Item 1.
BUSINESS
General Description
CKX Lands, Inc. is a Louisiana corporation organized in 1930 as Calcasieu Real Estate & Oil Co., Inc., to receive non-producing mineral royalties spun off by a Southwest Louisiana bank. Over the years, as some of the royalties yielded oil and gas income, the Company used the proceeds to purchase land. On May 17, 2005, the Company changed its name from Calcasieu Real Estate & Oil Co., Inc. to CKX Lands, Inc. The primary reason for the change was to help clarify that the Company is not directly involved in oil and gas exploration or operations. As used herein, the “Company” or “CKX” refers to CKX Lands, Inc.
The Company’s shares are listed on the NYSE Amex (previously known as American Stock Exchange), under the symbol CKX. As of March 22, 2012, there were 1,942,495 shares outstanding. The Company had a common equity public float of less than $75 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter. Consequently, the Company is a small reporting company under the Securities Exchange Commission regulations.
As a reporting company, CKX is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and accordingly files its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The public may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. As an electronic filer, CKX’s public filings are maintained on the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.
The Company owns land and mineral interests, all of which are located in Southwest Louisiana. The Company collects income from this land in the form of oil and gas royalties, agriculture rentals and timber sales. The Company is not involved in the exploration or production of oil and gas nor does it actively farm its lands. These activities are performed by others for royalties or rentals. Parts of the Company’s land are owned in indivision with other owners. The Company’s ownership share in most of this acreage is one-sixth. For convenience the owners jointly operate an entity known as Walker Louisiana Properties (“WLP”) to manage this acreage. Neither the Company nor Walker Louisiana Properties consider themselves to be in oil and gas producing activities inasmuch as: (1) they do not search for crude oil or natural gas in their natural states; (2) they do not acquire property for the purpose of exploration or the removing of oil and gas; and (3) they are not involved in construction, drilling and/or production activities necessary to retrieve oil and gas.
Oil and gas royalties are paid by the operators who own the wells. Timber income is paid by the highest bidder of the timber. There are several mills in the immediate area that compete for timber. All of the agriculture income comes from tenants who pay annual cash rents. The prices paid for oil, gas and timber depend on national and international market conditions. Oil and gas revenues were 90.80% of the Company’s total revenues in 2011 and 84.13% in 2010.
The source of all raw materials for the Company is the land itself. Timber income and agriculture income are renewable resources. All oil and gas income will eventually deplete, but we have no access to this data.
The Company does not spend any money on Research and Development.
The Company does not need government approval of its principal products or services except that the State of Louisiana must approve the size & location of all oil and gas producing units.
Employees
The Company has four employees, all of whom are part-time. There are three officers, and one clerical person. The Company is subject to no union contracts nor does the Company have any hospitalization, pension, profit sharing, option or deferred compensation programs. WLP has five full-time employees, and two of these employees are part-time employees of the Company. One employee of WLP is devoted full-time to agriculture, and one employee of WLP is devoted full-time to timber.
Customers
The Company’s customers are those who have mineral leases on the Company’s property or purchase the timber in competitive bids or execute farming leases. The largest customers are the oil and gas operators under the mineral leases. During 2011, the Company received approximately 16.7% of its total revenues from Gulfmark Energy, 15.5% from Swift Energy Operating LLC, 12.7% from Riceland Petroleum Company, 6.5% from Kaiser-Francis Oil Company, and 6.1% from Cox & Perkins Exploration, Inc. Termination of cash receipts from any of these customers or underlying production would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Environmental and Other Governmental Regulations
The operators of the wells are responsible for complying with environmental and other governmental regulations. However, should an operator abandon a well located on Company land without following prescribed procedure, the land owners could possibly be held responsible. The Company does not believe this would have a material effect on its financial condition.
Item 2.
Item 2.
PROPERTIES
The Company owns a total of 12,505 net acres in the Louisiana Parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, LaFourche, Sabine, St. Landry and Vermilion. Most of the acreage is in Southwest Louisiana. Much of this land is owned in indivision. Ownership is as follows:
Of the total 12,505 net acres owned by CKX, timberland comprises 9,117 acres, 2,251 acres are agricultural land, 943 acres are marsh land and 194 acres are future subdivision land.
The table below shows, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s net gas produced in thousands of cubic feet (MCF), net oil produced in barrels (Bbl), and average sales prices relating to oil and gas attributable to the royalty interests of the Company.
Notes to above schedule:
(1) Before deduction of production and severance taxes.
(2) Excludes plant products.
Item 3.
Item 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company was not involved in any legal proceedings as of December 31, 2011.
Item 4.
Item 4.
SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the three months ended December 31, 2011.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5.
MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The Company’s Common Stock is traded on the NYSE Amex (previously known as American Stock Exchange) under the trading symbol CKX since its listing on December 8, 2003. Prior to the listing there was no established public trading market for the Common Stock, and there had been only limited and sporadic trading in the Common Stock, principally among its shareholders. On March 22, 2011, there were approximately 540 stockholders of record. The Company believes that there are approximately 600 beneficial owners of its Common Stock. There were no sales of unregistered securities of the Company and no purchases of equity securities of the Company during 2011 by the Company. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices for the Common Stock by quarter during 2011 and 2010.
The Company has paid cash dividends since 1990. The Company is currently paying a quarterly dividend of 7¢ per share and intends to maintain quarterly dividends. From time to time, the Company may elect to pay an extra dividend. In determining if an extra dividend will be declared, the Board of Directors will take into consideration the Company’s current liquidity and capital resources and the availability of suitable timberland that has mineral potential. The Company did not pay an extra dividend to shareholders in 2011 or 2010. A summary of cash dividends is set forth in the table below.
Pursuant to a dividend reversion clause in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, dividends not claimed within one year after a dividend becomes payable will expire and revert in full ownership to the Company and the Company’s obligation to pay such dividend will cease. During 2011 and 2010, the Company received $13,375 and none, respectively, in dividend reversions.
Item 7.
Item 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
CKX Lands, Inc. began operations in 1930 under the name Calcasieu Real Estate & Oil Co., Inc. It was originally organized as a spin-off by a bank operating in Southwest Louisiana. The purpose of the spin-off was to form an entity to hold non-producing minerals which regulatory authorities required the bank to charge off. Over the years, as some of the mineral interests began producing, the Company used part of the proceeds to acquire land. In 1990, the Company made its largest acquisition when it was one of four purchasers who bought American Airline’s fifty percent undivided interest in approximately 35,000 acres in Southwest Louisiana.
Today most of the Company’s income is derived from mineral production on the land acquired over the years. CKX receives income from seismic permits, mineral leases and the landowner’s portion of any oil and gas production. CKX also receives income from agriculture rents and timber sales. The Company’s activities are passive in that it doesn’t explore for oil and gas, operate wells or farm land. All timber activities, including planting and harvesting, are contracted.
The Company’s income fluctuates as new oil and gas production is discovered on Company land and as wells deplete.
CKX has small interests in 40 different oil and gas fields. The size of the interest is determined by the Company’s net ownership in the acreage unit for the well. CKX’s interests range from 0.0033% for the smallest to 7.62% for the largest. As the Company does not own or operate the wells, it does not have access to any reserve information.
Eventually, the oil and gas under the Company’s current land holdings will be depleted. The Company is constantly looking for additional land to be purchased in southwest Louisiana. Preferably, the Company searches for timberland that has mineral potential.
Results of Operations
Fiscal Year 2011 Compared to Fiscal Year 2010
Revenues for 2011 were $1,984,914, an increase of 18.76% when compared with 2010 revenues of $1,671,354.
Oil and gas revenues increased by $396,083, or 28.17%, to $1,802,205 in 2011. Oil and gas revenues consist of royalty, lease rental and geophysical revenue. Royalty revenue increased by $371,894 or 31.89%, and lease rentals increased by $13,883 or 5.80%, from 2010. Geophysical revenues increased by $10,306 or 1302.91%, from 2010.
Gas production decreased by 6,947 MCF, and the average gas sales price per MCF increased by 0.44% resulting in a decrease in gas revenue of $34,238. Revenue from oil production, including plants, increased by $406,132, due to an decrease of 3.47% in the average barrel sales price and an increase in production of approximately 7,778 barrels.
The following five fields produced 57.42% and 62.01% of the Company’s oil and gas revenues in 2011 and 2010, respectively. This following schedule shows the number of barrels of oil (Bbl Oil) and MCF of gas (MCF Gas) produced in 2011 and 2010.
From review of the limited information provided by the field operators, it appears field production increases were due to reworking or recompleting existing wells. Field production decreases were due to expected depletion.
In 2011, the Company was a lessor in 10 new mineral leases covering a total of 1,040 gross acres. The Company’s net acres leased in 2011 were 225 acres. The new leased acres are located in three different Parishes and Gonzales County, Texas.
During 2011, the Company saw a steady increase in oil and gas leasing activity as compared to 2010. We believe this change was due to increases in oil prices and a decreased focus on the Haynesville shale play in northwest Louisiana.
Timber income decreased by $65,859 to $100,385, a decrease of 39.62% from 2010. The decrease was a attributable to a depressed timber due to the weak housing market coupled with lower volume sales. Due to the Company performing its internal maintenance programs for age class timber and storm protection measures, the Company sales a fluctuating minimal timber volume each year regardless of market conditions.
Agriculture income decreased by $16,664 or 16.83%. There were no significant changes in our agriculture operations during 2011.
Outlook for Fiscal Year 2012
The Company continues to actively search for lands that meet our criteria of timberland with mineral potential. During 2011, the Company noted an increase in the available timberland for sale at reasonable fair values. We believe that the current national economy condition, primarily a slowdown in construction, has caused the increase and we look for 2012 to provide us with continued opportunities to purchase land. In October, 2011, the Company purchased 800 net acres with standing timber.
Currently, there are 22 non-producing mineral leases covering approximately 2,078 gross acres, or 714 net acres. The Company believes that some of these leases will be drilled and production discovered as oil and gas prices are projected to increase as the national economy improves.
The Company expects timber prices to remain depressed in 2012 due to a continued weak housing market. We do expect timber revenue to remain flat as we perform our maintenance programs during 2012.
We are unaware of any changing trends in our agriculture operations and expect agriculture income to remain flat in 2012.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s current assets and securities available-for-sale totaled $4,917,578 and total liabilities equaled $333,052 at December 31, 2011. Additional sources of liquidity include the Company’s certificates of deposits and an available bank line of credit for $1,000,000.
In the opinion of management, current cash flow from operations, cash and cash equivalents, investments and the available line of credit are adequate for projected operation, possible land purchases and continuation of the regular cash dividend.
Critical Accounting Policies
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 at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of our financial statements include the following items:
Our accounts receivable consist of incomes received after year end for royalties produced prior to year end. When there are royalties that have not been received at the time of the preparation of the financial statements for months in the prior year, we estimate the amount to be received based on the last month’s royalties that were received from that particular company. We do not maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts because we can confirm virtually all receivables before they are booked as income.
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities.
When land is purchased with standing timber, the cost is divided between land and timber based on timber cruises contracted by the Company. Reforestation costs are capitalized and added to the timber asset account. The timber asset is depleted when the timber is sold based on the percentage of the timber sold from a particular tract applied to the amount capitalized for timber for that tract.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain matters contained in this report are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the information contained under the heading “Outlook for Fiscal Year 2012” in Item 7 of this report. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Unless legally required, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information may be obtained by reviewing the information set forth below under “Significant Risk Factors” and information contained in the Company’s reports periodically with the SEC.
Item 7A.
Item 7A.
QUANTITIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Significant Risk Factors
The Company’s business and operations are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including:
Reliance upon Oil and Gas Discoveries
The Company’s most significant risk is its reliance upon others to perform exploration and development for oil and gas on its land. Future income is dependent on others finding new production on the Company’s land to replace present production as it is depleted. Oil and gas prices as well as new technology will affect the possibility of new discoveries.
Commodity Prices
All of the Company’s operating income comes from the sale of commodities produced from its real estate: oil and gas, forest products, and agriculture products. Fluctuations in these commodity prices will directly impact net income. In 2011, average gas prices paid to the Company were 0.44 % higher than the average in 2010, and average oil prices, including plants, were lower in 2011 than in 2010, by 3.47%. If the average oil and gas prices in 2011 reverted to the 2010 averages, income before income tax would have increased by approximately 3.05%.
Interest Rate Risks
The Company has no direct exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and minimal direct exposure to interest rates. The Company has an unsecured line of credit with Chase at their prime rate, but the Company hasn’t utilized this line and has no current plans to do so.
Item 8.
Item 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
All financial statements required by this item are listed in the Table of Contents to Financial Statements appearing immediately after the signature page of this Form 10-K and are included herein by reference.
Item 9.
Item 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A.
Item 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Securities Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of December 31, 2011, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2011.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”) for the Company. In assessing the Company’s ICFR, management follows the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission’s (“COSO”) Internal Control over Financial Reporting - Guidance for Smaller Public Companies Integrated Framework (2006) in assessing the effectiveness of the Company’s ICFR. Management shall determine ICFR ineffective if a material weakness exists in the controls.
Due to the Company’s management inability to assess Walker Louisiana Properties’ ICFR and lack of compensating controls, management has assessed the Company’s ICFR as ineffective as of December 31, 2011. The Company owns a one-sixth interest in WLP and WLP’s activities are material to the Company. WLP prepares cash basis interim financial statements and audited GAAP basis financial statements at year end. At report date, we have not identified a plan or process to remediate the ineffectiveness of the ICFR.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
During the quarter ending December 31, 2011, the Company’s Management followed the COSO Internal Control over Financial Reporting - Guidance for Smaller Public Companies Integrated Framework (2006) when assessing the ICFR. During the quarter ending December 31, 2011, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Item 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
Item 10.
Item 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
The information required by Item 10 as to directors, nominees for directors, reports under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant’s audit committee and an audit committee financial expert is included in the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive officers of Registrant are as follows:
The occupations of such executive officers during the last five years and other principal affiliations are:
There are no family relationships between any of our directors, except Mrs. Leach and Mrs. Werner are mother and daughter, and executive officers or any arrangement or understanding between any of our executive officers and any other person pursuant to which any executive officer was appointed to his office.
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to officers, directors and employees. A copy of the code of ethics will be provided by writing the President at P.O. Box 1864, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70602.
Item 11.
Item 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 is included in the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12.
Item 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by Item 12 is included in the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13.
Item 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required by Item 13 is included in the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14.
Item 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANTS FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 14 is included in the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES
(a)
Documents filed as part of this report:
(1)
Financial Statements. The financial statements filed as part of this report are listed in the Table of Contents to Financial Statements appearing immediately after the signature page of this Form 10-K and are included herein by reference.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules. Financial Statement Schedules are not required.
(3)
Exhibits. See (b) below
(b)
Exhibits:
3.1
Restated/Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)-1 to Form 10 filed April 29, 1981.
3.2
Amendment to Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant is incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3.2) to Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
3.3
By-Laws of the Registrant are incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3.3) to Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 2003.
23.1
Consent of McElroy, Quirk & Burch filed herewith.
31.1
Certification of Joseph K. Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 filed herewith.
31.2
Certification of Brian R. Jones, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 filed herewith.
Certification of Joseph K. Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer and Brian R. Jones, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 filed herewith.
101.INS**
XBRL Instance
101.SCH**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
101.DEF**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
101.LAB**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels
101.PRE**
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation
** XBRL
Information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirement 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 on March 22, 2012.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated with regard to CKX Lands, Inc. on March 22, 2012.
/s/ Joseph K. Cooper
Joseph K. Cooper
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer and Director)
/s/ Brian R. Jones
Brian R. Jones
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Director)
/s/ Charles D. Viccellio
Charles D. Viccellio
Vice President & Secretary
(Director)
/s/ Elizabeth Hollins
Elizabeth Hollins
Director
/s/ Laura A. Leach
Laura A. Leach
Director
/s/ B. James Reaves, III
B. James Reaves, III
Director
/s/ Mary W. Savoy
Mary W. Savoy
Director
/s/ William Gray Stream
William Gray Stream
Director
/s/ Mary Leach Werner
Mary Leach Werner
Director
CKX LANDS, INC.
[MCELROY, QUIRK & BURCH LETTERHEAD]
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To:
The Board of Directors, and
Stockholders of CKX Lands, Inc.
Lake Charles, Louisiana
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of CKX Lands, Inc. as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the two year period ended December 31, 2011. CKX Lands, Inc.’s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, 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 CKX Lands, Inc. as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two year period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/McElroy, Quirk & Burch
Lake Charles, Louisiana
March 22, 2012
CKX Lands, Inc.
Balance Sheets
December 31, 2011 and 2010
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Statements of Income
Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1.
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of business:
The Company’s business is the ownership and management of land. The primary activities consist of leasing its properties for minerals (oil and gas) and agriculture and raising timber.
Significant accounting policies:
Pervasiveness of estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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.
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents are highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased.
Certificate of deposits:
Certificates of deposit have maturities greater than three months when purchased, in amounts not greater than $250,000 and no more than one certificate issued per financial institution. All certificates of deposit are held until maturity and recorded at amortized cost which approximates fair value. Certificates of deposit mature through 2013.
Investment securities:
In accordance with GAAP, management must make a determination at the time of acquisition whether certain investments in debt and equity securities are classified as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity securities. Under a policy adopted by the board of directors of the Company, Management intends to purchase available-for-sale securities and has determined that all securities held are available-for-sale.
For investments classified as available-for-sale, all such debt securities and equity securities that have readily determinable fair value shall be measured at fair value in the balance sheet. Unrealized holding gains and losses for securities available-for-sale shall be excluded from earnings and reported as a net amount (net of income taxes) and as a separate component of retained earnings until realized. Realized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale are included in income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Declines in the fair value of securities available-for-sale below their cost that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are reflected in earnings as realized losses. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment losses, management considers (1) length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.
Interest on debt securities is recognized in income as earned. Dividends on marketable equity securities are recognized in income when declared.
Property and equipment:
Property and equipment is stated at cost. Major additions are capitalized; maintenance and repairs are charged to income currently. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line and accelerated methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
Timber:
When timber land is purchased with standing timber, the cost is divided between land and timber based on timber cruises contracted by the Company. Reforestation costs are capitalized. The timber asset is depleted when the timber is sold based on the percentage of the timber sold from a particular tract applied to the amount capitalized for timber for that tract.
Oil and gas:
Oil and gas income is booked when the Company is notified by the well’s operator as to the Company’s share of the revenue proceeds together with the withheld severance taxes. The Company has no capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities and no costs for property acquisition, exploration and development activities.
Net Income and Dividends Paid per common stock:
Net income and dividends paid per common stock are based on the weighted average number of common stock shares outstanding during the period.
Dividends
Pursuant to a dividend reversion clause in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, dividends not claimed within one year after the dividend became payable will expire and revert in full ownership to the Company and the Company’s obligation to pay such dividend will cease.
Income taxes:
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the tax effects of the temporary differences between the book and tax bases of the various balance sheet assets and liabilities and gives current recognition to changes in tax rates and laws.
In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company has analyzed its filing positions in federal and state income tax returns for the tax years ending December 31, 2008 through 2010 that remain subject to examination. The Company believes that all filing positions are highly certain and that all income tax filing positions and deductions would be sustained upon a taxing jurisdiction’s audit. Therefore, no reserve for uncertain tax positions is required. No interest or penalties have been levied against the Company and none are anticipated.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 2.
Securities Available-for-Sale
Debt and equity securities have been classified in the balance sheet according to management’s intent in the noncurrent asset sections under the heading “securities available-for-sale”. The carrying amount of securities and their approximate fair values at December 31, 2011 and 2010 follow:
Gross realized gains and gross realized losses on sales of securities available-for-sale for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 are presented below.
During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no available-for-sale securities with gross unrealized losses.
Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis, and more frequently when economic or market concerns warrant such evaluation. Consideration is given to (1) the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and (3) the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value.
The Company has the intent and ability to retain its investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for anticipated recovery of fair value.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 3.
Oil and Gas Leases
Results of oil and gas leasing activities for the year ending December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:
There were no major costs, with the exception of severance taxes, incurred in connection the Company's oil and gas leasing activities, which are located entirely within the United States, during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.
Reserve quantities (unaudited):
Reserve information relating to estimated quantities of the Company's interest in proved reserves of natural gas and crude including condensate and natural gas liquids is not available. Such reserves are located entirely within the United States. A schedule indicating such reserve quantities is, therefore, not presented. All oil and gas royalties come from Company owned properties that were developed and produced by producers under lease agreements.
Company’s royalty and working interests share of oil and gas, exclusive of plant products, produced from leased properties:
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 4.
Land and Timber Purchases:
During the first quarter of 2011, the Company purchased two parcels of land with standing timber for approximately $592,750. Approximately 320 acres were purchased for $330,665 and the standing timber was estimated to be valued at $262,085 based on timber cruises.
During the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company purchased eight parcels of land with standing timber for approximately $1,280,000. Approximately 800 acres were purchased for $898,000 and the standing timber was estimated to be valued at $382,000 based on timber cruises.
Note 5.
Income Taxes
The Company files federal and state income tax returns on a calendar year basis.
The net deferred tax liability in the accompanying balance sheets includes the following components at December 31, 2011 and 2010:
Reconciliations between the United States Federal statutory income tax provision, using the statutory rate of 34%, and the Company’s provision for income taxes at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:
Deferred income taxes result from timing differences in the recognition of revenue and expenses for tax and financial statement purposes. The effect of these timing differences at December 31, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Note 6.
Company Operations
The Company’s operations are classified into three principal operating segments that are all located in the United States: oil and gas, agricultural and timber. The Company’s reportable business segments are strategic business units that offer income from different products. They are managed separately due to the unique aspects of each area.
Following is a summary of segmented operations information for 2011 and 2010:
There are no intersegment sales reported in the accompanying income statements. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company evaluates performance based on income or loss from operations before income taxes excluding nonrecurring gains and losses on securities held available-for-sale. Income before income tax represents net revenues less costs and expenses less other income and expenses of a general corporate nature. Identifiable assets by segment are those assets used solely in the Company's operations within that segment.
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
Revenue from five customers of the Company’s oil and gas segment represented approximately $301,000, $279,000, $228,000, $117,000, and $110,000 respectively, of the Company’s 2011 total revenue. In 2010, five oil and gas segment customers represented approximately $122,000, $292,000, $221,000, $122,000 and $115,000 respectively, of the Company’s total revenue.
Note 7.
Line of Credit
The Company has available an unsecured line of credit in the amount of $1,000,000. The balance on this line of credit was $-0- at December 31, 2011 and 2010.
Note 8.
Supplementary Income Statement Information
Taxes, other than income taxes, of $199,911 and $199,987, were charged to expense during 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Note 9.
Contingencies:
There are no material contingencies known to management. The Company does not participate in off balance sheet arrangements.
Note 10.
Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company maintains its cash balances in one financial institution. The amount on deposit in the financial institution is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000.
Note 11.
Subsequent Events
On March 22, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of seven cents ($0.07) per common share to shareholders of record April 5, 2012 and payment date of April 19, 2012.
Note 12.
Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it was practical to estimate that value:
CKX Lands, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
The estimated fair value of the Company's financial instruments at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows.
Fair value measurements disclosure for securities available for sale follows: