based upon an annual notice and that payments for shares would be completed on a cash basis. Any present offer to purchase the preferred Class B shares would be priced, initially, at a base of Eighty Cent ($0.80) per share. This price per share was determined by the Board utilizing the current approximate net worth of the oil and gas assets of the Company, $314,620, as derived from the most recent unaudited financials (September 1995 10-Q) and assigning another $100,000 to such net worth figure to represent an estimated fair market value of the oil and gas assets for the Company. This computation was then rounded to $0.80 per share to create the base valuation. Hereafter, the Board would set a repurchase price based on the Board's best estimate of the increase in value of the oil and gas assets of the Company, each year, which would be added onto or subtracted from the existing base valuation of $413,212. This valuation divided by the proposed 516,515 preferred shares to be issued to each current company shareholder would yield a new repurchase evaluation each year. The net asset value is anticipated to change over time, such that present valuations are no assurance of future valuations. The Board will most likely adopt this repurchase program in an effort to create an alternative potential selling opportunity for the preferred Class B shares, with the understanding that no viable market or liquidity has existed during the last ten (10) years for the Croff common shares, and is unlikely to exist for the preferred Class B shares. The Board also may consider implementation of a dividend program for preferred Class B shares, as it may subsequently determine, although such a dividend program is not presently foreseeable. All cash flow from the oil and gas assets not utilized to provide for a buyback program for the preferred shares, or a dividend (if the Board elects to prepurchase stock or pay a dividend) will be reinvested in the oil and natural gas business with the intent to increase cash flow and the net asset value of the preferred shares. Management believes this reorganization should substantially insulate the historical oil and gas interests of the Company, so far as possible, from potential risk and business factors associated with CEI engaging in what should be considered high risk ventures, such as participation in international start-up companies or other types of venture capital funding which may be authorized by the Board of Directors. The Company in order to reach a size necessary to sustain a trading market, must increase it capitalization. There is not sufficient capitalization, at present, to actively engage in other business activities unless CEI is successful in exchanging its common shares or the newly proposed Class A preferred shares, for income producing companies or assets, or the Company engages in subsequent private placement financing, public offerings, or borrowing programs to raise development capital. No assurance can be given that such future financing or business endeavors will be successful. If successful, such capital raising endeavors will most likely result in substantial dilution, both in voting control and ownership interest in CEI to each of you as current shareholders. It is also the position of management, in consultation with their legal counsel, that the distribution of preferred shares in CEI to existing Croff shareholders does not constitute the sale of a security subjecting the Company to registration requirements due to the fact that no consideration would be requested or paid by existing shareholders for the stock dividend in CEI. Moreover, it is believed each shareholder will have substantially the same information which would be available to shareholders pursuant to a registration through the information contained in the accompanying 10- K and 10-Q Reports and this Proxy. Management does not believe the proposed reorganization, if adopted, will result in any material tax consequences to shareholders as the total value of shares held by all shareholders immediately subsequent to adoption of the reorganization would be unchanged from their present valuation. Each shareholder should, however, confer with their individual tax advisors to determine their own tax status and any individual tax consequences. Following the distribution of the preferred Class B shares of Croff Oil Company, each common shareholder will have the same cost or tax basis in the two shares, common and preferred, as he or she previously had in each common share. Based on the estimate of the illiquid nature of the preferred and common shares and the continued illiquidity of the preferred, it is estimated that sixty percent (60%) of the shareholder's basis or cost of the stock should be allocated to the preferred and forty percent (40%) of the basis should be allocated to the common stock. If the foregoing proposals are adopted at the annual meeting, you will continue to hold your common shares of Croff Oil Company, which will be renamed Croff Enterprises, Inc. You will receive your new preferred Class B shares in CEI directly in a mailing from the Company to shareholders of record within a few months from the authorization. Each of you should understand that the Company does not intend to undergo the cost of registration of the distribution of the preferred Class B shares and regards such distribution as a private placement transaction to existing shareholders, not requiring registration. As a result, the preferred Class B shares which you receive will not be free trading shares and will probably have to be held for a substantial period of time, currently two (2) years under SEC Rule 144, before any potential public resales of such securities would be available. Further, there is no anticipation that a public market will ever develop for trading in the preferred Class B shares. Management anticipates that limited liquidity in the preferred Class B shares will be obtained only through the proposed corporate repurchase program as generally described above. Authorization of Class A Preferred Shares Management proposes to concurrently submit for shareholder approval, a resolution to create a second class of preferred stock designated as Preferred Class A stock. It is proposed that Five Million (5,000,000) shares of Class A preferred stock be authorized for possible future capitalization and funding purposes of the Company. Management will reserve the right under the Articles to designate the preferred Class A stock as voting or non-voting at the time of issuance. There is presently no plan or intent to issue these shares. Class A preferred shares, when and if issued, will only be issued for cash or assets. Each shareholder should understand, in making a determination of how to vote on the authorization of this new class of shares, that if the shares are issued as voting shares in the future the effect would be to dilute the voting control of present shareholders. The Class A preferred shares will be subordinate to the Class B preferred shares in any claim or entitlement to the oil and gas properties of the Company and any income interest derived from those assets, but will have priority over the Class B shares as to all other assets of the Company. It is noted, however, that the oil and gas properties and interest constitute almost all current material assets of the company. The remaining assets would consist primarily of miscellaneous small liquid accounts, modest accounts receivables, and some business property. In relation to the common shares, the Class A share will have a dividend priority over common shares. Except as to the oil properties and income derived therefrom, Class A shares will be excluded in the same manner as the common shares from voting upon any of the special pledge and ownership rights of Class B preferred shareholders in the oil and gas interests of the Company. Should any shareholder have any questions regarding these proposals, which are not adequately answered by the general descriptions above, please feel free to direct any questions you may have to management for the Company at the address and telephone number indicated at the beginning of this Proxy Statement. Moreover, while management believes that the foregoing accurately summarizes the proposed transactions, each shareholder wishing to receive a copy of the proposed Amended Articles of Incorporation and the pledge documents will be entitled to receive the same upon written request to the Company. Mr. Gerald L. Jensen, as the present Chief Executive Officer, will continue as President and CEO of Croff Enterprises, Inc. Management's View of Advantages and Disadvantages of the Proposed Transaction Each prospective investor, in determining how to cast their vote concerning the foregoing authorization of the Amended Articles of Incorporation and issuance of the preferred stock, should consider the following factors, including potential risk factors, as identified by management. While management has attempted to identify certain considerations, both advantageous and disadvantageous, to be considered by each prospective shareholder before voting on the proposal, each shareholder should understand that management has generally evaluated these potential factors and believes, for the reasons set-out above, that the approval of the proposals is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. Nonetheless, each shareholder should carefully evaluate each of the following factors before making an informed decision as to how to vote: 1 There is no assurance that CEI, which may very well operate as some type of venture capital company or which may attempt to buy an existing business, will be able to raise any capital for such purposes or be successful in those developmental efforts. In all events, venture capital financing, either domestic or foreign, must be considered an extremely high risk investment. 2 Current Management of the Company, and as prospective management for CEI, has no prior experience in the development or management of a domestic or international business unrelated to oil, gas, coal production or real estate. 3 There is no assurance the CEI will be able to purchase existing businesses primarily for stock or will be able to raise sufficient capital to operate in a new line of business. 4 It is the intention of management to use the common stock of CEI to acquire new business assets which will substantially dilute the existing common stock. 5 Shareholders in CEI should understand that management will be required to divide its time, efforts and expertise between two (2) lines of business and that there is a possibility that the quality and extent of management involvement may suffer because of this division of labor and efforts. 6 There is no reasonable expectation that a public market will ever develop for the preferred stock, and no assurance can be made that a public market will be developed for the common stock of CEI even if it is successful in certain developmental projects. While each of the foregoing constitute real and significant risk considerations, the current management believes that these risk factors are substantially mitigated by the fact that historical assets of Croff are being substantially protected while management seeks to develop a new business. In management's opinion, the preferred stock dividend may be considered a gratuitous benefit to shareholders without substantial increased risk to the historical assets or business. Another asset in Croff Oil Company, the tax loss carryforward, will most likely be lost, to a significant extent, if the Company continues in its present mode. Management has reached this conclusion based upon the fact that CEI currently has modest earnings and projects and, absent some significant change in business activities or purposes, income should remain modest for the foreseeable future. If management is correct in these projections, it is likely the tax loss carry forward will expire before it can be utilized to offset most taxable income. If, through the proposed change of business activities, the reorganized CEI were to obtain future enhanced profits, then the tax loss carryforward could be used to partially offset such profits and is, thereby, a contingent asset. It must be emphasized, however, there is no assurance that future business activities of CEI will create any profit and no warranty or guaranty of profitability can be made even if shareholders approve the reorganization. Management is also of the opinion, in consultation with its current auditors, that its tax loss carry forward cannot generally be sold or otherwise transferred for consideration to an unrelated business entity. Accordingly, management encourages each shareholder to vote in favor of the proposed creation of Class A and Class B preferred shares. III. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Accountants The Board of Directors has appointed Causey, Demgen & Moore as independent certified public accountants for the Company to examine the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1995. The appointment of Causey, Demgen & Moore is subject to ratification of the shareholders and a resolution for such ratification will be offered at the Annual Meeting as is contained in the enclosed proxy ballot. Causey, Demgen & Moore have been acting as independent accountants for the Company for seven years and, both by virtue of its familiarity with the Company's affairs, its lower cost, and its ability, is considered by the Board as best qualified to continue its performance of these functions. The present Board of Directors recommends adoption of the resolution retaining the foregoing accounting firm as independent auditors for the Company. The foregoing accountants will have a representative present at the Annual Meeting and have agreed to respond directly to any shareholder accounting questions sent to their office at 1801 California, Suite 4650, Denver, Colorado 80202. Other Matters The Annual Meeting is called for the purposes set forth in the notice thereof. The Board of Directors does not intend to present, and has not been informed that any other person intends to present, any matters for action at the Annual Meeting other than those specifically referred to in the Notice of Meeting and this Proxy Statement. If any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the proxyholders to vote on such matters in accordance with their judgment. Stockholder Proposals There were no stockholders proposals submitted for consideration at the 1995 Annual Meeting. Stockholder proposals intended to be considered at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by The Company no later than March 31, 1996. Such proposals may be included in next year's proxy statement if they comply with certain rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Financial Reports The financial reports for the Company's operations ending December 31, 1994 as attached to the 10-K and the most recent 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 1995, are considered an integral part of this Proxy Statement and are incorporated by this reference. See also, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" at pp. 16-19 of the enclosed 10-K Report which is also incorporated by this reference. Dated: January 31, 1996. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ________________________________________ Gerald L. Jensen, President EXHIBIT III. STATE OF INDIANA OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION CARBON OPPORTUNITIES, LLC I, SUE ANNE GILROY, Secretary of St.ate ot Indiana, hereby certify that Articles of Organization of the above limited liability company have been presented to me at my office accompanied by the fees precsribed by laws and that I have found such articles conform to the provisions of the Indiana Business Flexibility Act, as amended. NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby issue to such limited liability company this Certificate of Organization, and further certify that its existence will begin April 17, 1995. In witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the State ofIndiana, at the City of Indianapolis, this Seventeenth day of April, 1995. SUE ANNE GILROY, Secretary of State ___SA____ Deputy ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION APPROVED AND OF FILED IND. SECRETARY OF CARBON OPPORTUNITIES, LLC STATE The undersigned individual, acting as sole Organizer, hereby forms a Limited Liability Company hereinafter referred to as Company, under the Indiana Business Flexibility Act (I.C 23-18) hereinafter referred to as the Act and does hereby adopt as the Articles of Organization of such Limited Liability Company the following: ARTICLE I. NAME The name of the Company is Carbon Opportunities, LLC. ARTICLE II. PURPOSE The Company shall have unlimited power to engage in and do any lawful act concerning any or all lawful businesses for Which limited liability companies may be organized according to the laws of the State of Indiana, including all powers and purposes now and hereafter permitted by law to a limited liability company. ARTICLE III . REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT Section 1. Registered Office. The street address of the Company's registered office in the State of Indiana at the time of filing these Articles of Organization is 1420 North Cullen Avenue, Evansville, Indiana, 47715. Section 2. Registered_Agent. The name of its registered agent at such office is currently Charles W. Schulties. ARTICLE IV. TERM OF EXISTENCE Section l. Duration of Company. The latest date on which the Company is to dissolve is December 31, 2007, unless sooner dissolved in accordance with the Act or the Company's Operating Agreement as in effect from time to time hereafter. Sectnon 2. Events of Cessation of Membership. Subject to the provision of Section 5 of this Article IV of these Articles so Organization, a person ceases to be a Member of the Company upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 3 and 4 of this Article, when a Member assigns the Member's interest in the Company thereby ceasing to be a Member or to have the power to exercise any rights of a Member. (b) A Member is removed in accordance with the Operating Agreement or a Member is removed by the affirmative vote, approval, or written consent of a majority in interest of the Members after the Member has assigned the Member's entire interest in the Company. (c) In the event a Member, who is an individual, shall die or is adjudicated incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction. (d) If a Member is the trustee of a trust, upon termination of the trust, but not merely the substitution of a new trustee. (e) Member is a partnership, limited partnership, or another limited liability company, upon the dissolution and commencing of winding up of such partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company. (f) If a Member is a corporation upon dissolution of the corporation. (g) If the Member is an estate, upon the distribution of the estate's entire interest in the Company. (h) In the event of a Members bankruptcy as defined in the Operating Agreement. Section 3. Limited Assignment of Members Interest. An individual Member may transfer all or any part of his or her interest in the Company by gift, sale or other transfer, either in trust or outright to or for the benefit of such Members spouse and/or any of the Members lineal descendants whose relationship to the Member is created by either birth or adoption. Section 4. Transfer of Members Interest to a Trust. A Member who is-an individual may transfer all or any part of his or her interest in the Company to a trust created by the Member, provided the Member is the Trustor or Settler of such trust. Section 5. Continuation of Company. If, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the occurrence of an event of cessation of membership set forth in Subsections (a), (subject to Sections 3 an: 4 of this Article), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) of Section 2 of this Article IV, a majority in interest of the remaining Members may agree to continue the Company. Such agreement to continue must be made within four (4) months of the happening of the event Or within four (4) months of the time a Member brings the happening On the event to the attention of the Members, whichever occurs later in time, and such agreement to continue business shall be evidenced by a written consent of such Majority in Interest of the Members or by the consent and approval of such continuation as evidenced bv the vote of a Majority in Interest of the Members at any meeting or the Members. Section 6. Other Events of Cessation of Membership and Method of Dealing with Member. The Operating Agreement may set forth other events of cessation of a Members interest in the Company and may provide for a method of dealing with the interest of any former Member, provided that the Operating Agreement shall provide that any other event of cessation of a Members interest and the method of dealing with the interest of a former Member shall be subject to the affirmative vote or written consent of a majority in interest of the Members. ARTICLE V. MANAGEMENT Section 1. Management of Business and Affairs. The power and authority to manage and control the business and affairs of the Company shall be vested in the Members of the Company. Section 2. No Manager or Manaaement Committee. The Company shall not have a manager or a management committee. Section 3. Execution of Instruments and Companv Bank Account. For the sole purpose of executing instruments, notes, mortgages, leases and other documents for and on behalf of the Company, including the establishment of a banking relationship for deposit and withdrawal of Company funds, the Members, by the vote of a majority in interest, may designate a president, a secretary, an assistant secretary, a treasurer and an assistant treasurer to whom any or all of such authority may be delegated. ARTICLE VI. MEMBERS Section 1. Definition of Member. Any individual, trustee under a written trust, partnership, limited partnership, another limited liability company or corporation who is admitted to membership in the Company in accordance with the Act, the Articles of Organization and the Operating Agreement, and as to whom an -3- event wnich would cause dissolution of the Company has not occurred. Section 2. Voluntarv withdrawal. A Member does not have the power or right to withdraw from the Company by voluntary act. If a Member does withdraw in breach of this provision of the Articles of Organization or if any such withdrawal occurs as a result of otherwise wrongful conduct of a Member, the Company may recover from the withdrawing Member damages for breach of the Articles of Organization, including the reasonable costs of obtaining a replacement of services that the withdrawing Member was obligated to perform. The Company may offset the damages against amounts otherwise distributable to such a withdrawn Member, in addition to pursuing any remedies provided for in the Operating Agreement or available under applicable law. Section 3. Additional Members. Additional Members may be admitted at such time and on such terms and conditions as provided in the Operating Agreement of the Company, provided that any such provision in the Operating Agreement shall be subject to the approval of a majority in interest of the Members. ARRTICLE VII. INDEMNIFICATION Section 1. Liability Covered. The Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that he is or was a Member of the Company, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee or agent of another limited liability company, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding in the same manner and to the same extent permitted by the Indiana Business Corporation Law as in effect and applicable from time to time if this Company was a corporation. Section 2. Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification under these Articles of Organization (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of a Member of the Company, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he would meet the applicable standard of conduct for entitlement to corporate indemnification set forth in the Indiana Business Corporation Law as in effect and applicable from time to time had this Company been a corporation. Such 4 determination shall be made (1) by the Companys Member fly - majority vote of a quorum Consisting of Members who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such quorum is not obtainable, or even if Obtainable, a quorum of disinterested opinion. Expenses incurred in defending a Civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance ol~ the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding as authorized by the Members in the specific case upon receipt or an undertaking by or on behalf of a Member of the Company, employee or agent that he is entitled to be indemni ied by the Company, and will reimburse the Company these advances if it is later determined that said Member of the Company, employee, or agent was not entitled to indemnification. Section 3. Rights Hereunder Not Exclusive Extent of Rights. The indemnification provided by theses Articles of Organnzation shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification may be entitled under any statute, Operating Agreement, vote of Company Members or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. Any indemnification, whether requited under these Articles of Organization or permitted by statute or otherwise, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Member of the Company, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators or such a person. Section 4. Insurance. The Company shall have the power to cause the Company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Member of the Company, employee, or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another limited liability Company, corporation, partnership joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other organization or entity, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any capacity, or arising out of his status as such, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of these Articles of Organization. ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION These Articles of Organization may be amended or restated at any time upon obtaining the affirmative vote or written consent of a Majority in Interest of the Members. Such action may be taken at any meeting of the Company or upon obtaining the written consent or approval of any such amendment or amendments by a majority in interest of the Members. - IN WITNESS THEREOF, the undersigned, being the person designated to execute and file these Articles of Organization verifies, subject to the penalties for perjury, that the statements contained herein are true. Dated this 14th day of April, 1995. ORGANIZER Name: Printed Name : Thomas Kimpel -5- EXHIBIT IV. M E M O R A N D U M TO: Board of Directors/Croff Oil Company FROM: Jerry Jensen DATE: 2-8-96 RE: Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. In January, we were notified that the Buck Creek Coal Contract had been terminated by Central Illinois Power, CIPS. As you know, this was the principal contract for the Buck Creek Coal mine. The compliance coal in the north part of the mine sold to CIPS was our current cash flow and the future potential was the noncompliance coal in the south part. I am attaching a copy of the letter which I have received from the chairman of our limited liability company. While we were completing our Proxy and getting the annual meeting approved, I was also investigating what was really going on at the mine, which is now set out in this letter. This was delayed somewhat when Chuck Schulties, the president of the mine, had to undergo a quadruple bypass operation for his heart. None of this is good news, but it does not appear to be as serious as I first thought. I initially tried to determine if there was any way to continue the mine in operation, so that payments on our note could be met. After discussing the cost of keeping the mine open while a search was made for additional contracts, it became clear that this was likely to eat up the cash that had already been generated. It also would mean incurring higher third party creditor bills when we have a secured position on the assets with Carbon Opportunities, L.L.C. After discussing this with the accounting people, as well as Chuck Schulties and C.A. Robinson, I am convinced that the concept of shutting down the mine immediately and liquidating assets in order to protect the investors in Carbon Opportunities L.L.C. was the best decision. In a liquidation mode, there appear to be the following assets against the $4.7 million investment; (2%Croff) 1) Equipment - $2,400,000 The sale of this equipment has begun and $800,000 has already been realized. We have a mortgage. 2) Cash - The cash is currently in the bank except for the tax refund which was assigned to the corporation to back the note from a previous investor. When this money is collected from the government, the cash should be approximately $900,000. 3) Law Suit against Central Illinois Power - A highly respected law firm which has handled many cases involving the T.V.A. has agreed to accept the law suit against CIPS. The contingency fee arrangement is one-third of the first million, twenty-five percent of the next $750,000, and twenty percent of the balance. It is my experience that attornies will not accept this type of contingent fee case unless they think there is a high likelihood of recovery. I was recently told the attorneys have determined that they would not recommend any offer of settlement at less than $1.5 million. Nevertheless, nothing is sure in a law suit. A law suit has been filed for $6.5 million. 4) Mine and Lease - We also have the mine itself and the lease. The difficulty here is that a payment of $62,000 is due this month on the prepaid royalty. I presume this will have to be made. Thereafter, these quarterly payments of $62,500 will have to continue to be made until the lease is sold and someone assumes this liability. The value of the lease is the United Mineworkers Contract which can be transferred with the lease or even moved to another mine. In addition, there are obvious coal reserves in the mine. An offer to the adjacent utility to sell the lease and mine for $2 million has currently been made. I am less optimistic about the ability to sell the mine and lease. The amount invested by the L.L.C. is $4.7 million. As you can see, the equipment and cash will equal about three- fourths of this amount. The remaining one-fourth to receive 100% of the money we have invested would be dependent on the sale of the lease and the law suit. CIPS terminated the contract contingent with merging with Union Electric out of St. Louis. This merger probably affects significant savings for them in return for which they do not need the coal requirements for certain power plants once they are combined. There is also the law suit with the trucking company which was not paid, which resulted in our shutdown during the summer for a period. This trucking company had sued with the result that a judgment was imminent for transportation charges. Therefore Buck Creek Coal, this current week, has been put into a chapter 11 bankruptcy. At the time of filing this bankruptcy, payments from the sale of equipment to pay off our lien on the equipment must stop. Currently, the cash that has been paid to Carbon Opportunities will remain and we will seek orders allowing the sale of the balance of the equipment against the mortgage as well as all the other assets against our $6 million mortgage. The unsecured creditors may fight back by claiming a link between Carbon Opportunities and the Buck Creek mine and attempt to have our mortgage determined to be equity, not debt. Therefore, we cannot influence the actions of Buck Creek with which we must remain at arms length. My advice was to assign the mine and equipment by deed in lieu of foreclosure prior to filing bankruptcy. This was not followed. This should give you the background for discussing this issue at our meeting February 28, 1996. Please call me if you have any other questions prior to the meeting. ROBINSON ENGINEERING & OIL COMPANY, INC. 1410 N. CULLEN AVENUE P. O. BOX 5269 EVANSVILLE, INDIANA 47716 ENGINEERING & GEOLOGICAL SERVICES phone (812) 477 1575 OIL & GAS LEASE Operations TOLL FREE (800 544-4609 INDUSTRIAL DISPOSAL FAX (8 1 2) 477-1377 TO ALL MEMBERS OF CARBON OPPORTUNITIES, LLC 12-26-95 Dear Fellow Member: This is to advise that CIPS terminated Buck Creeks coal contract effective December 31, 1995 and Buck Creek has not been able to obtain additional contracts for the sale of its compliance coal. Due to this loss of the contract, Buck Creek is in the process of shutting down mining operations and sealing the north portion of the mine. All equipment used in mining the north portion of the mine is being reclaimed and is being put up for sale. We have contacted our attorneys, Statham, Johnson & McCray, to notify the attorneys for Buck Creek that we would like to receive a written proposal from Buck Creek concerning their plans on idling the mine and selling the miningequipment. A copy of Buck Creeks remarks and proposal will be forwarded to you when it is received. As you are aware, Carbon Opportunities has a security interest in all the assets of Buck Creek Coal Company, which includes its equipment. To properly account for the proceeds from the sale of equipment from the mine and protect the funds from Buck Creeks unsecured creditors, we have required that Buck Creek forward all monies to a Carbon Opportunities Equipment Account being set up for this purpose. Also, it has been requested that no equipment be sold without the consent and authorization of Carbon Opportunities. In order for Buck Creek to recover and sell the mining equipment, there will be expenses involved and it will be necessary to provide Buck Creek with the necessary funds for this operation. In the event you want additional information or have any questions concerning this letter, please advise or call the writer. Very truly yours, C. A. Robinson CARgs EXHIBIT V. March 4, 1996 Renny Walker, President Production Resources, Inc. Bandera Star Route Box 46-AF Hondo, Texas 78861 Dear Renny, This will confirm in writing our earlier conversation that Croff Oil Company will quitclaim to P.R.I., all right, title and interest to the leases, carved our production payment, and mortgage on the leases and equipment in the Taylor Ina field in Medina County, Texas. The payment for the conveyance of all of our interest would be $103,500 with an effective date of March 1, 1996, as long as the closing is complete in March, 1996. Thank you. Very truly yours, CROFF OIL COMPANY Gerald L. Jensen GLJ:jg EX-27 2
5 12-MOS DEC-31-1995 DEC-31-1995 37,933 15,550 32,715 0 0 90,948 567,925 (249,154) 505,018 64,491 0 57,914 0 0 382,613 505,018 195,834 205,430 0 173,919 0 0 4,592 31,511 0 31,511 0 0 0 31,511 .06 .06
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