We’re adding Aspen Exploration Corporation (OTC:ASPN) to the Greenbackd Portfolio for the reasons identified by MCN1 in his September 3 guest post. ASPN closed yesterday at $0.985, giving it a market capitalization of just $7.2M. We estimate the liquidation value to be around 20% higher at $8.5M or $1.17 per share. Again, not a huge upside but reasonably certain. There are several potential catalysts in the stock. Investor Tymothi O. Tombar filed a 13D notice on July 30, 2009 disclosing a 5.8% holding and calling for the liquidation of the company. Additionally, the company plans to distribute substantially all of the net, after-tax proceeds from the completion of the Venoco sale to its stockholders, an amount that the company estimates will be from $5M to $5.5M.
About ASPN
From the most recent 10K:
Aspen was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on February 28, 1980 for the primary purpose of acquiring, exploring and developing oil and gas and other mineral properties. Our principal executive offices are located at 2050 S. Oneida St., Suite 208, Denver, Colorado 80224-2426. Our telephone number is (303) 639-9860, and our facsimile number is (303) 639-9863. Our websites are http://www.aspenexploration.com and http://www.aspnx.com. Our email address is aecorp2@qwestoffice.net. During our fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, we were engaged primarily in the exploration, development and production of oil and gas properties in California and Montana. On June 30, 2009, the Company disposed of all of its remaining oil and gas producing assets and is not currently engaged in any oil and gas producing activities. We have an interest in an inactive subsidiary: Aspen Gold Mining Co., a company that has not been engaged in business since 1995.
During more than the past five years through June 30, 2009, our emphasis had been participation in the oil and gas segment, acquiring interests in producing oil or gas properties and participating in drilling operations. We were engaged in a broad range of activities associated with the oil and gas business in an effort to develop oil and gas reserves. Our participation in the oil and gas exploration and development segment consisted of two different lines of business – ownership of working interests and operating properties.
(1) We acquired and held operating interests in oil and gas properties where we acted as the operator of oil and gas wells and properties; and
(2) We acquired and held non-operating interests in oil and gas properties.
Previously, we held a non-operating working interest in approximately 37 oil wells in the East Poplar Field, Roosevelt County, Montana which contributed only nominally (if at all) to our positive cash flow and profitability, and during much of the latter half of calendar 2008 resulted in operating losses. Effective January 1, 2009, we sold our entire interest in these oil properties.
Prior to June 30, 2009, we operated 67 gas wells in the Sacramento Valley of northern California. Additionally, we held a non-operated interest in 26 gas wells in the Sacramento Valley of northern California. As described below, we sold our interest in our California properties on June 30, 2009.
Additionally, in the past we have engaged in business activities related to the exploration and development of other minerals and resources. At the present time, we are not engaged in any drilling operations or acreage acquisition programs nor have we drilled any new wells in our current fiscal year.
The value proposition
ASPN is another relatively simple value proposition: it’s liquid assets of $10.7M of cash and marketable securities against total liabilities of around $2.3M, and it has no active business operations. We’ve set out the valuation below in the usual manner (the “Book Value” column shows the assets as they are carried in the financial statements, and the “Liquidating Value” column shows our estimate of the value of the assets in a liquidation):
The catalyst
ASPN proposes to distribute substantially all of the net, after-tax proceeds from the Venoco transaction to its stockholders. It estimates that this amount will be between $5M and $5.5M or between $0.69 and $0.76 per share. ASPN “needs to complete certain calculations before it is able to determine the dollar amount of the assets to be distributed” but “believes it will be able to make this calculation after the October 28, 2009 settlement date based on preliminary tax calculations.” It also proposes to present a dissolution proposal to its stockholders at its next annual meeting, tentatively scheduled for late November 2009. Such a dissolution is not certain, as ASPN “intends to consider other opportunities in the broad scope of the natural resources industry, which may include an acquisition of assets or business operations, or a merger or other business combination.” ASPN has “engaged in preliminary discussions with third parties about various possibilities” however “none of these discussions have resulted in an agreement or any definitive steps toward the conclusion of any future relationship.” One issue worth noting is that such a transaction “may or may not require stockholder approval”:
If the transaction does not require stockholder approval, the board of directors will be entitled to accomplish the transaction in its discretion, although the board may (but would not be required to) seek an advisory vote of the stockholders. There can be no assurance that Aspen will identify an appropriate business opportunity or corporate transaction and consummate any such transactions.
Tymothi O. Tombar filed a 13D notice on July 30, 2009 disclosing a 5.8% holding and calling for the liquidation of the company:
As Aspen currently has no active business operations and a significant amount of liquid assets, Mr. Tombar believes that there is broad shareholder support for the implementation of a plan of liquidation and distribution of substantially all of the proceeds from the Sale and Aspen’s additional liquid assets to Aspen’s stockholders. Mr. Tombar is considering several stockholder resolutions in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-8 for inclusion in Aspen’s proxy statement for its next meeting of stockholders. In the unlikely event of a delayed meeting of stockholders beyond the anticipated late October or November 2009, Mr. Tombar may acquire a sufficient number of additional shares of Aspen’s stock or contact other shareholders with the intent of calling a special meeting to consider shareholder proposals and the election of new directors to the board of the corporation.
Conclusion
ASPN is trading at a small discount to its liquidation value with a likely catalyst in the near future. At its $0.985 close yesterday, it has a market capitalization of $7.2M against a liquidation value we estimate at $8.5M or $1.17 per share. It’s not a huge upside but we believe it’s reasonably certain given that has no active business operations. There are several potential catalysts in the stock. Investor Tymothi O. Tombar filed a 13D notice on July 30, 2009 disclosing a 5.8% holding and calling for the liquidation of the company. Additionally, the company plans to distribute substantially all of the net, after-tax proceeds from the completion of the Venoco sale to its stockholders, an amount that the company estimates will be from $5M to $5.5M, which equates to between $0.69 and $0.76 per share.
ASPN closed yesterday at $0.985.
The S&P500 closed at 1,057.07.
[Full Disclosure: We have a holding in ASPN. This is neither a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. All information provided believed to be reliable and presented for information purposes only. Do your own research before investing in any security.]
How did you calculate the net cash value and liquidating value? Shouldn’t they be 9.3M and 8.8M respectively?
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I have a question. When you say that you have added ASPN to the portfolio, what price are you using? Although the shares closed at .985 cents yesterday, the bid ask spread is very wide for this issue. Just want to know your cost basis.
Thank you for all the excellent unbaised work.
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Yes, good point. We just used the close yesterday. We’ll update it.
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