UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
þ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011
or
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition Period From to
Commission File Number: 001-33662
Forestar Group Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 26-1336998 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
6300 Bee Cave Road Building Two, Suite 500 Austin, Texas 78746-5149 (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (512) 433-5200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered | |
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share Preferred Share Purchase Rights |
New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (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 þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer þ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ | |||
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the closing sales price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2011, was approximately $413 million. For purposes of this computation, all officers, directors, and ten percent beneficial owners of the registrant (as indicated in Item 12) are deemed to be affiliates. Such determination should not be deemed an admission that such directors, officers, or ten percent beneficial owners are, in fact, affiliates of the registrant.
As of March 1, 2012, there were 34,658,901 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Selected portions of the Companys definitive proxy statement for the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
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Item 1. | Business. |
Overview
Forestar Group Inc. is a real estate and natural resources company. We own directly or through ventures almost 147,000 acres of real estate located in nine states and 12 markets and about 595,000 net acres of mineral interests. We have about 131,000 acres of timber on our 147,000 real estate acres and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease. In 2011, we generated revenues of $136 million and net income of $7 million. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to we, us, our and Forestar mean Forestar Group Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, information is presented as of December 31, 2011, and references to acreage owned include all acres owned by ventures regardless of our ownership interest in a venture.
We manage our operations through three business segments:
| Real estate, |
| Mineral resources, and |
| Fiber resources. |
A summary of business segment assets at year-end 2011 follows:
Our real estate segment provided 78 percent of our 2011 consolidated revenues. We secure entitlements and develop infrastructure, primarily for single-family residential and mixed-use communities. We own about 104,000 acres in a broad area around Atlanta, Georgia, with the balance located primarily in Texas. We invest in projects principally in our strategic growth corridors, regions across the southern half of the United States that possess key demographic and growth characteristics that we believe make them attractive for long-term real estate investment. We develop and own directly or through ventures multifamily communities as income producing properties, primarily in our target markets.
We have 16 real estate projects representing about 28,000 acres in the entitlement process, principally in Georgia. We also have about 75 entitled, developed or under development projects in seven states and 11 markets encompassing over 16,000 remaining acres, comprised of land planned for over 27,000 residential lots and about 2,500 commercial acres, principally in the major markets of Texas. We own and manage projects both directly and through ventures. We sell land at any point within the value chain when additional time required for
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entitlement or investment in development will not meet our return criteria. In 2011, we sold over 17,000 acres of undeveloped land through our retail land sales program at an average price of about $2,400 per acre. In addition, we sold 112 entitled acres from two residential projects for $3.9 million or $35,000 per acre. These were the final tracts available for sale in these projects and represented approximately 370 undeveloped lots.
Our mineral resources segment provided 18 percent of our 2011 consolidated revenues. We promote the exploitation, exploration and development of oil and natural gas on our 595,000 net mineral acres and may participate in non-operating working interests. The four principal areas of ownership are Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia. The majority of our revenues are from oil and natural gas royalties from over 530 productive wells operated by third parties in Texas and Louisiana and lease bonus payments. Historically, these operations require low capital investment and are low risk.
Our fiber resources segment provided 4 percent of our 2011 consolidated revenues. We sell wood fiber from our land, primarily in Georgia, and lease land for recreational uses. We have about 131,000 acres of timber we own directly or through ventures and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease.
Our real estate origins date back to the 1955 incorporation of Lumbermens Investment Corporation, which in 2006 changed its name to Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group Inc. We have a decades-long legacy of residential and commercial real estate development operations, primarily in Texas. Our mineral resources origins date back to the mid-1940s when we started leasing our oil and natural gas mineral interests to third-party exploration and production companies. In 2007, Temple-Inland distributed all of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock to its stockholders, which we will refer to as the spin-off.
Our results of operations, including information regarding our business segments are discussed in Item 7, Managements Discussion and Analysis and in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Leveraging over 300 years of real estate, oil and natural gas, and other natural resources experience, we believe our management team brings extensive knowledge and expertise which better positions us to recognize and responsibly deliver the greatest value from every acre.
Strategy
Our strategy is:
| Recognizing and responsibly delivering the greatest value from every acre; and |
| Growing our business through strategic and disciplined investments. |
We are focused on delivering the greatest real estate value from every acre through the entitlement and development of strategically-located residential and mixed-use communities. We secure entitlements by delivering thoughtful plans and balanced solutions that meet the needs of the communities where we operate. Moving land through the entitlement and development process creates significant real estate value. Residential development activities target lot sales to national and regional home builders who build quality products and have strong and effective marketing and sales programs. The lots we deliver in the majority of our communities are for mid-priced homes, predominantly in the first and second move-up categories. We also actively market and sell undeveloped land through our retail sales program. We may develop multifamily commercial tracts ourselves or for other commercial tracts we may either sell to or venture with developers that specialize in the construction and operation of income producing properties.
We seek to maximize value from our oil and natural gas mineral interests through promoting leasing, exploration and production activity by increasing the acreage leased, lease rates, royalty interests, negotiating additional interests in production and by entering into seismic exploration agreements and joint ventures. In addition, we may elect to participate in working interests in high quality, lower risk conventional and horizontal oil and natural gas prospects. We realize value from our undeveloped land by selling fiber and by managing it for future real estate development and conservation uses. We also generate cash flow and create additional value through recreational leases.
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We are committed to disciplined investment in our business. Approximately 68 of our real estate projects were acquired in the open market, with the remainder coming from entitlement efforts associated with our low basis lands principally located in and around Atlanta, Georgia.
Our portfolio of assets in combination with our strategy, management expertise, stewardship and reinvestment in our business, position Forestar to maximize and grow long-term value for shareholders.
2009 Strategic Initiatives
In 2009, we announced strategic initiatives to enhance shareholder value by: generating significant cash flow, principally from the sale of about 175,000 acres of higher and better use timberland; reducing debt by approximately $150 million; and repurchasing up to 20 percent of our common stock.
In 2011, we sold 57,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas for about $87 million in two transactions which generated combined gains of about $62 million. We used the proceeds to principally reduce debt, pay taxes and reinvest in our business. In addition, in 2011, we repurchased about one million shares of our common stock for $13 million, which are classified as treasury stock.
We have completed our strategic initiatives related to the sale of higher and better use timberland and reduction of debt. Since announcing these initiatives, we have sold 176,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas for $284 million in 11 transactions. We used the proceeds principally to reduce debt, pay taxes and reinvest in our business. At year-end 2011, our total debt was reduced by about $154 million since first quarter-end 2009, excluding $27 million in non-recourse borrowings secured by a 401 unit multifamily property we acquired in fourth quarter 2010. In addition, we have repurchased almost two million shares of our common stock for approximately $28 million since announcing these initiatives. As a result, we have about five million shares remaining under our existing share repurchase authorization, which was approved by our Board of Directors in February 2009.
2012 Strategic Initiatives
In 2012, we announced Triple in FOR, new strategic initiatives designed to further enhance shareholder value by accelerating value realization of our real estate and natural resources, optimizing transparency and disclosure, and raising net asset value through strategic and disciplined investments.
Accelerating value realization of our real estate and natural resources is focused on increasing total residential lots sales, oil and gas production, and total segment earnings.
Optimizing transparency and disclosure represents our efforts to expand reported oil and gas resource potential, to provide additional information related to groundwater interests, and to establish a progress report on corporate responsibility efforts.
Raising our net asset value through strategic and disciplined investments is focused on pursuing growth opportunities which help prove up our asset value and meet return expectations, developing a low-capital, high-return multifamily business, and accelerating investment in lower-risk oil and gas opportunities.
2011 Highlights
In addition to the executed strategic initiatives described above, 2011 highlights include:
Real Estate
| Sold 1,117 developed residential lots, a 39% increase compared with 2010 |
| Over 1,350 lots under option contracts at year-end, up 10% compared to 2010 |
| Received $8.7 million from Cibolo Canyons Special Improvement District |
| Sold over 17,100 acres of undeveloped land for $40.5 million through our retail sales program |
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| Invested $63 million in assets expected to generate near-term cash flow and earnings |
| Initiated construction of 289-unit multifamily residential community in Austin, Texas |
Minerals Resources
| Oil production up over 32% compared with 2010 |
| Year-end 2011 proven reserves of 17.9 Bcfe (billions of cubic feet equivalent), up 26% compared with 2010 |
| 36 additional oil and natural gas wells completed; 530 total producing wells at year-end |
| Exercised non-operating working interest options in three oil wells in Louisiana West Gordon Field |
| 68,000 net mineral acres put in play through leases, seismic and exploration agreements |
Real Estate
In our real estate segment, we conduct a wide array of project planning and management activities related to the acquisition, entitlement, development and sale of real estate, primarily residential and mixed-use communities. We own and manage our projects either directly or through ventures, which we use to achieve a variety of business objectives, including more effective capital deployment, risk management, and leveraging a partners local market contacts and expertise.
We have real estate in nine states and 12 markets encompassing about 147,000 acres, including about 104,000 acres located in a broad area around Atlanta, Georgia, with the balance located primarily in Texas. Our development projects are principally located in the major markets of Texas.
Our strategy for creating value in our real estate segment is to move acres up the value chain by moving land located in growth corridors but not yet entitled, through the entitlement process, and into development. The chart below depicts our real estate value chain:
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We have almost 103,000 undeveloped acres located in the path of population growth. As markets grow and mature, we intend to secure the necessary entitlements, the timing for which varies depending upon the size, location, use and complexity of a project. We have almost 28,000 acres in the entitlement process, which includes obtaining zoning and access to water, sewer and roads. Additional entitlements, such as flexible land use provisions, annexation, and the creation of local financing districts generate additional value for our business and may provide us the right to reimbursement of major infrastructure costs. We have over 16,000 acres entitled, developed and under development, comprised of land planned for over 27,000 residential lots and about 2,500 commercial acres. We use return criteria, which include return on cost, internal rate of return, and cash multiples, when determining whether to invest initially or make additional investment in a project. When investment in development meets our return criteria, we will initiate the development process with subsequent sale of lots to homebuilders or, for commercial tracts, internal development, sale to or venture with commercial developers. We sell land at any point within the value chain when additional time required for entitlement or investment in development will not meet our return criteria. In 2011, we sold over 17,000 acres of undeveloped land through our retail land sales program at an average price of about $2,400 per acre. In addition, we sold 112 entitled acres from two residential projects for $3.9 million or $35,000 per acre. These were the final tracts available for sale in these projects and represented approximately 370 undeveloped lots.
A summary of our real estate projects in the entitlement process(a) at year-end 2011 follows:
Project |
County |
Market |
Project |
|||||
California |
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Hidden Creek Estates |
Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 700 | |||||
Terrace at Hidden Hills |
Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 30 | |||||
Georgia |
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Ball Ground |
Cherokee | Atlanta | 500 | |||||
Crossing |
Coweta | Atlanta | 230 | |||||
Fincher Road |
Cherokee | Atlanta | 3,890 | |||||
Fox Hall |
Coweta | Atlanta | 960 | |||||
Garland Mountain |
Cherokee/Bartow | Atlanta | 350 | |||||
Home Place |
Coweta | Atlanta | 1,510 | |||||
Martins Bridge |
Banks | Atlanta | 970 | |||||
Mill Creek |
Coweta | Atlanta | 770 | |||||
Serenity |
Carroll | Atlanta | 440 | |||||
Waleska |
Cherokee | Atlanta | 100 | |||||
Wolf Creek |
Carroll/Douglas | Atlanta | 12,230 | |||||
Yellow Creek |
Cherokee | Atlanta | 1,060 | |||||
Texas |
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Lake Houston |
Harris/Liberty | Houston | 3,700 | |||||
San Jacinto |
Montgomery | Houston | 150 | |||||
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Total |
27,590 | |||||||
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(a) | A project is deemed to be in the entitlement process when customary steps necessary for the preparation of an application for governmental land-use approvals, like conducting pre-application meetings or similar discussions with governmental officials, have commenced, or an application has been filed. Projects listed may have significant steps remaining, and there is no assurance that entitlements ultimately will be received. |
(b) | Project acres, which are the total for the project regardless of our ownership interest, are approximate. The actual number of acres entitled may vary. |
Products
The majority of our projects are single-family residential and mixed-use communities. In some cases, commercial land uses within a project enhance the desirability of the community by providing convenient locations for resident support services. We sometimes undertake projects consisting exclusively of commercial tracts and, on occasion, we invest in a venture to develop a single commercial project.
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We develop lots for single-family homes and develop multifamily properties on our commercial tracts or other developed sites we may purchase. In addition, we sell commercial tracts that are substantially ready for construction of buildings for retail, office, industrial or other commercial uses. We sell residential lots primarily to national and regional homebuilders and, to a lesser extent, local homebuilders. We have 75 entitled, developed or under development projects in seven states and 11 markets, principally in the major markets of Texas, encompassing over 16,000 remaining acres, comprised of land planned for over 27,000 residential lots and about 2,500 commercial acres. We focus our lot sales on the first and second move-up primary housing categories. First and second move-up segments are homes priced above entry-level products yet below the high-end and custom home segments. We also actively market and sell undeveloped land through our retail sales program.
Commercial tracts are developed internally or sold to or ventured with commercial developers that specialize in the construction and operation of income producing properties, such as apartments, retail centers, or office buildings. We also sell land designated for commercial use to regional and local commercial developers. We have about 2,500 acres of entitled land designated for commercial use.
Cibolo Canyons is a significant mixed-use project in the San Antonio market area. Cibolo Canyons includes 2,100 acres planned to include approximately 1,475 residential lots, of which 697 have been sold as of year-end 2011 at an average price of $66,000 per lot. The residential component is planned to include not only traditional single-family homes but also an active adult section and condominiums. The commercial component is planned to include about 150 acres designated for multifamily and retail uses, of which 68 acres have been sold as of year-end 2011. Located at Cibolo Canyons is the JW Marriott® San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, a 1,002 room destination resort and two PGA Tour® Tournament Players Club® (TPC) golf courses designed by Pete Dye and Greg Norman. The resort hotel began operations in January 2010. We have the right to receive from a legislatively created special improvement district (SID) 9 percent of hotel occupancy revenues and 1.5 percent of other resort sales revenues collected as taxes by the SID through 2034 and to reimbursement of certain infrastructure costs related to the mixed-use development.
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A summary of activity within our projects in the development process, which includes entitled(a), developed and under development real estate projects, at year-end 2011 follows:
Residential Lots(c) | Commercial Acres(d) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Project |
County |
Market | Interest Owned(b) |
Lots Sold Since Inception |
Lots Remaining |
Acres Sold Since Inception |
Acres Remaining |
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Projects we own |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
California |
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San Joaquin River |
Contra Costa/Sacramento | Oakland | 100 | % | | | | 288 | ||||||||||||||||
Colorado |
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Buffalo Highlands |
Weld | Denver | 100 | % | | 164 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Johnstown Farms |
Weld | Denver | 100 | % | 115 | 497 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
Pinery West |
Douglas | Denver | 100 | % | | | | 111 | ||||||||||||||||
Stonebraker |
Weld | Denver | 100 | % | | 603 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Texas |
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Arrowhead Ranch |
Hays | Austin | 100 | % | | 259 | | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
Barrington Kingwood |
Harris | Houston | 100 | % | 6 | 174 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Caruth Lakes |
Rockwall | Dallas/Fort Worth | 100 | % | 362 | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Cibolo Canyons |
Bexar | San Antonio | 100 | % | 697 | 778 | 68 | 82 | ||||||||||||||||
Harbor Lakes |
Hood | Dallas/Fort Worth | 100 | % | 202 | 247 | 2 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||
Hunters Crossing |
Bastrop | Austin | 100 | % | 381 | 109 | 38 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||
La Conterra |
Williamson | Austin | 100 | % | 83 | 417 | | 58 | ||||||||||||||||
Maxwell Creek |
Collin | Dallas/Fort Worth | 100 | % | 725 | 274 | 10 | | ||||||||||||||||
Oak Creek Estates |
Comal | San Antonio | 100 | % | 99 | 548 | 13 | | ||||||||||||||||
The Colony |
Bastrop | Austin | 100 | % | 424 | 724 | 22 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||
The Gables at North Hill |
Collin | Dallas/Fort Worth | 100 | % | 203 | | | | ||||||||||||||||
The Preserve at Pecan Creek |
Denton | Dallas/Fort Worth | 100 | % | 339 | 455 | | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
The Ridge at Ribelin Ranch |
Travis | Austin | 100 | % | | | 195 | | ||||||||||||||||
Westside at Buttercup Creek |
Williamson | Austin | 100 | % | 1,370 | 144 | 66 | | ||||||||||||||||
Other projects (9) |
Various | Various | 100 | % | 2,264 | 63 | 207 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||
Georgia |
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The Villages at Burt Creek |
Dawson | Atlanta | 100 | % | | 1,715 | | 57 | ||||||||||||||||
Towne West |
Bartow | Atlanta | 100 | % | | 2,674 | | 121 | ||||||||||||||||
Other projects (13) |
Various | Atlanta | 100 | % | | 2,834 | | 705 | ||||||||||||||||
Missouri and Utah |
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Other projects (2) |
Various | Various | 100 | % | 467 | 87 | | | ||||||||||||||||
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7,737 | 12,766 | 623 | 1,586 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Projects in entities we consolidate |
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Texas |
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City Park |
Harris | Houston | 75 | % | 1,185 | 126 | 50 | 115 | ||||||||||||||||
Lantana |
Denton | Dallas/Fort Worth | 55 | %(e) | 769 | 1,491 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Light Farms |
Collin | Dallas/Fort Worth | 65 | % | | 2,501 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Stoney Creek |
Dallas | Dallas/Fort Worth | 90 | % | 111 | 643 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Timber Creek |
Collin | Dallas/Fort Worth | 88 | % | | 614 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Other projects (4) |
Various | Various | Various | 6 | 203 | 16 | 148 | |||||||||||||||||
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2,071 | 5,578 | 66 | 263 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Total owned and consolidated |
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9,808 | 18,344 | 689 | 1,849 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Projects in ventures that we account for using the equity method |
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Georgia |
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Seven Hills |
Paulding | Atlanta | 50 | % | 644 | 443 | 26 | 113 | ||||||||||||||||
The Georgian |
Paulding | Atlanta | 38 | % | 289 | 1,052 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Other projects (3) |
Various | Atlanta | 50 | % | 1,712 | 75 | 3 | | ||||||||||||||||
Texas |
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Bar C Ranch |
Tarrant | Dallas/Fort Worth | 50 | % | 279 | 920 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Entrada |
Travis | Austin | 50 | % | | 821 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Fannin Farms West |
Tarrant | Dallas/Fort Worth | 50 | % | 323 | 58 | | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
Harpers Preserve |
Montgomery | Houston | 50 | % | 69 | 1,656 | | 72 | ||||||||||||||||
Lantana |
Denton | Dallas/Fort Worth | Various | (e) | 1,447 | 85 | 16 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||
Long Meadow Farms |
Fort Bend | Houston | 19 | % | 858 | 937 | 107 | 192 | ||||||||||||||||
Southern Trails |
Brazoria | Houston | 40 | % | 497 | 539 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Stonewall Estates |
Bexar | San Antonio | 25 | % | 280 | 108 | | | ||||||||||||||||
Summer Creek Ranch |
Tarrant | Dallas/Fort Worth | 50 | % | 806 | 468 | - | 79 | ||||||||||||||||
Summer Lakes |
Fort Bend | Houston | 50 | % | 405 | 725 | 56 | | ||||||||||||||||
Village Park |
Collin | Dallas/Fort Worth | 50 | % | 446 | 314 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
Waterford Park |
Fort Bend | Houston | 50 | % | | 210 | | 90 | ||||||||||||||||
Other projects (2) |
Various | Various | Various | 225 | 110 | | 15 | |||||||||||||||||
Florida |
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Other projects (3) |
Various | Tampa | 50 | % | 599 | 246 | | | ||||||||||||||||
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Total in ventures |
8,879 | 8,767 | 211 | 617 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Combined total |
18,687 | 27,111 | 900 | 2,466 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(a) | A project is deemed entitled when all major discretionary governmental land-use approvals have been received. Some projects may require additional permits and/or non-governmental authorizations for development. |
(b) | Interest owned reflects our net equity interest in the project, whether owned directly or indirectly. There are some projects that have multiple ownership structures within them. Accordingly, portions of these projects may appear as owned, consolidated or accounted for using the equity method. |
(c) | Lots are for the total project, regardless of our ownership interest. Lots remaining represent vacant developed lots, lots under development and future planned lots and are subject to change based on business plan revisions. |
(d) | Commercial acres are for the total project, regardless of our ownership interest, and are net developable acres, which may be fewer than the gross acres available in the project. |
(e) | The Lantana project consists of a series of 22 partnerships in which our voting interests range from 25 percent to 55 percent. We account for three of these partnerships using the equity method and we consolidate the remaining partnerships. |
A summary of our significant commercial and income producing properties at year-end 2011 follows:
Project |
County | Market | Interest Owned(a) |
Type | Acres | Description | ||||||||||||
Broadstone Memorial |
Harris | Houston | 100 | % | Multifamily | 9 | 401 unit luxury apartment | |||||||||||
Radisson Hotel |
Travis | Austin | 100 | % | Hotel | 2 | 413 guest rooms and suites | |||||||||||
Palisades West(b) |
Travis | Austin | 25 | % | Office | 22 | 375,000 square feet | |||||||||||
Las Brisas |
Williamson | Austin | 59 | % | Multifamily | 30 | 414 unit luxury apartment | |||||||||||
Promesa(c) |
Travis | Austin | 100 | % | Multifamily | 16 | 289 unit luxury apartment (construction in progress) |
(a) | Interest owned reflects our net equity interest in the project, whether owned directly or indirectly. |
(b) | Our 25% interest in Palisades West LLC was sold on January 20, 2012. |
(c) | Formerly marketed as Ridge at Ribelin Ranch. |
Our net investment in owned and consolidated real estate by geographic location follows:
State |
Entitled, Developed, and Under Development Projects |
Undeveloped Land |
Income Producing Properties |
Total | ||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Texas |
$ | 332,818 | $ | 9,718 | $ | 93,738 | $ | 436,274 | ||||||||
Georgia |
15,159 | 53,984 | | 69,143 | ||||||||||||
Colorado |
22,516 | | 8,527 | 31,043 | ||||||||||||
California |
8,795 | 14,064 | | 22,859 | ||||||||||||
Other |
3,738 | 2,310 | | 6,048 | ||||||||||||
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Total |
$ | 383,026 | $ | 80,076 | $ | 102,265 | $ | 565,367 | ||||||||
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Over 70% of our net investment in real estate is in the major markets of Texas.
Markets
Current U.S. market conditions in the single-family residential industry continue to be challenging, characterized by high unemployment rates, low consumer confidence, depressed sales volumes and prices, difficult financing environment for purchasers and competition from foreclosure inventory. It is difficult to predict when and at what rate these broader negative conditions will improve, or when the homebuilding industry will experience a sustained recovery. However, declining finished lot inventory and lack of real estate development is increasing demand for our developed lots, principally in the Texas markets. Multifamily market conditions are improving, with many markets experiencing healthy occupancy levels and positive rent growth. This improvement has been driven
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primarily by limited new construction activity, reduced single-family mortgage credit availability, and the increased propensity to rent among the 18 to 34 year old demographic of the U.S. population.
We target investments primarily in markets within our strategic growth corridors, which we define as areas possessing favorable growth characteristics for population, employment and household formation. These markets are generally located across the southern half of the U.S., and we believe they represent attractive long-term real estate investment opportunities. Demand for residential lots, single-family housing, and commercial land is substantially influenced by these growth characteristics, as well as by immigration and in-migration. Currently, most of our development projects are located within the major markets of Texas.
Our ten strategic growth corridors encompass 164,000 square miles, or approximately 4.6 percent of the total land area in the U.S. According to 2010 census data, 91.7 million people, 30 percent of the U.S. total, reside in these corridors. The population density in these growth corridors is over six times the national average and is projected to grow to over 10 times the national average between 2010 and 2040. During that time, the corridors are projected to garner approximately 48 percent of the nations population growth and 39 percent of total employment growth. Estimated housing demand from these ten growth corridors from 2010 to 2040 exceeds 23 million new homes.
Forestar Strategic Growth Corridors
Our value creation strategy includes not only entitlement and development on our own lands but also growth through strategic and disciplined investment in acquisitions that meet our investment criteria. We continually monitor the markets in our strategic growth corridors for opportunities to purchase developed lots and land at prices that meet our return criteria.
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Competition
We face competition for the acquisition, entitlement, development and sale of real estate in our markets. Our major competitors include other landowners who market and sell undeveloped land and numerous national, regional and local developers. In addition, our projects compete with other development projects offering similar amenities, products and/or locations. Competition also exists for investment opportunities, financing, available land, raw materials and labor, with entities that may possess greater financial, marketing and other resources than us. The presence of competition may increase the bargaining power of property owners seeking to sell. These competitive market pressures sometimes make it difficult to acquire, entitle, develop or sell land at prices that meet our return criteria. Some of our real estate competitors are well established and financially strong, may have greater financial resources than we do, or may be larger than us and/or have lower cost of capital and operating costs than we have and expect to have.
The land acquisition and development business is highly fragmented, and we are unaware of any meaningful concentration of market share by any one competitor. Enterprises of varying sizes, from individuals or small companies to large corporations, actively engage in the real estate development business. Many competitors are local, privately-owned companies. We have a few regional competitors and virtually no national competitors other than national homebuilders that, depending on business cycles and market conditions, may enter or exit the real estate development business in some locations to develop lots on which they construct and sell homes. During periods when access to capital is restricted, participants with weaker financial conditions tend to be less active. We believe the current environment is one where participants with stronger financial conditions will have a competitive advantage and where fewer participants will be active.
Mineral Resources
We lease our mineral interests to third parties for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, principally in Texas and Louisiana. When we lease our mineral interests, we may negotiate a lease bonus payment and retain a royalty interest and may take an additional participation in production, including a non-operating working interest. Non-operating working interests refer to well interests in which we pay a share of the costs to drill, complete and operate a well and receive a proportionate share of the production revenues. We are currently not an operator with respect to any of the oil and natural gas activities on our properties.
Our royalty revenues are contractually defined and based on a percentage of production and are received in cash. Our royalty revenues fluctuate based on changes in the market prices for oil and natural gas, the inevitable decline in production in existing wells, and other factors affecting the third-party oil and natural gas exploration and production companies that operate wells on our minerals including the cost of development and production.
Products
We own mineral interests beneath approximately 595,000 net acres located in the United States, principally in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. Our minerals revenue is primarily from oil and natural gas royalty interests, lease bonus payments, delay rentals, non-operating working interests and other related activities. We engage in leasing certain portions of these mineral interests to third parties for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas, and we are increasingly leveraging our mineral interests to participate in wells drilled on or near our mineral acreage.
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Our strategy for maximizing value from our mineral interests is to move acres up the minerals value chain by increasing the net acreage leased, the lease bonus amount per acre and the size of retained royalty interests. Additionally, we may participate in non-operating working interests in the drilling, completion and production of oil and natural gas on or nearby our mineral interests. The chart below depicts our minerals value chain.
Of our 595,000 net acres of mineral interests, about 515,000 net acres are available for lease. We have about 80,000 net acres leased for oil and natural gas exploration activities, of which about 32,000 net acres are held by production from over 530 oil and natural gas wells that are operated by others.
Our principal areas of ownership follow:
East Texas and Gulf Coast Basins
We have about 251,000 net mineral acres in East Texas and about 144,000 net mineral acres in Louisiana located within the East Texas and Gulf Coast Basins. These basins contain numerous oil and natural gas producing formations consisting of conventional, unconventional, and tight sand reservoirs. Of these reservoirs, we have mineral interests in and around production trends in the Wilcox, Frio, Cockfield, James Lime, Pettet, Travis Peak, Cotton Valley, Austin Chalk, Haynesville Shale, and Bossier formations.
Fort Worth Basin
We have about 1,000 net mineral acres in the Fort Worth Basin. This basin contains numerous oil and natural gas producing formations consisting of conventional, unconventional, and tight sand reservoirs. Of these reservoirs, we have mineral interests in and around the Barnett Shale.
Alabama & Georgia
We have about 40,000 net mineral acres in Alabama and about 157,000 net mineral acres in Georgia. These areas have historically had very little oil and natural gas exploration activity, although since 2006 there has been activity in the Floyd and Conasauga Shales in and around our mineral interests.
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A summary of our mineral acres(a) at year-end 2011 follows:
State |
Unleased | Leased (b) | Held
By Production (c) |
Total (d) | ||||||||||||
Texas |
196,000 | 29,000 | 27,000 | 252,000 | ||||||||||||
Louisiana |
120,000 | 19,000 | 5,000 | 144,000 | ||||||||||||
Georgia |
157,000 | | | 157,000 | ||||||||||||
Alabama |
40,000 | | | 40,000 | ||||||||||||
California |
1,000 | | | 1,000 | ||||||||||||
Indiana |
1,000 | | | 1,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
515,000 | 48,000 | 32,000 | 595,000 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) | Includes ventures. |
(b) | Includes leases in primary lease term or for which a delayed rental payment has been received. In the ordinary course of business, leases covering a significant portion of leased net mineral acres may expire from time to time in a single reporting period. |
(c) | Acres being held by production are producing oil or natural gas in paying quantities. |
(d) | Texas, Louisiana, California and Indiana net acres are calculated as the gross number of surface acres multiplied by our percentage ownership of the mineral interest. Alabama and Georgia net acres are calculated as the gross number of surface acres multiplied by our estimated percentage ownership of the mineral interest based on county sampling. Excludes 477 net mineral acres located in Colorado including 379 acres leased and 29 acres held by production. |
A summary of our Texas and Louisiana mineral acres (a) by county or parish at year-end 2011 follows:
Texas |
Louisiana(b) |
|||||||||||
County |
Net Acres | Parish |
Net Acres | |||||||||
Trinity |
46,000 | Beauregard | 79,000 | |||||||||
Angelina |
42,000 | Vernon | 39,000 | |||||||||
Houston |
29,000 | Calcasieu | 17,000 | |||||||||
Anderson |
25,000 | Allen | 7,000 | |||||||||
Cherokee |
24,000 | Rapides | 1,000 | |||||||||
Sabine |
23,000 | Other | 1,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Red River |
14,000 | 144,000 | ||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Newton |
13,000 | |||||||||||
San Augustine |
13,000 | |||||||||||
Jasper |
12,000 | |||||||||||
Other |
11,000 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
||||||||||
252,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
(a) | Includes ventures. |
(b) | A significant portion of our Louisiana net mineral acres were severed from the surface estate shortly before our spin-off. Under Louisiana law, portions of our net mineral acres that are not producing minerals upon the tenth anniversary of severance from the surface estate will revert back to the surface estate owner. |
Leasing mineral acres for exploration and production creates significant value because we may negotiate a lease bonus payment and retain a royalty interest in all revenues generated by the lessee from oil and natural gas production. The significant terms of these arrangements include granting the exploration company the rights to oil or natural gas it may find and requiring that drilling be commenced within a specified period. In return, we
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may receive an initial payment (bonus), subsequent payments if drilling has not started within the specified period (delay rentals), and a percentage interest in the value of any oil or natural gas produced (royalties). If no oil or natural gas is produced during the required period, all rights are returned to us. Our capital requirements are minimal and primarily consist of acquisition costs allocated to mineral interests and administrative costs.
Most leases are for a three-year term although a portion or all of a lease may be extended by the lessee as long as actual production is occurring. Financial terms vary based on a number of market factors including the location of the mineral interest, the number of acres subject to the agreement, our mineral interest, proximity to transportation facilities such as pipelines, depth of formations to be drilled and risk. From our retained royalty interests in production sold by third-party exploration and production companies, we received an average net price per barrel of oil of $96.84 in 2011, $73.09 in 2010 and $56.85 in 2009 and per thousand cubic feet of natural gas of $3.95 in 2011, $4.26 in 2010 and $4.10 in 2009.
We have water interests in about 1.6 million acres which includes a 45 percent nonparticipating royalty interest in groundwater produced or withdrawn for commercial purposes or sold from approximately 1.4 million acres in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama, and about 17,800 acres of ground water leases in central Texas acquired in 2010. We have not received significant revenues or earnings from these interests.
Proved Developed Reserves
Our net proved developed oil and natural gas reserves as of year-end 2011, 2010 and 2009, all of which are located in the United States, have been estimated by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. (NSAI) in accordance with the definitions and guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This reserve information does not include estimates of reserves and future cash flows associated with proved undeveloped reserves or any potential value related to our over 563,000 undeveloped net mineral acres because, as of year-end 2011, we are solely royalty and non-operating working interest owners and as a result we do not determine whether or when undeveloped reserves will be converted to developed reserves.
Net quantities of proved developed oil and natural gas reserves, principally located in the East Texas, Gulf Coast and Fort Worth Basins, related to our royalty and non-operating working interests follow:
Net Reserves | ||||||||
Oil (Barrels) |
Natural Gas (Mcf) |
|||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
Consolidated entities: |
||||||||
Year-end 2011 |
1,064 | 8,203 | ||||||
Year-end 2010 |
609 | 6,659 | ||||||
Year-end 2009 |
580 | 6,660 | ||||||
Our share of ventures accounted for using the equity method: |
||||||||
Year-end 2011 |
| 3,283 | ||||||
Year-end 2010 |
| 3,871 | ||||||
Year-end 2009 |
| 2,508 | ||||||
Total consolidated and our share of equity method ventures: |
||||||||
Year-end 2011 |
1,064 | 11,486 | ||||||
Year-end 2010 |
609 | 10,530 | ||||||
Year-end 2009 |
580 | 9,168 |
We do not have any estimated reserves of synthetic oil, synthetic natural gas or products of other non-renewable natural resources that are intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil and natural gas.
Reserve estimates were based on the economic and operating conditions existing at year-end 2011, 2010 and 2009. For 2011, 2010 and 2009, oil prices are based on a twelve month average price of $92.71, $75.96 and $57.65 per barrel of West Texas Intermediate Crude and natural gas prices are based on a twelve month average
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price of $4.12, $4.38 and $3.87 per MMBTU per the Henry Hub spot market. All prices were adjusted for quality, transportation fees and regional price differentials. Since the determination and valuation of proved developed reserves is a function of the interpretation of engineering and geologic data and prices for oil and natural gas and the cost to produce these reserves, the reserves presented should be expected to change as future information becomes available. For an estimate of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from proved developed oil and natural gas reserves, please read Note 21 Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures (Unaudited) to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves is complex, involving decisions and assumptions in evaluating the available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. Accordingly, these estimates are imprecise. Actual future production, oil and natural gas prices, revenues, taxes and quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas reserves might vary from those estimated. Any variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of proved developed reserves. In addition, estimates of proved developed reserves may be adjusted to reflect production history, development, prevailing oil and natural gas prices and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
The primary internal technical person in charge of overseeing our reserves estimates has a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting. He has over 30 years of experience in the exploration and production business as well as experience in natural gas processing, refining and marketing, coal, geothermal, manufactured utilities and electricity generation.
As part of our internal control over financial reporting, we have a process for reviewing well production data and division of interest percentages prior to submitting well level data to NSAI to prepare reserve estimates on our behalf. Prior to inclusion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our primary internal technical person and other members of management review the reserve estimates prepared by NSAI, including the underlying assumptions and estimates upon which they are based, for accuracy and reasonableness.
Production
Oil and natural gas produced and average unit prices related to our royalty and non-operating working interests follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Consolidated entities: |
||||||||||||
Oil production (barrels) |
151,900 | 115,400 | 107,200 | |||||||||
Average price per barrel |
$ | 96.84 | $ | 73.09 | $ | 56.85 | ||||||
Natural gas production (millions of cubic feet) |
1,128.6 | 1,223.6 | 1,411.6 | |||||||||
Average price per thousand cubic feet |
$ | 4.01 | $ | 4.32 | $ | 4.12 | ||||||
Our share of ventures accounted for using the equity method: |
||||||||||||
Natural gas production (millions of cubic feet) |
493.4 | 572.8 | 82.1 | |||||||||
Average price per thousand cubic feet |
$ | 3.81 | $ | 4.12 | $ | 3.80 | ||||||
Total consolidated and our share of equity method ventures: |
||||||||||||
Oil production (barrels) |
151,900 | 115,400 | 107,200 | |||||||||
Average price per barrel |
$ | 96.84 | $ | 73.09 | $ | 56.85 | ||||||
Natural gas production (millions of cubic feet) |
1,622.0 | 1,796.4 | 1,493.7 | |||||||||
Average price per thousand cubic feet |
$ | 3.95 | $ | 4.26 | $ | 4.10 |
At year-end 2011, production lifting costs, which exclude ad valorem and severance taxes, were $1.48 per Mcfe (thousand cubic feet equivalent) related to seven wells in which we have a non-operating working interest. At year-end 2010, production lifting costs were $1.29 per Mcfe related to six wells in which we have a non-operating working interest. At year-end 2009, production lifting costs were $1.14 per Mcfe related to six wells in which we have a non-operating working interest.
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Drilling and Other Exploratory and Development Activities; Present Activities
We did not drill any wells in 2011, 2010 or 2009. In 2011, third-party oil and natural gas operators to whom we have leased our minerals drilled eight productive and two dry exploratory wells and 26 productive and no dry development wells within units where we own mineral interests. In 2010, third-party oil and natural gas operators to whom we have leased our minerals drilled seven productive and no dry exploratory wells and 16 productive and no dry development wells within units where we own mineral interests. In 2009, third-party oil and natural gas operators to whom we have leased our minerals drilled six productive and one dry exploratory well and 24 productive and no dry development wells within units where we own mineral interests. At year-end 2011, there were no wells being drilled by third-party oil and natural gas operators on units where we own an interest and there was one exploratory well in some stage of the completion process requiring additional activities prior to generating sales.
In 2011, we conducted exploratory activities related to unproven properties in Georgia and Alabama by acquiring leases and seismic data, and evaluating leasehold and existing mineral acreage for potential exploratory drilling. The leases have terms ranging from one to five years. We did not conduct any exploratory or development activities in 2010 or 2009.
Delivery Commitments
We have no oil or natural gas delivery commitments.
Wells and Acreage
The number of wells operated by third parties to whom we have leased our minerals, as of year-end 2011, 2010 and 2009, follows:
Wells(a) | ||||||||||||
Oil | Natural Gas | Total | ||||||||||
Consolidated entities: |
||||||||||||
Year-end 2011 |
273 | 234 | 507 | |||||||||
Year-end 2010 |
262 | 209 | 471 | |||||||||
Year-end 2009 |
262 | 194 | 456 | |||||||||
Ventures accounted for using the equity method: |
||||||||||||
Year-end 2011 |
| 23 | 23 | |||||||||
Year-end 2010 |
| 23 | 23 | |||||||||
Year-end 2009 |
| 16 | 16 | |||||||||
Total consolidated and equity method ventures: |
||||||||||||
Year-end 2011 |
273 | 257 | 530 | |||||||||
Year-end 2010 |
262 | 232 | 494 | |||||||||
Year-end 2009 |
262 | 210 | 472 |
(a) | We have royalty interests in all wells at year-end 2011, 2010 and 2009. We also have non-operating working interests in eight of these wells at year-end 2011, and six of these wells at year-end 2010 and 2009. Total net wells from our royalty interests are 47, 43 and 41 at year-end 2011, 2010 and 2009. Net wells from these non-operating working interests are not significant. |
We did not have any wells with production of synthetic oil, synthetic natural gas or products of other non-renewable natural resources that are intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil and natural gas as of year-end 2011, 2010 or 2009. We do not have any plugging liabilities as a royalty interest owner, and we believe any liability as a non-operating working interest owner is not significant.
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At year-end 2011, our mineral acres held by production includes 32,000 net mineral acres in which we have royalty interests. In addition, we have about 563,000 net undeveloped mineral acres of which 48,000 net acres are leased to third parties for oil and natural gas exploration and development.
Markets
Oil and natural gas revenues are influenced by the prices of these commodities as determined by both regional and global markets. Mineral leasing activity is influenced by the location of our mineral interests relative to existing or projected oil and natural gas reserves and by the proximity of successful production efforts to our mineral interests and by the evolution of new plays.
Competition
In locations where our mineral interests are close to producing wells and proven reserves, we may have multiple parties interested in leasing our minerals. Conversely, where our mineral interests are in or near areas where reserves have not been discovered, we may receive nominal interest in leasing our minerals. When oil and natural gas prices are higher, we are likely to receive greater interest in leasing our minerals close to producing areas because the economics will support more exploration and extraction activities. Portions of our Texas and Louisiana minerals are in close proximity to producing wells and proven reserves. Being a mineral owner may afford us the opportunity to achieve favorable terms from oil and natural gas operators.
Fiber Resources
We sell wood fiber from portions of our land, primarily in Georgia, and lease land for recreational uses.
Products
We have about 131,000 acres of timber we own directly or through ventures and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease. In 2011, we sold at market prices, primarily to Temple-Inland, over 323,000 tons of timber from our lands. We manage our timberland in accordance with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program of Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc. At year-end 2011, about 131,000 acres of our land, primarily in Georgia, are leased for recreational purposes. Most recreational leases are for a one-year term but may be terminated by us on 30 days notice to the lessee. These leases do not inhibit our ability to harvest timber.
Fiber sales volumes and recreational leasing has decreased due to the sale of over 217,000 acres of timberland since year-end 2008.
Information about our principal timber products follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Pulpwood tons sold |
266,200 | 392,900 | 810,100 | |||||||||
Average pulpwood price per ton |
$ | 8.69 | $ | 9.93 | $ | 8.53 | ||||||
Sawtimber tons sold |
56,800 | 144,300 | 331,300 | |||||||||
Average sawtimber price per ton |
$ | 16.13 | $ | 17.94 | $ | 19.82 | ||||||
Total tons sold |
323,000 | 537,200 | 1,141,400 | |||||||||
Average price per ton |
$ | 10.00 | $ | 12.08 | $ | 11.81 |
Information about our recreational leases follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Average recreational acres leased |
174,500 | 208,100 | 249,200 | |||||||||
Average price per leased acre |
$ | 8.80 | $ | 8.32 | $ | 8.25 |
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Markets
We have an agreement to sell wood fiber to Temple-Inland, recently acquired by International Paper, at market prices, primarily for use at Temple-Inlands Rome, Georgia mill complex. The agreement expires in 2013 although the purchase and sale commitments are established annually based on our annual harvest plan. Base prices are determined by independent sources and are indexed to third-party sources. Payment for timber is advanced to us by Temple-Inland on a quarterly basis. It is likely that International Paper will continue to be our largest wood fiber customer. We also sell wood fiber to other parties at market prices.
Competition
We face significant competition from other landowners for the sale of our wood fiber. Some of these competitors own similar timber assets that are located in the same or nearby markets. However, due to its weight, the cost for transporting wood fiber long distances is significant, resulting in a competitive advantage for timber that is located reasonably close to paper and building products manufacturing facilities. A significant portion of our wood fiber is reasonably close to such facilities so we expect continued demand for our wood fiber.
Employees
We have 101 employees. None of our employees participate in collective bargaining arrangements. We believe we have a good relationship with our employees.
Environmental Regulations
Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances relating to protection of public health and the environment. Changes to laws and regulations may adversely affect our ability to harvest and sell timber, develop minerals, remediate contaminated properties or develop real estate. These laws and regulations may relate to, among other things, the protection of timberlands, endangered species, timber harvesting practices, protection and restoration of natural resources, air and water quality, and remedial standards for contaminated property and groundwater. Additionally, these laws may impose liability on property owners or operators for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on real property, without regard to whether the owner or operator knew, or was responsible for, the presence of the hazardous or toxic substances. The presence of, or the failure to properly remediate, such substances may adversely affect the value of a property, as well as our ability to sell the property or to borrow funds using that property as collateral or the ability to produce oil and natural gas from that property. Environmental claims generally would not be covered by our insurance programs.
The particular environmental laws that apply to any given real estate development site vary according to the sites location, its environmental condition, and the present and former uses of the site and adjoining properties. Environmental laws and conditions may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance or other costs and can prohibit or severely restrict development activity or mineral production in environmentally sensitive regions or areas, which could negatively affect our results of operations.
We own approximately 288 acres in several parcels in or near Antioch, California, portions of which were sites of a Temple-Inland paper manufacturing operation that are in remediation. The remediation is being conducted voluntarily with oversight by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC. The DTSC has issued Certificates of Completion for approximately 208 acres (180 acres in 2005 and 28 acres in 2011). We estimate the remaining cost to complete remediation activities is about $2.5 million as of year-end 2011.
Oil and natural gas operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations controlling the generation, use, storage and discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. We participate in wells as a royalty interest owner, and also as a non-operating working interest owner in eight wells. We are not an operator of any of the oil and natural gas activities on our properties. Well operators are responsible for compliance with oil and natural gas laws and regulations, which include requiring the operator of oil and natural gas properties to possess permits for the drilling and development of wells, post bonds in connection with various types of activities, and file reports concerning operations.
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Legal Structure
Forestar Group Inc. is a Delaware corporation. The following chart presents the ownership structure for our significant subsidiaries and ventures. It does not contain all our subsidiaries and ventures, some of which are immaterial entities. Except as indicated, all subsidiaries shown are 100 percent owned by their immediate parent.
Our principal executive offices are located at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building Two, Suite 500, Austin, Texas 78746-5149. Our telephone number is (512) 433-5200.
Available Information
From our Internet website, http://www.forestargroup.com, you may obtain additional information about us including:
| our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, including amendments to these reports, and other documents as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with the Securities and Exchange Commission; |
| beneficial ownership reports filed by officers, directors, and principal security holders under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or the Exchange Act); and |
| corporate governance information that includes our: |
| corporate governance guidelines, |
| audit committee charter |
| management development and executive compensation committee charter, |
| nominating and governance committee charter, |
| standards of business conduct and ethics, |
| code of ethics for senior financial officers, and |
| information on how to communicate directly with our board of directors. |
We will also provide printed copies of any of these documents to any shareholder free of charge upon request. In addition, the materials we file with the SEC may be read and copied at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Information about the operation of the Public Reference Room is available by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information that is filed electronically with the SEC.
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Executive Officers
The names, ages and titles of our executive officers are:
Name |
Age | Position | ||||
James M. DeCosmo |
53 | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Christopher L. Nines |
40 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Craig A. Knight |
64 | Chief Real Estate Investment Officer | ||||
Bruce F. Dickson |
58 | Chief Real Estate Officer | ||||
Flavious J. Smith, Jr. |
53 | Executive Vice President | ||||
Phillip J. Weber |
51 | Executive Vice President | ||||
Charles T. Etheredge, Jr. |
48 | Executive Vice President | ||||
David M. Grimm |
51 | Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary | ||||
Charles D. Jehl |
43 | Chief Accounting Officer |
James M. DeCosmo has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since 2006. He served as Group Vice President of Temple-Inland from 2005 to 2007, as Vice President, Forest from 2000 to 2005 and as Director of Forest Management from 1999 to 2000. Prior to joining Temple-Inland, he held various land management positions throughout the southeastern United States.
Christopher L. Nines has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2007. He served as Temple-Inlands Director of Investor Relations from 2003 to 2007 and as Corporate Finance Director from 2001 to 2003. He was Senior Vice President of Finance for ConnectSouth Communications, Inc. from 2000 to 2001.
Craig A. Knight has served as our Chief Real Estate Investment Officer since March 2011. From 2006 to 2011, he served as our Chief Real Estate Officer. From 1994 to 2006, he served as President of Lumbermens Investment Corporation, which changed its name in 2006 to Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group Inc. Mr. Knight was a principal in the real estate development firm of Heath and Knight Properties from 1991 to 1994 and was a partner with Centre Development from 1978 to 1994.
Bruce F. Dickson has served as our Chief Real Estate Officer since March 2011. He was the owner of Fairchild Investments LLC, from 2009 to March 2011. He served as Southeast Regional President for Standard Pacific Homes from 2004 to 2009 and as Austin Division President from 2002 to 2004. From 1991-2001, he held region or division president positions with D.R. Horton, Inc., Milburn Homes and Continental Homes. His prior experience includes investment banking and financial services.
Flavious J. Smith, Jr. has served as our Executive Vice President since 2008. He served as Division Land Manager for EOG Resources, Inc. from 2005 to 2008. He owned and operated Flavious Smith Petroleum Properties, an independent oil and natural gas operator, from 1989 to 2005, and previously held various leadership positions with several oil and gas and energy-related companies.
Phillip J. Weber has served as our Executive Vice President since October 2009. He served the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) as Senior Vice President Multifamily from 2006 to October 2009, as Chief of Staff to the CEO from 2004 to 2006, and in other management roles prior to 2004.
Charles T. Etheredge, Jr. has served as our Executive Vice President since 2006. He was a member of Guaranty Banks commercial real estate lending segment from 1992 to 2006, where he served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the Eastern Region from 1999 to 2006 and as Vice President and Division Manager from 1997 to 1999.
David M. Grimm has served as our Chief Administrative Officer since 2007, in addition to holding the offices of General Counsel and Secretary since 2006. Mr. Grimm served Temple-Inland as Group General Counsel from 2005 to 2006, Associate General Counsel from 2003 to 2005, and held various other legal positions from 1992 to 2003. Prior to joining Temple-Inland, Mr. Grimm was an attorney in private practice in Dallas, Texas.
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Charles D. Jehl has served as our Chief Accounting Officer since 2006. He served as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Guaranty Insurance Services, Inc. from 2005 to 2006 and as Senior Vice President and Controller from 2000 to 2005. From 1989 to 1999, Mr. Jehl held various financial management positions within Temple-Inlands financial services segment.
General Risks Related to our Operations
Both our real estate and mineral resources businesses are cyclical in nature.
The operating results of our business segments reflect the general cyclical pattern of each segment. While the cycles of each industry do not necessarily coincide, demand and prices in each may drop substantially in an economic downturn. Real estate development of residential lots is further influenced by new home construction activity. Mineral resources may be further influenced by national and international commodity prices, principally for oil and natural gas. Cyclical downturns may materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to achieve some or all of our Triple in FOR strategic initiatives.
In 2012, we announced Triple in FOR, new strategic initiatives designed to further enhance shareholder value by accelerating value realization of our real estate and natural resources, optimizing transparency and disclosure, and raising net asset value through strategic and disciplined investments. Our initiatives include: increasing total residential lot sales; increasing oil and gas production; increasing total segment earnings; expanding reported oil and gas resource potential; providing additional information regarding groundwater interests; establishing a progress report on corporate responsibility; pursing growth opportunities which help prove up our asset value and meeting return expectations; developing a low-capital, high-return multifamily business; and accelerating investment in lower-risk oil and gas opportunities.
All of these activities and initiatives have inherent risks and there remain significant challenges and uncertainties, including economic and general business conditions, that could limit our ability to achieve anticipated benefits associated with announced strategic initiatives and affect our financial results. We may not achieve any or all of these goals and are unable to predict whether these initiatives will produce significant revenues, profits or increases in net asset value.
The real estate and mineral resource industries are highly competitive and a number of entities with which we compete are larger and have greater resources, and competitive conditions may adversely affect our results of operations.
The real estate and mineral resource industries in which we operate are highly competitive and are affected to varying degrees by supply and demand factors and economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, new housing starts, home repair and remodeling activities, credit availability, consumer confidence, unemployment, housing affordability and federal energy policies.
The competitive conditions in the real estate industry may result in difficulties acquiring suitable land at acceptable prices, lower sales volumes and prices, increased development costs and delays in construction. We compete with numerous regional and local developers for the acquisition, entitlement, and development of land suitable for development. We also compete with some of our national and regional home builder customers who develop real estate for their own use in homebuilding operations, many of which are larger and have greater resources, including greater marketing and technology budgets. Any improvement in the cost structure or service of our competitors will increase the competition we face.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be negatively affected by any of these factors.
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Our activities are subject to environmental regulations and liabilities that could have a negative effect on our operating results.
Our operations are subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment. Compliance with these provisions may result in delays, may cause us to invest substantial funds to ensure compliance with applicable environmental regulations and can prohibit or severely restrict timber harvesting, real estate development or mineral production activity in environmentally sensitive regions or areas.
Significant reductions in cash flow from slowing real estate, mineral resources or fiber resources market conditions could lead to higher levels of indebtedness, limiting our financial and operating flexibility.
We must comply with various covenants contained in our senior secured credit facility, and any other future debt arrangements. Significant reductions in cash flow from slowing real estate, mineral resources or fiber resources market conditions could require us to increase borrowing levels under our revolving loans under our senior secured credit facility and lead to higher levels of indebtedness, limiting our financial and operating flexibility, and ultimately limiting our ability to comply with our debt covenants. Realization of any of these factors could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Restrictive covenants under our senior secured credit facility may limit the manner in which we operate.
Our senior secured credit facility contains various covenants and conditions that limit our ability to, among other things:
| incur or guarantee additional debt; |
| pay dividends or make distributions to our stockholders; |
| repurchase or redeem capital stock or subordinated indebtedness; |
| make loans, investments or acquisitions; |
| incur restrictions on the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments to us; |
| enter into transactions with affiliates; |
| create liens; |
| merge or consolidate with other companies or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and |
| transfer or sell assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries. |
As a result of these covenants, we are limited in the manner in which we conduct our business and we may be unable to engage in favorable business activities or finance future operations or capital needs.
Debt within some of our ventures may not be renewed or may be difficult or more expensive to replace.
Some of our ventures have their own debt. Many lenders have substantially curtailed or ceased making real estate acquisition and development loans. When debt within our ventures matures, some of our ventures may be unable to renew existing loans or secure replacement financing, or replacement financing may be more expensive. If our ventures are unable to renew existing loans or secure replacement financing, we may be required to contribute additional equity to our ventures which could increase our risk or increase our borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, or both. If our ventures secure replacement financing that is more expensive, our profits may be reduced.
Current global financial conditions have been characterized by increased volatility which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Current global financial conditions and recent market events have been characterized by increased volatility and the resulting tightening of the credit and capital markets has reduced the amount of available liquidity and overall economic activity. We cannot assure you that debt or equity financing, the ability to borrow funds or cash
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generated by operations will be available or sufficient to meet or satisfy our initiatives, objectives or requirements. Our inability to access sufficient amounts of capital on terms acceptable to us for our operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business may suffer if we lose key personnel.
We depend to a large extent on the services of certain key management personnel. These individuals have extensive experience and expertise in our business segments in which they work. The loss of any of these individuals could have a material adverse effect on our operations. We do not maintain key-man life insurance with respect to any of our employees. Our success will be dependent on our ability to continue to employ and retain skilled personnel in each of our business segments.
If the spin-off of Forestar Group from Temple-Inland is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities.
Temple-Inland has received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, that the spin-off of Forestar Group from Temple-Inland in 2007 qualifies for tax-free treatment under applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. In addition, Temple-Inland has received an opinion from tax counsel that the spin-off so qualifies. The IRS ruling and the opinion rely on certain representations, assumptions, and undertakings, including those relating to the past and future conduct of our business, and neither the IRS ruling nor the opinion would be valid if such representations, assumptions, and undertakings were incorrect. Notwithstanding the IRS private letter ruling and opinion, the IRS could determine that the spin-off should be treated as a taxable transaction if it determines that any of the representations, assumptions, or undertakings that were included in the request for the private letter ruling are false or have been violated or if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinion that are not covered by the IRS ruling. If the spin-off fails to qualify for tax-free treatment, under a tax matters agreement between Temple-Inland and us, we may be required to indemnify Temple-Inland against any tax resulting from the distribution to the extent that such tax resulted from any of our representations or undertakings being incorrect or violated. If we are required to indemnify Temple-Inland or such other persons under the circumstances set forth in the tax matters agreement, we may be subject to substantial liabilities.
Risks Related to our Real Estate Operations
A continued decrease in demand for new housing or commercial tracts in the markets where we operate could decrease our profitability.
The residential development industry is cyclical and is significantly affected by changes in general and local economic conditions, such as employment levels, availability of financing for home buyers, interest rates, consumer confidence and housing demand. Adverse changes in these conditions generally, or in the markets where we operate, could decrease demand for lots for new homes in these areas. The current market conditions include a general over-supply of housing, decreased sales volumes for both new and existing homes, and flat or declining home prices. There also has been significant tightening of mortgage credit standards, decreasing the availability of mortgage loans to acquire new and existing homes. A further decline in housing demand could negatively affect our real estate development activities, which could result in a decrease in our revenues and earnings.
Furthermore, the market value of undeveloped land and lots held by us, including commercial tracts, can fluctuate significantly as a result of changing economic and real estate market conditions. If there are significant adverse changes in economic or real estate market conditions, we may have to hold land in inventory longer than planned. Inventory carrying costs can be significant and can result in losses or lower returns and adversely affect our liquidity.
Development of real estate entails a lengthy, uncertain, and costly entitlement process.
Approval to develop real property entails an extensive entitlement process involving multiple and overlapping regulatory jurisdictions and often requiring discretionary action by local governments. This process is often political, uncertain and may require significant exactions in order to secure approvals. Real estate projects must generally comply with local land development regulations and may need to comply with state and
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federal regulations. The process to comply with these regulations is usually lengthy and costly, may not result in the approvals we seek, and can be expected to materially affect our real estate development activities, which may adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Our real estate development operations are currently concentrated in the major markets of Texas, and a significant portion of our undeveloped land holdings are concentrated in Georgia. As a result, our financial results are dependent on the economic growth and strength of those areas.
The economic growth and strength of Texas, where the majority of our real estate development activity is located, are important factors in sustaining demand for our real estate development activities. Further, the future economic growth and real estate development opportunities in broad area around Atlanta, Georgia may be adversely affected if its infrastructure, such as roads, utilities, and schools, are not improved to meet increased demand. There can be no assurance that these improvements will occur. As a result, any adverse impact to the economic growth and health, or infrastructure development, of those areas could materially adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Our real estate development operations are highly dependent upon national, regional and local homebuilders.
We are highly dependent upon our relationships with national, regional, and local homebuilders to purchase lots in our residential developments. If homebuilders do not view our developments as desirable locations for homebuilding operations, our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
In addition, we enter into contracts to sell lots to builders. A builder could decide to delay purchases of lots in one of our developments due to adverse real estate conditions wholly unrelated to our areas of operations, such as the corporate decisions regarding allocation of limited capital or human resources. Further, home mortgage credit standards have tightened substantially and many markets have excess housing inventory so fewer new houses are being constructed and sold. As a result, some builders are experiencing liquidity shortfalls and may be unwilling or unable to close on previously committed lot purchases and, upon the occurrence of any such event, we cannot assure you that we would be able to recover any damages from such builders. As a result, we may sell fewer lots and may have lower sales revenues, which could have an adverse effect on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Our strategic partners may have interests that differ from ours and may take actions that adversely affect us.
We enter into strategic alliances or venture relationships as part of our overall strategy for particular developments or regions. While these partners may bring development experience, industry expertise, financing capabilities, and local credibility or other competitive attributes, they may also have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with ours or that are influenced by factors unrelated to our business. We may also be subject to adverse business consequences if the market reputation or financial condition of a partner deteriorates.
A formal agreement with a partner may also involve special risks, such as: we may not have voting control over the venture; the venture partner may take actions contrary to our instructions or requests, or contrary to our policies or objectives with respect to the real estate investments; the venture partner could experience financial difficulties and actions by a venture partner may subject property owned by the venture to liabilities greater than those contemplated by the venture agreement or have other adverse consequences.
As a result, actions by a partner may have the result of subjecting venture property to liabilities in excess of those contemplated by the terms of the applicable agreement or have other adverse consequences. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that any such arrangements will achieve the results anticipated or otherwise prove successful.
Our partners inability to fund their capital commitments and otherwise fulfill their operating and financial obligations related to a venture could have an adverse effect on the venture and us.
When we enter into a venture, we may rely on our venture partner to fund its share of capital commitments to the venture and to otherwise fulfill its operating and financial obligations. Failure of a venture partner to
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timely satisfy its funding or other obligations to the venture could require us to elect whether to increase our financial or other operating support of the venture in order to preserve our investment, which may reduce our returns or cause us to incur losses, or to not fund such obligations, which may subject the venture and us to adverse consequences.
Delays or failures by governmental authorities to take expected actions could reduce our returns or cause us to incur losses on certain real estate development projects.
We rely on governmental utility and special improvement districts to issue bonds as a revenue source for the districts to reimburse us for qualified expenses, such as road and utility infrastructure costs. Bonds must be supported by districts tax revenues, usually from ad valorem taxes. Slowing new home sales, decreasing real estate prices or difficult credit markets for bond sales can reduce or delay district bond sale revenues, causing such districts to delay reimbursement of our qualified expenses. Failure to receive timely reimbursement for qualified expenses could adversely affect our cash flows and reduce our returns or cause us to incur losses on certain real estate development projects.
We are unable to control the approval or timing of reimbursements or other payments from the special improvement district (SID) in which our Cibolo Canyons project is located. Delays or failure by the SID to approve infrastructure costs for reimbursement or to issue bonds, or lower than expected revenues generated from taxes, could negatively impact the timing of our future cash flows.
The SID in which our Cibolo Canyons project is located is an independent governmental entity not affiliated with us. The SID has an elected governing board comprised of members living within the district, none of whom are affiliated with us. Reimbursement of our infrastructure costs, and timing of payment, is subject to approval and determination by the SID. The SID is also obligated to pay to us certain amounts generated from hotel occupancy revenues and other resort sales revenues collected as taxes by the SID within the district. The amount of revenues collected by the SID will be impacted by hotel occupancy and resort sales, each of which could be lower than projected. If the revenues collected by the SID are lower than expected, then the amount of our future cash flows from the SID could be adversely affected. The amount and timing of receipts form the SID will be impacted by decisions made by the SID in regard to whether and when to issue bonds that would generate funds to support payments to us. Decisions by the SID to delay approval of reimbursements or issuance of bonds could negatively impact the timing of our future cash flows.
Unfavorable changes in apartment markets and economic conditions could adversely affect multifamily occupancy levels and rental rates.
Market and economic conditions may significantly affect multifamily occupancy levels and rental rates and therefore profitability. In general, factors that may adversely affect market and economic conditions include the following:
| the economic climate, which may be adversely impacted by a reduction in jobs, industry slowdowns and other factors; |
| local conditions, such as oversupply of, or reduced demand for, apartment homes; |
| declines in household formation; |
| favorable residential mortgage rates; |
| rent control or stabilization laws, or other laws regulating rental housing, which could prevent us from raising rents to offset increases in operating costs; and |
| competition from other available apartments and other housing alternatives and changes in market rental rates. |
Any of these factors would adversely affect our ability to achieve desired operating results from our multifamily communities.
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Development and construction risks could impact our profitability.
We may develop and construct multifamily communities through wholly-owned projects or through ventures with unaffiliated parties. Our development and construction activities may be exposed to the following risks:
| we may incur construction costs for a property that exceed original estimates due to increased materials, labor or other costs or unforeseen environmental conditions, which could make completion of the property uneconomical, and we may not be able to increase rents to compensate for the increase in construction costs; |
| we may be unable to complete construction and lease-up of a community on schedule and meet financial goals for development projects; and |
| because occupancy rates and rents at a newly developed community may fluctuate depending on a number of factors, including market and economic conditions, we may be unable to meet our profitability goals for that community. |
Possible difficulty of selling multifamily communities could limit our operational and financial flexibility.
Purchasers may not be willing to pay acceptable prices for multifamily communities that we wish to sell. Furthermore, general uncertainty in the real estate markets has resulted in conditions where pricing of certain real estate assets may be difficult due to uncertainty with respect to capitalization rates and valuations, among other things. Also, if we are unable to sell multifamily communities or if we can only sell multifamily communities at prices lower than are generally acceptable, then we may have to take on additional leverage in order to provide adequate capital to execute our business strategy.
Increased competition and increased affordability of residential homes could limit our ability to retain residents, lease apartment homes or increase or maintain rents.
Our multifamily communities compete with numerous housing alternatives in attracting residents, including other multifamily communities and single-family rental homes, as well as owner occupied single and multifamily homes. Competitive housing in a particular area and the increasing affordability of owner occupied single and multifamily homes caused by declining housing prices, mortgage interest rates and government programs to promote home ownership could adversely affect our ability to retain residents, lease apartment homes and increase or maintain rents.
Acquired multifamily development sites and communities may not achieve anticipated results.
We may selectively acquire multifamily communities that meet our investment criteria. Our acquisition activities and their success may be exposed to the following risks:
| an acquired community may fail to achieve expected occupancy and rental rates and may fail to perform as expected; |
| we may not be able to successfully integrate acquired properties and operations; |
| our estimates of the costs of repositioning or redeveloping the acquired property may prove inaccurate, causing us to fail to meet profitability goals; and |
| we may be unable to obtain third party co-investment for development of communities. |
Failure to succeed in new markets may limit our growth.
We may from time to time commence development activity or make acquisitions outside of our existing market areas if appropriate opportunities arise. Our historical experience in existing markets does not ensure that we will be able to operate successfully in new markets. We may be exposed to a variety of risks if we choose to enter new markets, including, among others:
| an inability to evaluate accurately local apartment or housing market conditions and local economies; |
| an inability to obtain land for development or to identify appropriate acquisition opportunities; |
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| an inability to hire and retain key personnel; and |
| lack of familiarity with local governmental and permitting procedures. |
Risks Related to our Mineral Resources Operations
We have limited control over the activities on properties we do not operate and are unable to ensure their proper operation and profitability.
The properties in which we have an interest are currently operated by other companies and involve third-party working interest owners. As a result, we have limited ability to influence or control the operation or future development of such properties, including compliance with environmental, safety and other regulations, or the amount of capital expenditures that we will be required to fund with respect to such properties other than drilling requirements in the lease. Moreover, we are dependent on the other working interest owners of such projects to fund their contractual share of the capital expenditures of such projects. These limitations and our dependence on the operator and other working interest owners for these projects could cause us to incur unexpected future costs and materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, operators determine when and where to drill wells and we have no influence over these decisions. The success and timing of the drilling and development activities on our properties therefore depends upon a number of factors currently outside of our control, including the operators timing and amount of capital expenditures, expertise and financial resources, inclusion of other participants in drilling wells and use of technology, and the operators of our properties may not have the same financial and other resources as other oil and natural gas companies with whom they compete. Further, new wells may not be productive or may not produce at a level to enable us to recover all or any portion of our capital investment where we have a non-operating working interest.
Volatile oil and natural gas prices could adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.
Our cash flows and results of operations are dependent in part on oil and natural gas prices, which are volatile. Oil and natural gas prices also impact the amounts we receive for selling and renewing our mineral leases. Moreover, oil and natural gas prices depend on factors we cannot control, such as: changes in foreign and domestic supply and demand for oil and natural gas; actions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries; weather; political conditions in other oil-producing countries, including the possibility of insurgency or war in such areas; prices of foreign exports; domestic and international drilling activity; price and availability of alternate fuel sources; the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other major currencies; the level and effect of trading in commodity markets; the effect of worldwide energy conservation measures and governmental regulations. Any substantial or extended decline in the price of oil and natural gas could have a negative impact on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
The ability to sell and deliver oil and natural gas produced from wells on our mineral interests could be materially and adversely affected if adequate gathering, processing, compression and transportation services are not obtained.
The sale of oil and natural gas produced from wells on our mineral interests depends on a number of factors beyond our control, including the availability, proximity and capacity of, and costs associated with, gathering, processing, compression and transportation facilities owned by third parties. These facilities may be temporarily unavailable due to market conditions, mechanical reasons or other factors or conditions, and may not be available in the future on terms the operator considers acceptable, if at all. Any significant change in market or other conditions affecting these facilities or the availability of these facilities, including due to the failure or inability to obtain access to these facilities on terms acceptable to the operator or at all, could materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Our reserves and production will decline from their current levels.
The rate of production from oil and natural gas properties generally declines as reserves are produced. Our reserves will decline as they are produced which could materially and adversely affect our future cash flow, liquidity and results of operations.
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A portion of our oil and natural gas production may be subject to interruptions that could have a material and adverse effect on us.
A portion of oil and natural gas production from our mineral interests may be interrupted, or shut in, from time to time for various reasons, including as a result of accidents, weather conditions, loss of gathering, processing, compression or transportation facility access or field labor issues, or intentionally as a result of market conditions such as oil and natural gas prices that the operators of our mineral leases, whose decisions we do not control, deem uneconomic. If a substantial amount of production is interrupted, our business, liquidity and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We may acquire properties that are not as commercially productive as we initially believed.
From time to time, we seek to acquire oil and natural gas properties. Although we perform reviews of properties to be acquired in a manner that we believe is consistent with industry practices, reviews of records and properties may not necessarily reveal existing or potential problems, nor may they permit a buyer to become sufficiently familiar with the properties in order to assess fully their deficiencies and potential. Even when problems with a property are identified, we may assume environmental and other risks and liabilities in connection with acquired properties pursuant to the acquisition agreements. Moreover, there are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of oil and natural gas reserves, actual future production rates and associated costs with respect to acquired properties. Actual reserves, production rates and costs may vary substantially from those assumed in our estimates.
We do not insure against all potential losses and could be materially and adversely affected by unexpected liabilities.
The exploration for, and production of, oil and natural gas can be hazardous, involving natural disasters and other unforeseen occurrences such as blowouts, cratering, fires and loss of well control, which can damage or destroy wells or production facilities, result in injury or death, and damage property and the environment. We maintain insurance against many, but not all, potential losses or liabilities arising from operations on our property in accordance with what we believe are customary industry practices and in amounts and at costs that we believe to be prudent and commercially practicable. In addition, we require third party operators to maintain customary and commercially practicable types and limits of insurance, but potential losses or liabilities may not be covered by such third partys insurance which may subject us to liability as the mineral estate owner. The occurrence of any of these events and any costs or liabilities incurred as a result of such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our estimated proved reserves are based on many assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. Any material inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
The process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves is complex involving decisions and assumptions in evaluating the available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data. Accordingly, these estimates are imprecise. Actual future production, oil and natural gas prices, revenues, taxes and quantities of recoverable oil and natural gas reserves might vary from those estimated. Any variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of proved developed reserves. In addition, we may adjust estimates of proved reserves to reflect production history, development, prevailing oil and natural gas prices and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
The estimates of our reserves as of December 31, 2011 are based upon various assumptions about future production levels, prices and costs that may not prove to be correct over time. In particular, estimates of oil and gas reserves, future net revenue from proved reserves and the standardized measure thereof for our oil and gas interests are based on the assumption that future oil and gas prices remain the same as the twelve month first-day-of-the-month average oil and gas prices for the year ended December 31, 2011. The average realized sales prices as of such date used for purposes of such estimates were $4.12 per MMBTU of natural gas and $92.71 per
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barrel of oil. The December 31, 2011 estimates also assume that the working interest owners will make future capital expenditures which are necessary to develop and realize the value of proved reserves.
The standardized measure of future net cash flows from our proved reserves is not necessarily the same as the current market value of our estimated reserves.
Any material inaccuracies in reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves. As required by SEC regulations, we base the estimated discounted future net cash flows from our proved reserves on prices and costs in effect at the time of the estimate. However, actual future net cash flows from our properties will be affected by numerous factors not subject to our control and will be affected by factors such as:
| decisions and activities of the well operators; |
| supply of and demand for oil and gas; |
| actual prices we receive for oil and gas; |
| actual operating costs; |
| the amount and timing of capital expenditures; |
| the amount and timing of actual production; and |
| changes in governmental regulations or taxation. |
The timing of production will affect the timing of actual future net cash flows from proved reserves, and thus their actual present value. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when calculating discounted future net cash flow, which is required by the SEC, may not be the most appropriate discount factor based on interest rates in effect from time to time and risks associated with us or the oil and natural gas industry in general. Any material inaccuracies in our reserve estimates or underlying assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value of our reserves.
Weather and climate may have a significant and adverse impact on us.
Demand for natural gas is, to a significant degree, dependent on weather and climate, which impacts, among other things, the price we receive for the commodities produced from wells on our mineral interests and, in turn, our cash flow and results of operations. For example, relatively warm temperatures during a winter season generally result in relatively lower demand for natural gas, higher inventory (as less natural gas is used to heat residences and businesses) and, as a result, relatively lower prices for natural gas production.
Changes in environmental or other regulations for extraction of oil or natural gas could reduce our mineral resources revenue.
An increasing amount of our mineral resources revenue is dependent on newer technologies for extraction of oil or natural gas, specifically hydraulic fracturing. Changes in environmental or other regulations governing hydraulic fracturing could substantially increase the cost or risk associated with extracting oil or natural gas from our mineral interests, resulting in lower production from our minerals or reduced demand for leasing our minerals. Such changes could result in reduced mineral resources revenues. Additionally, the U.S. federal government is currently considering legislation and regulations to, among other things, require hydraulic fracturing operations to meet permitting and financial assurance requirements and to disclose the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. It has been asserted that chemicals used in the fracturing process could adversely affect drinking water supplies. Such regulations would require the reporting and public disclosure of chemicals used in the fracturing process and could lead to operational restrictions and delays and increased operating costs.
Any such new legislation or regulation could lead to operational delays or increased operating costs and could result in additional burdens that could increase the costs and delay the development of our oil and natural
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gas resources which are not commercially producible without the use of hydraulic fracturing. This could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Hydraulic fracturing, the process used for extracting oil and gas from shale and other formations, has recently come under increased scrutiny and could be the subject of further regulation that could impact the timing and cost of development.
The Underground Injection Control, or UIC, regulation promulgated under the provisions of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, or the SDWA, exclude hydraulic fracturing from the definition of underground injection. However, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is now re-evaluating hydraulic fracturing and the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are currently considering bills entitled the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act, or the FRAC Act, to amend the SDWA to repeal this exemption. If enacted, the FRAC Act would amend the definition of underground injection in the SDWA to encompass hydraulic fracturing activities, which could require hydraulic fracturing operations to meet permitting and financial assurance requirements, adhere to certain construction specifications, fulfill monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping obligations, and meet plugging and abandonment requirements. The FRAC Act also proposes to require the reporting and public disclosure of chemicals used in the fracturing process, which could make it easier for third parties opposing the hydraulic fracturing process to initiate legal proceedings based on allegations that specific chemicals used in the fracturing process could adversely affect groundwater.
Hydraulic fracturing is the primary production method used to extract reserves located in many of the unconventional oil and gas plays in the United States. Depending on the legislation that may ultimately be enacted or the regulations that may be adopted at the federal, state and/or provincial levels, exploration, exploitation and production activities that entail hydraulic fracturing could be subject to additional regulation and permitting requirements. Individually or collectively, such new legislation or regulation could lead to operational delays or increased operating costs and could result in additional burdens that could increase the costs and delay the development of unconventional oil and gas resources from formations that are not commercial without the use of hydraulic fracturing. This could have an adverse effect on the operators conducting activities on our minerals, and on the cash flows we receive from them.
A significant portion of our Louisiana net mineral acres are subject to prescription of non-use under Louisiana law.
A significant portion of our Louisiana net mineral acres were severed from surface ownership and retained by creation of one or more mineral servitudes shortly before our spin-off. Under Louisiana law, a mineral servitude that is not producing minerals or which has not been the subject of good-faith drilling operations will cease to burden the property upon the tenth anniversary of the date of its creation. Upon such event, the mineral rights effectively will revert to the surface owner and we will no longer own the right to lease, explore for or produce minerals from such acreage.
Our water interests may require governmental permits, the consent of third parties and/or completion of significant transportation infrastructure prior to commercialization, all of which are dependent on the actions of others.
Many jurisdictions require governmental permits to withdraw and transport water for commercial uses, the granting of which may be subject to discretionary determinations by such jurisdictions regarding necessity. In addition, we do not own the executory rights related to our non-participating royalty interest, and as a result, third-party consent from the executor rights owner(s) would be required prior to production. The process to obtain permits can be lengthy, and governmental jurisdictions or third parties from whom we seek permits or consent may not provide the approvals we seek. We may be unable to secure a buyer at commercially economic prices for water that we have a right to extract and transport, and transportation infrastructure across property not owned or controlled by us is required for transport of water prior to commercial use. Such infrastructure can require significant capital and may also require the consent of third parties. We may not have cost effective means to transport water from property we own, lease or manage to buyers. As a result, we may lose some or all of our investment in water assets, or our returns may be diminished.
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Risks Related to our Fiber Resources Operations
If the Temple-Inland mill complex in Rome, Georgia were to permanently cease operations, the price we receive for our wood fiber may decline, and the cost of delivering logs to alternative customers could increase.
Prior to our 2007 spin-off from Temple-Inland, recently acquired by International Paper, we entered into an agreement to sell wood fiber to Temple-Inland at market prices, primarily for use at Temple-Inlands Rome, Georgia mill complex. The agreement expires in 2013, although the purchase and sale commitments (including the sale price) are established annually based on our annual harvest plan. A significant portion of our fiber resources revenues are generated though this agreement. The Temple-Inland Rome mill complex is a significant consumer of wood fiber within the immediate area in which a substantial portion of our Georgia timberlands are located. If the Temple-Inland mill complex in Rome, Georgia was to permanently cease operations, was not willing to pay for wood fiber at a price we deem acceptable or was to cease purchasing wood fiber from us after the expiration of our agreement in 2013, we may not be able to enter into agreements with alternative customers for the wood fiber, any agreements with alternative customers we do enter into may be for lower rates than we currently receive from Temple-Inland and the cost of delivering wood fiber to such alternative customers could increase.
Our ability to harvest and deliver timber may be affected by our sales of timberland and may be subject to other limitations, which could adversely affect our operations.
We have sold over 217,000 acres of our timberland in accordance with our near-term strategic initiatives announced in 2009 and from our retail sales program, and we now own directly or through ventures about 131,000 acres with timber. Sales of our timberland reduce the amount of timber that we have available for harvest.
In addition, weather conditions, timber growth cycles, access limitations, availability of contract loggers and haulers, and regulatory requirements associated with the protection of wildlife and water resources may restrict harvesting of timberlands as may other factors, including damage by fire, insect infestation, disease, prolonged drought, flooding and other natural disasters. Although damage from such natural causes usually is localized and affects only a limited percentage of the timber, there can be no assurance that any damage affecting our timberlands will in fact be so limited. As is common in the forest products industry, we do not maintain insurance coverage with respect to damage to our timberlands.
The revenues, income and cash flow from operations for our fiber resources segment are dependent to a significant extent on the pricing of our products and our continued ability to harvest timber at adequate levels.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Our principal executive offices are located in Austin, Texas, where we lease approximately 32,000 square feet of office space. We also lease office space in Dallas, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; Lufkin, Texas; and Atlanta, Georgia. We believe these offices are suitable for conducting our business.
For a description of our properties in our real estate, mineral resources and fiber resources segments, see Business Real Estate, Business Mineral Resources and Business Fiber Resources, respectively, in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We are involved directly or through ventures in various legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of doing business. We believe we have established adequate reserves for any probable losses and that the outcome of any of the proceedings should not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or long-term results of operations or cash flows. It is possible, however, that charges related to these matters could be significant to results of operations or cash flow in any single accounting period.
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Item 5. Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The high and low sales prices in each quarter in 2011 and 2010 were:
2011 | 2010 | |||||||||||||||
Price Range | Price Range | |||||||||||||||
High | Low | High | Low | |||||||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 20.77 | $ | 17.75 | $ | 22.85 | $ | 16.80 | ||||||||
Second Quarter |
19.95 | 14.64 | 23.54 | 16.23 | ||||||||||||
Third Quarter |
17.59 | 10.29 | 18.32 | 13.21 | ||||||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
15.95 | 9.94 | 19.78 | 16.47 | ||||||||||||
For the Year |
20.77 | 9.94 | 23.54 | 13.21 |
Shareholders
Our stock transfer records indicated that as of March 1, 2012, there were approximately 3,813 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividend Policy
We currently intend to retain any future earnings to support our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors after taking into account various factors, including without limitation, our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our business, the terms of any credit agreements to which we may be a party at the time, legal requirements, industry practice, and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities(a)
Period |
Total Number of Shares Purchased(b) |
Average Price Paid per Share |
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan or Programs |
Maximum Number of Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs |
||||||||||||
Month 1 (10/1/2011 10/31/2011) |
| $ | | | 5,826,578 | |||||||||||
Month 2 (11/1/2011 11/30/2011) |
433,703 | $ | 14.66 | 418,812 | 5,407,766 | |||||||||||
Month 3 (12/1/2011 12/31/2011) |
317,388 | $ | 14.97 | 315,461 | 5,092,305 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total |
751,091 | 734,273 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(a) | On February 11, 2009, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 7,000,000 shares of our common stock. We have purchased 1,907,695 shares under this authorization, which has no expiration date. We have no repurchase plans or programs that expired during the period covered by the table above and no repurchase plans or programs that we intend to terminate prior to expiration or under which we no longer intend to make further purchases. |
(b) | Includes shares withheld to pay taxes in connection with vesting of restricted stock awards and exercises of stock options. |
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Performance Graph
We composed an index of our peers consisting of Avatar Holdings Inc., Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co., Tejon Ranch Co. and The St. Joe Company (Peer Index). Our cumulative total shareholder return following our spin-off compared to the Russell 2000 Index and to the Peer Index was as shown in the following graph (assuming $100 invested on January 1, 2008):
Pursuant to SEC rules, returns of each of the companies in the Peer Index are weighted according to the respective companys stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated.
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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
For the Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share amount) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate |
$ | 106,168 | $ | 68,269 | $ | 94,436 | $ | 98,859 | $ | 142,729 | ||||||||||
Mineral resources |
24,584 | 24,790 | 36,256 | 47,671 | 20,818 | |||||||||||||||
Fiber resources |
4,821 | 8,301 | 15,559 | 13,192 | 14,439 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 135,573 | $ | 101,360 | $ | 146,251 | $ | 159,722 | $ | 177,986 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Segment earnings (loss): |
||||||||||||||||||||
Real estate(a) |
$ | (25,704 | ) | $ | (4,634 | ) | $ | 3,182 | $ | 9,075 | $ | 39,507 | ||||||||
Mineral resources |
16,023 | 22,783 | 32,370 | 44,076 | 18,581 | |||||||||||||||
Fiber resources |
1,893 | 5,058 | 9,622 | 8,896 | 7,950 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total segment earnings (loss) |
(7,788 | ) | 23,207 | 45,174 | 62,047 | 66,038 | ||||||||||||||
Items not allocated to segments: |
||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expense |
(20,110 | ) | (17,341 | ) | (22,399 | ) | (19,318 | ) | (17,413 | ) | ||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
(7,067 | ) | (11,596 | ) | (11,998 | ) | (4,516 | ) | (1,397 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets(b) |
61,784 | 28,607 | 104,047 | | | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(17,012 | ) | (16,446 | ) | (20,459 | ) | (21,283 | ) | (9,229 | ) | ||||||||||
Other non-operating income(c) |
368 | 1,164 | 375 | 279 | 705 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Income before taxes |
10,175 | 7,595 | 94,740 | 17,209 | 38,704 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(3,021 | ) | (2,470 | ) | (35,633 | ) | (5,235 | ) | (13,909 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income attributable to Forestar Group Inc. |
$ | 7,154 | $ | 5,125 | $ | 59,107 | $ | 11,974 | $ | 24,795 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Diluted net income per common share(d) |
$ | 0.20 | $ | 0.14 | $ | 1.64 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.70 | ||||||||||
Average diluted common shares outstanding(d) |
35,781 | 36,377 | 36,102 | 35,892 | 35,380 | |||||||||||||||
At year-end: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Assets |
$ | 794,857 | $ | 789,324 | $ | 784,734 | $ | 834,576 | $ | 748,726 | ||||||||||
Debt |
$ | 221,587 | $ | 221,589 | $ | 216,626 | $ | 337,402 | $ | 266,015 | ||||||||||
Noncontrolling interest |
$ | 1,686 | $ | 4,715 | $ | 5,879 | $ | 6,600 | $ | 8,629 | ||||||||||
Forestar Group Inc. shareholders/Parents equity |
$ | 509,526 | $ | 509,564 | $ | 512,456 | $ | 447,292 | $ | 433,201 | ||||||||||
Ratio of total debt to total capitalization |
30 | % | 30 | % | 30 | % | 43 | % | 38 | % |
(a) | Real estate segment earnings (loss) include non-cash impairments of $45,188,000 in 2011, $11,271,000 in 2010, $10,619,000 in 2009, $3,325,000 in 2008 and $6,518,000 in 2007. Real estate segment earnings (loss) also include the effects of net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests. |
(b) | Gain on sale of assets represents gains from timberland sales in accordance with our strategic initiatives announced first quarter 2009 and completed in 2011. |
(c) | In 2010, other non-operating income principally represents interest income related to a loan to a third-party equity investor in the resort development located at our Cibolo Canyons development. We received payment in full plus interest in fourth quarter 2010. |
(d) | Prior to December 28, 2007, we were a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temple-Inland Inc. For 2007, we computed diluted net income per share based upon the number of shares of our common stock distributed by Temple-Inland on December 28, 2007. |
35
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and other materials we have filed or may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as believe, anticipate, could, estimate, likely, intend, may, plan, expect, and similar expressions, including references to assumptions. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risk and uncertainties. We note that a variety of factors and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors and uncertainties that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to:
| general economic, market or business conditions in Texas or Georgia, where our real estate activities are concentrated; |
| our ability to achieve some or all of our strategic initiatives; |
| the opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to us and that we may pursue; |
| supply of and demand for oil and natural gas and fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices; |
| significant customer concentration; |
| future residential, multifamily or commercial entitlements, development approvals and the ability to obtain such approvals; |
| obtaining approvals of reimbursements and other payments from special improvement districts and the timing of such payments; |
| accuracy of estimates and other assumptions related to investment in real estate, the expected timing and pricing of land and lot sales and related cost of real estate sales, impairment of long-lived assets, income taxes, share-based compensation and oil and natural gas reserves; |
| the levels of resale housing inventory and potential impact of foreclosures in our mixed-use development projects and the regions in which they are located; |
| fluctuations in costs and expenses; |
| demand for new housing, which can be affected by a number of factors including unemployment, consumer confidence and the availability of mortgage credit; |
| competitive actions by other companies; |
| changes in governmental policies, laws or regulations and actions or restrictions of regulatory agencies, including regulation of hydraulic fracturing; |
| the results of financing efforts, including our ability to obtain financing with favorable terms; |
| our partners ability to fund their capital commitments and otherwise fulfill their operating and financial obligations; |
| the effect of limitations, restrictions and natural events on our ability to harvest and deliver timber; |
| inability to obtain permits for, or changes in laws, governmental policies or regulations effecting, water withdrawal or usage; and |
| the final resolutions or outcomes with respect to our contingent and other liabilities related to our business. |
Other factors, including the risk factors described in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected by our forward-looking statements. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such factors, nor can we assess the impact of
36
any such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Background
On December 28, 2007, Temple-Inland distributed all of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock to its stockholders in a transaction commonly referred to as a spin-off.
Strategy
Our strategy is:
| Recognizing and responsibly delivering the greatest value from every acre; and |
| Growing our business through strategic and disciplined investments. |
2009 Strategic Initiatives
In 2009, we announced our strategic initiatives to enhance shareholder value by: generating significant cash flow, principally from the sale of 175,000 acres of higher and better use timberland; reducing debt by $150,000,000; and repurchasing up to 20 percent of our common stock.
In 2011, we sold 57,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas for $87,061,000 in two transactions generating combined net proceeds of $86,018,000, which were principally used to reduce debt, pay taxes and reinvest in our business. These transactions resulted in combined gains of $61,784,000. In addition, we repurchased about 907,000 shares of our common stock for $12,977,000, which are classified as treasury stock.
We have completed our strategic initiatives related to the sale of higher and better use timberland and reduction of debt. Since announcing these initiatives, we have sold 176,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas for $284,442,000 in 11 transactions. These transactions generated net proceeds of $277,909,000 and resulted in gains of $194,438,000. We used the proceeds principally to reduce debt, pay income taxes, reinvest in our business and repurchase our common stock. At year-end 2011, our total debt was reduced by $154,096,000 since first quarter-end 2009, excluding $26,500,000 in non-recourse borrowings secured by a 401 unit multifamily property we acquired in fourth quarter 2010. In addition, we have repurchased about 1,908,000 shares of our common stock for $28,155,000 since announcing these initiatives. As a result, we have about 5,000,000 shares remaining under our existing share repurchase authorization which was approved by our Board of Directors in February 2009.
2012 Strategic Initiatives
In 2012, we announced Triple in FOR, new strategic initiatives designed to further enhance shareholder value by accelerating value realization of our real estate and natural resources, optimizing transparency and disclosure, and raising net asset value through strategic and disciplined investments.
Accelerating value realization of our real estate and natural resources is focused on increasing total residential lots sales, oil and gas production, and total segment earnings.
Optimizing transparency and disclosure represents our efforts to expand reported oil and gas resource potential, to provide additional information related to groundwater interests, and to establish a progress report on corporate responsibility efforts.
37
Raising our net asset value through strategic and disciplined investments is focused on pursuing growth opportunities which help prove up our asset value and meet return expectations, developing a low-capital, high-return multifamily business, and accelerating investment in lower-risk oil and gas opportunities.
Results of Operations for the Years Ended 2011, 2010 and 2009
A summary of our consolidated results by business segment follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Revenues: |
||||||||||||
Real estate |
$ | 106,168 | $ | 68,269 | $ | 94,436 | ||||||
Mineral resources |
24,584 | 24,790 | 36,256 | |||||||||
Fiber resources |
4,821 | 8,301 | 15,559 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 135,573 | $ | 101,360 | $ | 146,251 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Segment earnings (loss): |
||||||||||||
Real estate |
$ | (25,704 | ) | $ | (4,634 | ) | $ | 3,182 | ||||
Mineral resources |
16,023 | 22,783 | 32,370 | |||||||||
Fiber resources |
1,893 | 5,058 | 9,622 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total segment earnings (loss) |
(7,788 | ) | 23,207 | 45,174 | ||||||||
Items not allocated to segments: |
||||||||||||
General and administrative expense |
(20,110 | ) | (17,341 | ) | (22,399 | ) | ||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
(7,067 | ) | (11,596 | ) | (11,998 | ) | ||||||
Gain on sale of assets |
61,784 | 28,607 | 104,047 | |||||||||
Interest expense |
(17,012 | ) | (16,446 | ) | (20,459 | ) | ||||||
Other non-operating income |
368 | 1,164 | 375 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Income before taxes |
10,175 | 7,595 | 94,740 | |||||||||
Income tax expense |
(3,021 | ) | (2,470 | ) | (35,633 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net income attributable to Forestar Group Inc. |
$ | 7,154 | $ | 5,125 | $ | 59,107 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Significant aspects of our results of operations follow:
2011
| Real estate segment earnings were negatively impacted by $45,188,000 of non-cash impairment charges principally associated with residential development projects located near Atlanta, Denver, and the Texas gulf coast and with our decision to acquire certain assets from CL Realty and TEMCO, ventures in which we own a 50 percent interest. Segment earnings were positively impacted by increased undeveloped land sales and higher residential lot and tract sales and by $3,083,000 as result of settled litigation and reallocation from us to noncontrolling financial interests of a previously recognized loss related to foreclosure of a lien on a property owned by a consolidated venture. |
| Mineral resources segment earnings declined primarily due to lower lease bonus revenues and increased costs associated with developing our water resources initiatives. These items were partially offset by increased oil production volumes and higher average oil prices. |
| Fiber resources segment earnings continued to decrease principally due to lower harvest volume as a result of selling over 217,000 acres of timberland since year-end 2008. |
38
| General and administrative expenses include $3,187,000 associated with proposed private debt offerings that we withdrew as a result of deterioration of terms available to us in the credit markets. |
| Share-based compensation decreased principally as a result of a decline in our stock price and its impact on cash-settled awards. |
| Gain on sale of assets represents the sale of about 57,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas for $87,061,000 in accordance with our 2009 strategic initiatives which, we completed in 2011. |
2010
| Real estate segment earnings declined principally due to lower undeveloped land sales from our retail sales program and due to $11,271,000 of non-cash impairment charges principally associated with residential development projects located near Atlanta and Fort Worth, and with a commercial real estate project near the Texas gulf coast. |
| Mineral resources segment earnings declined principally due to lower lease bonus revenues as a result of reduced leasing activity by exploration and production companies that concentrated investments in drilling activities to hold existing leases rather than leasing new mineral interests in our basins. This decline in lease bonus revenue was partially offset by increased oil and natural gas production and higher oil prices, including our share of venture activity. |
| Fiber resources segment earnings decreased principally due to reduced harvest activity resulting from the sale of over 140,000 acres of timberland since first quarter 2009 and postponing harvest plans on about 55,000 acres classified as held for sale. |
| Gain on sale of assets represents the sale of about 24,000 acres of timber and timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas for $38,778,000 in accordance with our 2009 strategic initiatives. |
| Interest expense decreased principally due to lower interest rates as a result of the maturity of our interest rate swap agreement, lower average debt levels outstanding and decreased amortization of prepaid loan fees due to refinancing and extending our senior credit facility. |
2009
| Real estate segment earnings were negatively impacted by $10,619,000 of non-cash impairment charges principally associated with a residential condominium project located in Austin, two projects located in Tampa, and an equity investment in an unconsolidated venture. Segment earnings were also negatively impacted by $3,702,000 in environmental remediation activities. |
| Mineral resources segment earnings declined principally due to lower royalty revenues as result of lower natural gas and oil prices, and to a lesser extent, lower lease bonus revenues from decreased leasing activity and increased infrastructure costs associated with developing our mineral resources organization. |
| Fiber resources segment earnings increased principally due to increased harvest volumes and higher prices related to a higher mix of larger pine sawtimber sold from our Texas forest. |
| General and administrative expenses include about $3,200,000 paid to outside advisors regarding an evaluation by our Board of Directors of an unsolicited shareholder proposal and $2,213,000 in non-cash impairment charges related to the sale of our undivided 15 percent interest in corporate aircraft contributed to us by Temple-Inland at spin-off. |
| Share-based compensation increased principally due to our higher stock price and increased number of cash-settled equity awards. |
| Gain on sale of assets represents the sale of about 95,000 acres of timber and timberland in Georgia and Alabama for $158,603,000 in accordance with our 2009 strategic initiatives. |
| Interest expense decreased as result of lower debt levels. |
39
Current Market Conditions
Current U.S. market conditions in the single-family residential industry continue to be challenging, characterized by high unemployment rates, low consumer confidence, depressed sales volumes and prices, difficult financing environment for purchasers and competition from foreclosure inventory. It is difficult to predict when and at what rate these broader negative conditions will improve, or when the homebuilding industry will experience a sustained recovery. However, declining finished lot inventories and lack of real estate development is increasing demand for our developed lots, principally in the Texas markets. Multifamily market conditions are improving, with many markets experiencing healthy occupancy levels and positive rent growth. This improvement has been driven primarily by limited new construction activity, reduced single-family mortgage credit availability, and the increased propensity to rent among the 18 to 34 year old demographic of the U.S. population.
Oil prices have increased principally due to supply uncertainty, demand growth from emerging markets and ongoing political unrest in oil-producing regions. Natural gas prices have remained soft due to increased levels of production and record levels of inventory due to mild temperatures. Shale resource drilling and production remains strong and working natural gas inventories are expected to remain relatively high. In the East Texas Basin, exploration and production companies continue to focus drilling on natural gas prospects in order to extend and hold existing mineral leases. In the Gulf Coast Basin, in Louisiana, activity has increased as operators have shifted exploration efforts to oil and high liquid natural gas plays. These conditions may impact the demand for new mineral leases, new exploration activity and the amount of royalty revenues we receive.
Pulpwood and sawtimber sales are depressed due to high levels of fiber inventory from lower demand as a result of the overall slowdown in residential construction activity.
Business Segments
We manage our operations through three business segments:
| Real estate, |
| Mineral resources, and |
| Fiber resources. |
We evaluate performance based on earnings before unallocated items and income taxes. Segment earnings (loss) consist of operating income, equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures and net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests. Unallocated items consist of general and administrative expenses, share-based compensation, gain on sale of assets, interest expense and other non-operating income and expense. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the accounting policy note to the consolidated financial statements.
We operate in cyclical industries. Our operations are affected to varying degrees by supply and demand factors and economic conditions including changes in interest rates, availability of mortgage credit, consumer and home builder sentiment, new housing starts, real estate values, employment levels, changes in the market prices for oil, natural gas, and timber, and the overall strength or weakness of the U.S. economy.
Real Estate
We own directly or through ventures about 147,000 acres of real estate located in nine states and 12 markets. Our real estate segment secures entitlements and develops infrastructure on our lands, primarily for single-family residential and mixed-use communities. We own over 104,000 acres in a broad area around Atlanta, Georgia, with the balance located primarily in Texas. We target investments principally in our strategic growth corridors, regions across the southern half of the United States that possess key demographic and growth characteristics that we believe make them attractive for long-term real estate investment. We own and manage our projects either directly or through ventures. Our real estate segment revenues are principally derived from the sales of residential single-family lots and tracts, undeveloped land and commercial real estate and from the operation of income producing properties, primarily a hotel and a multifamily property.
40
A summary of our real estate results follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 106,168 | $ | 68,269 | $ | 94,436 | ||||||
Cost of sales |
(62,975 | ) | (45,485 | ) | (45,506 | ) | ||||||
Operating expenses |
(36,184 | ) | (29,338 | ) | (35,120 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
7,009 | (6,554 | ) | 13,810 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures |
(30,626 | ) | 2,629 | (8,161 | ) | |||||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
(2,087 | ) | (709 | ) | (2,467 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Segment earnings (loss) |
$ | (25,704 | ) | $ | (4,634 | ) | $ | 3,182 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales includes non-cash impairment charges of $11,525,000 in 2011 principally associated with residential development projects near Denver and the Texas gulf coast; $9,042,000 in 2010 principally associated with residential development projects located near Atlanta and Fort Worth; and $5,718,000 in 2009 principally associated with a residential condominium project located in Austin.
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures includes non-cash impairment charges of $33,663,000 in 2011 principally associated with our decision to acquire certain assets from CL Realty and TEMCO ventures; $2,229,000 in 2010 principally related to a commercial real estate project located near the Texas gulf coast; and $4,901,000 in 2009 related to two residential real estate projects located in Tampa, Florida and an equity investment in an unconsolidated venture. In 2011 as a result of entering into the agreement with CL Realty to acquire certain assets, we offset $2,164,000 of deferred gains against our share of venture losses. In 2010, equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures includes about $4,869,000 in gains that were previously deferred by us due to our continuing involvement with the property which was sold to a third party.
In 2011, segment earnings (loss) include a benefit of $1,741,000 as a result of settled litigation and $1,342,000 associated with reallocation of a previously recognized loss related to a foreclosure of a lien on a property owned by a consolidated venture. Based on new information, we determined this loss should be allocated from us to the noncontrolling financial interests as we believe the likelihood we will be subject to any potential lender liabilities related to this foreclosure is remote.
Revenues in our owned and consolidated ventures consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Residential real estate |
$ | 36,586 | $ | 24,540 | $ | 27,677 | ||||||
Commercial real estate |
736 | 352 | 793 | |||||||||
Undeveloped land |
40,517 | 20,111 | 46,580 | |||||||||
Income producing properties |
26,820 | 21,225 | 18,214 | |||||||||
Other |
1,509 | 2,041 | 1,172 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 106,168 | $ | 68,269 | $ | 94,436 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential real estate revenues principally consist of the sale of single-family developed lots to national, regional and local homebuilders. In 2011, residential real estate revenues increased principally as a result of higher lot sales volume due to demand for finished lot inventory by homebuilders in markets where supply has diminished. In addition, in 2011, we sold 112 entitled acres from two residential projects located near Dallas, Texas for $3,883,000 which generated $604,000 in segment earnings. These were the final tracts available for sale in these projects and represented approximately 370 undeveloped lots. In 2010 and 2009, residential real estate revenues declined principally as a result of decreased demand for single-family lots due to the overall decline in the housing industry.
41
Commercial real estate revenues continue to be impacted by limited availability of commercial real estate acquisition and development mortgages to potential third-party purchasers.
In 2011, undeveloped land sales increased principally due to the sale of about 9,700 acres in Georgia for $17,980,000. This sale represented a bulk retail transaction of several non-contiguous tracts and resulted in segment earnings of about $13,396,000. In both 2011 and 2010, market conditions for retail land sales remained challenging due to limited credit availability, low consumer confidence and alternate investment options to buyers in the marketplace. In 2010, the average price per acre sold increased principally as a result of selling about 700 acres of land in the entitlement process in Georgia for about $8,200 per acre. In 2009, we sold 18,204 acres from our owned and consolidated ventures at an average price of $2,550 per acre, generating about $46,420,000 in revenues. This increase in volume was a result of allocating additional resources and focusing our marketing efforts on retail land sales as residential and commercial real estate markets began to deteriorate in 2008.
In 2011, income producing properties revenue principally increased as a result of our fourth quarter 2010 acquisition of a 401 unit multifamily property located in Houston, Texas.
Units sold in our owned and consolidated ventures consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Residential real estate: |
||||||||||||
Lots sold |
567 | 442 | 483 | |||||||||
Average price per lot sold |
$ | 56,697 | $ | 55,076 | $ | 53,469 | ||||||
Commercial real estate: |
||||||||||||
Acres sold |
4.0 | 2.4 | 1.8 | |||||||||
Average price per acre sold |
$ | 185,344 | $ | 146,047 | $ | 433,406 | ||||||
Undeveloped land: |
||||||||||||
Acres sold |
17,130 | 5,812 | 18,204 | |||||||||
Average price per acre sold |
$ | 2,365 | $ | 3,460 | $ | 2,550 |
Operating expenses consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Property taxes |
$ | 7,881 | $ | 7,205 | $ | 9,115 | ||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
7,798 | 6,188 | 6,112 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
5,259 | 2,924 | 2,167 | |||||||||
Professional services |
4,938 | 4,471 | 3,532 | |||||||||
Environmental |
2,652 | 148 | 3,702 | |||||||||
Other |
7,656 | 8,402 | 10,492 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total operating expenses |
$ | 36,184 | $ | 29,338 | $ | 35,120 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2011 and 2010, employee compensation and benefits and professional services increased principally due to developing and staffing our multifamily organization. Depreciation and amortization increased primarily as a result of the acquisition of a 401 unit multifamily property in fourth quarter 2010. In 2011, environmental costs increased principally as a result of a $2,500,000 charge related to environmental remediation activities at our San Joaquin River project located in Antioch, California.
42
Information about our real estate projects and our real estate ventures follows:
Year-End | ||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
Owned and consolidated ventures: |
||||||||
Entitled, developed and under development projects |
||||||||
Number of projects |
54 | 54 | ||||||
Residential lots remaining |
18,344 | 17,780 | ||||||
Commercial acres remaining |
1,849 | 1,774 | ||||||
Undeveloped land and land in the entitlement process |
||||||||
Number of projects |
16 | 18 | ||||||
Acres in entitlement process |
27,590 | 29,670 | ||||||
Acres undeveloped |
96,877 | 168,724 | (a) | |||||
Ventures accounted for using the equity method: |
||||||||
Ventures lot sales (for the year) |
||||||||
Lots sold |
550 | 362 | ||||||
Average price per lot sold |
$ | 37,729 | $ | 42,602 | ||||
Ventures entitled, developed and under development projects |
||||||||
Number of projects |
21 | 22 | ||||||
Residential lots remaining |
8,767 | 9,634 | ||||||
Commercial acres sold (for the year) |
22 | 15 | ||||||
Average price per acre sold |
$ | 195,230 | $ | 81,318 | ||||
Commercial acres remaining |
617 | 590 | ||||||
Ventures undeveloped land and land in the entitlement process |
||||||||
Number of projects |
| | ||||||
Acres in entitlement process |
| | ||||||
Acres sold (for the year) |
19 | | ||||||
Average price per acre sold |
$ | 3,000 | $ | | ||||
Acres undeveloped |
5,790 | 5,731 |
(a) | Includes 55,000 acres classified as assets held for sale. |
We underwrite development projects based on a variety of assumptions incorporated into our development plans, including the timing and pricing of sales and leasing and costs to complete development. Our development plans are periodically reviewed in comparison to our return projections and expectations, and we may revise our plans as business conditions warrant. If as a result of changes to our development plans the anticipated future net cash flows are reduced such that our basis in a project is not fully recoverable, we may be required to recognize a non-cash impairment charge for such project.
In 2011, we acquired 180 substantially completed residential lots in Houston, Texas for $8,950,000, which includes the right to receive about $4,000,000 in reimbursements, excluding interest, under a development agreement with the City of Houston. We also acquired three multifamily development sites located in Austin, Denver, and Dallas for $15,981,000. In addition, we began construction on a 289 unit multifamily project in Austin in which the total estimated cost, including land, is approximately $30,536,000. At year-end 2011, our investment in this project is $13,428,000 and the estimated cost to complete construction is $17,108,000.
43
Our net investment in owned and consolidated real estate by geographic location follows:
State |
Entitled, Developed, and Under Development Projects |
Undeveloped Land |
Income Producing Properties |
Total | ||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Texas |
$ | 332,818 | $ | 9,718 | $ | 93,738 | $ | 436,274 | ||||||||
Georgia |
15,159 | 53,984 | | 69,143 | ||||||||||||
Colorado |
22,516 | | 8,527 | 31,043 | ||||||||||||
California |
8,795 | 14,064 | | 22,859 | ||||||||||||
Other |
3,738 | 2,310 | | 6,048 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
$ | 383,026 | $ | 80,076 | $ | 102,265 | $ | 565,367 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Over 70% of our net investment in real estate is in the major markets of Texas.
Mineral Resources
We own directly or through ventures about 595,000 net acres of mineral interests. Our mineral resources segment revenues are principally derived from oil and natural gas royalties and other lease revenues from our mineral interests located principally in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. At year-end 2011, we have about 48,000 net acres under lease and about 32,000 net acres held by production.
A summary of our mineral resources results follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 24,584 | $ | 24,790 | $ | 36,256 | ||||||
Cost of sales |
(2,918 | ) | (1,097 | ) | (922 | ) | ||||||
Operating expenses |
(7,037 | ) | (2,982 | ) | (3,354 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
14,629 | 20,711 | 31,980 | ||||||||||
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures |
1,394 | 2,072 | 390 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Segment earnings |
$ | 16,023 | $ | 22,783 | $ | 32,370 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of sales represents our share of oil and natural gas production severance taxes, which are calculated based on a percentage of oil and natural gas produced, costs related to our oil and natural gas non-operating working interests and delay rental payments related to groundwater leases in central Texas.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated ventures includes our share of royalty revenue from producing wells in the Barnett Shale natural gas formation.
Revenues consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Royalties |
$ | 19,239 | $ | 13,724 | $ | 11,910 | ||||||
Other lease revenues |
5,345 | 11,066 | 24,346 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 24,584 | $ | 24,790 | $ | 36,256 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2011, royalty revenue increased principally as a result of higher oil prices and increased oil production which was partially offset by decreases in natural gas production and lower prices in our owned and consolidated
44
properties. Increased oil prices contributed about $3,608,000 and oil production increases contributed about $2,666,000, which was offset by decreased natural gas prices resulting in a reduction of about $350,000 and decreased natural gas production resulting in a reduction of about $411,000.
In 2011, other lease revenues include $2,250,000 in lease bonus payments as a result of leasing about 8,100 net mineral acres for an average of about $280 per acre, $1,555,000 related to a mineral seismic exploration agreement associated with 31,100 acres in Louisiana and $992,000 related to delay rental payments.
In 2010, royalty revenues increased as a result of higher oil prices and oil production partially offset by decreases in natural gas production in our owned and consolidated properties. Increased oil prices contributed about $1,873,000 and oil production increases contributed about $466,000. The production increase primarily relates to new oil wells commencing production in late 2009 and early 2010. Increased natural gas prices contributed about $245,000 which was offset by decreased natural gas production of about $774,000.
In 2010, other lease revenues include $7,655,000 in lease bonus payments as a result of leasing about 16,900 net mineral acres for an average of about $460 per acre and $2,168,000 related to delay rental payments. In addition, other lease revenues include about $1,126,000 as a result of an option exercised to extend an existing lease on over 3,200 acres.
In 2009, royalty revenues declined principally due to lower natural gas and oil prices, which were partially offset by higher production volume principally due to the increased number of new wells commencing production.
In 2009, other lease revenues include $21,333,000 in lease bonus payments as a result of leasing over 25,800 net mineral acres for an average of about $830 per acre and $2,530,000 from delay rental payments. This leasing activity was located principally in Trinity County, Texas.
Oil and natural gas produced and average unit prices related to our royalty and non-operating working interests follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Consolidated entities: |
||||||||||||
Oil production (barrels) |
151,900 | 115,400 | 107,200 | |||||||||
Average price per barrel |
$ | 96.84 | $ | 73.09 | $ | 56.85 | ||||||
Natural gas production (millions of cubic feet) |
1,128.6 | 1,223.6 | 1,411.6 | |||||||||
Average price per thousand cubic feet |
$ | 4.01 | $ | 4.32 | $ | 4.12 | ||||||
Our share of ventures accounted for using the equity method: |
||||||||||||
Natural gas production (millions of cubic feet) |
493.4 | 572.8 | 82.1 | |||||||||
Average price per thousand cubic feet |
$ | 3.81 | $ | 4.12 | $ | 3.80 | ||||||
Total consolidated and our share of equity method ventures: |
||||||||||||
Oil production (barrels) |
151,900 | 115,400 | 107,200 | |||||||||
Average price per barrel |
$ | 96.84 | $ | 73.09 | $ | 56.85 | ||||||
Natural gas production (millions of cubic feet) |
1,622.0 | 1,796.4 | 1,493.7 | |||||||||
Average price per thousand cubic feet |
$ | 3.95 | $ | 4.26 | $ | 4.10 |
At year-end 2011, there were 530 productive wells operated by others on our leased mineral acres compared to 494 at year-end 2010 and 472 at year-end 2009.
Our share of ventures natural gas production increased in 2010 as a result of 16 wells that began producing from the Barnett Shale natural gas formation.
45
Operating expenses consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Professional and consulting services |
$ | 2,906 | $ | 566 | $ | 872 | ||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
2,407 | 1,182 | 1,299 | |||||||||
Depreciation |
318 | 269 | 184 | |||||||||
Property taxes |
257 | 255 | 301 | |||||||||
Other |
1,149 | 710 | 698 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total operating expenses |
$ | 7,037 | $ | 2,982 | $ | 3,354 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2011, professional and consulting services increased primarily due to non-cash amortization of contingent consideration paid to the seller of a water resources company acquired in fourth quarter 2010. These costs are being amortized ratably over the performance period assuming certain milestones are achieved by July 2014. Employee compensation and benefits increased as a result of incremental staffing to support our oil, natural gas and water interests.
A summary of our mineral acres (a) at year-end 2011 follows:
State |
Unleased | Leased(b) | Held
By Production(c) |
Total(d) | ||||||||||||
Texas |
196,000 | 29,000 | 27,000 | 252,000 | ||||||||||||
Louisiana |
120,000 | 19,000 | 5,000 | 144,000 | ||||||||||||
Georgia |
157,000 | | | 157,000 | ||||||||||||
Alabama |
40,000 | | | 40,000 | ||||||||||||
California |
1,000 | | | 1,000 | ||||||||||||
Indiana |
1,000 | | | 1,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
515,000 | 48,000 | 32,000 | 595,000 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) | Includes ventures. |
(b) | Includes leases in primary lease term or for which a delayed rental payment has been received. In the ordinary course of business, leases covering a significant portion of leased net mineral acres may expire from time to time in a single reporting period. |
(c) | Acres being held by production are producing oil or natural gas in paying quantities. |
(d) | Texas, Louisiana, California and Indiana net acres are calculated as the gross number of surface acres multiplied by our percentage ownership of the mineral interest. Alabama and Georgia net acres are calculated as the gross number of surface acres multiplied by our estimated percentage ownership of the mineral interest based on county sampling. Excludes 477 net mineral acres located in Colorado including 379 acres leased and 29 acres held by production. |
In addition, we have water interests in about 1,550,000 acres, including a 45 percent nonparticipating royalty interest in groundwater produced or withdrawn for commercial purposes or sold from approximately 1,400,000 acres in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama and about 17,800 acres of groundwater leases in central Texas. We have not received significant revenue or earnings from these interests.
Fiber Resources
Our fiber resources segment focuses principally on the management of our timber holdings and recreational leases. We have about 131,000 acres of timber we own directly or through ventures, primarily in Georgia, and about 17,000 acres of timber under lease. Our fiber resources segment revenues are principally derived from the
46
sales of wood fiber from our land and leases for recreational uses. We have sold over 217,000 acres of timberland since year-end 2008 as a result of our strategic initiatives and through our retail land sales program. As a result of the reduced acreage from executing these land sales, future segment revenues and earnings are anticipated to be lower.
A summary of our fiber resources results follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 4,821 | $ | 8,301 | $ | 15,559 | ||||||
Cost of sales |
(1,072 | ) | (1,640 | ) | (3,396 | ) | ||||||
Operating expenses |
(2,060 | ) | (2,274 | ) | (2,728 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
1,689 | 4,387 | 9,435 | ||||||||||
Other operating income |
181 | 671 | 187 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures |
23 | | | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Segment earnings |
$ | 1,893 | $ | 5,058 | $ | 9,622 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other operating income principally represents gains from partial termination of a timber leases.
Revenues consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Fiber |
$ | 3,229 | $ | 6,491 | $ | 13,478 | ||||||
Recreational leases and other |
1,592 | 1,810 | 2,081 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total revenues |
$ | 4,821 | $ | 8,301 | $ | 15,559 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiber sold consists of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Pulpwood tons sold |
266,200 | 392,900 | 810,100 | |||||||||
Average pulpwood price per ton |
$ | 8.69 | $ | 9.93 | $ | 8.53 | ||||||
Sawtimber tons sold |
56,800 | 144,300 | 331,300 | |||||||||
Average sawtimber price per ton |
$ | 16.13 | $ | 17.94 | $ | 19.82 | ||||||
Total tons sold |
323,000 | 537,200 | 1,141,400 | |||||||||
Average price per ton |
$ | 10.00 | $ | 12.08 | $ | 11.81 |
In 2011 and 2010, total fiber tons sold decreased principally due to selling over 217,000 acres of timberland since year-end 2008 as a result of our strategic initiatives and through our retail land sales program. In 2010 and 2009, total price per ton was higher due to a higher proportional mix of sawtimber versus pulpwood.
The majority of our fiber sales were to Temple-Inland, recently acquired by International Paper, at market prices.
Information about our recreational leases follows:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
Average recreational acres leased |
174,500 | 208,100 | 249,200 | |||||||||
Average price per leased acre |
$ | 8.80 | $ | 8.32 | $ | 8.25 |
47
Operating expenses consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
$ | 945 | $ | 1,115 | $ | 1,241 | ||||||
Facility and long-term timber lease costs |
445 | 424 | 544 | |||||||||
Professional services |
374 | 342 | 471 | |||||||||
Other |
296 | 393 | 472 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total operating expenses |
$ | 2,060 | $ | 2,274 | $ | 2,728 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Items Not Allocated to Segments
Unallocated items represent income and expenses managed on a company-wide basis and include general and administrative expenses, share-based compensation, gain on sale of assets, interest expense and other non-operating income and expense. General and administrative expenses principally consist of accounting and finance, tax, legal, human resources, internal audit, information technology and our board of directors. These functions support all of our business segments and are not allocated.
General and administrative expenses consist of:
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||
Professional services |
$ | 6,578 | $ | 2,937 | $ | 5,871 | ||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
5,662 | 5,480 | 5,687 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
1,393 | 1,480 | 1,728 | |||||||||
Insurance costs |
1,083 | 1,235 | 1,308 | |||||||||
Facility costs |
800 | 1,214 | 1,143 | |||||||||
Other |
4,594 | 4,995 | 6,662 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total general and administrative expenses |
$ | 20,110 | $ | 17,341 | $ | 22,399 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2011, professional services include $3,187,000 associated with proposed private debt offerings that we withdrew as a result of deterioration in terms available to us in the capital markets. In 2009, professional services included about $3,200,000 paid to outside advisors regarding an evaluation by our Board of Directors of an unsolicited shareholder proposal. In 2009, other expenses include $2,213,000 in non-cash impairment charges related to the sale of our undivided 15 percent interest in corporate aircraft contributed to us by Temple-Inland at spin-off.
Our share-based compensation expense fluctuates because a portion of our awards are cash settled and as a result are affected by changes in the market price of our common stock. In 2011, share-based compensation decreased principally as a result of a decline in our stock price and its impact on cash-settled awards.
Gain on sale of assets represents gains associated with our 2009 strategic initiatives, which we completed in 2011. In 2011, we recognized gains of $61,784,000 from the sale of 57,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas, in 2010, we recognized gains of $28,607,000 from the sale of 24,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas and in 2009, we recognized gains of $104,047,000 from the sale of 95,000 acres of timberland in Georgia and Alabama.
In 2010, interest expense decreased principally due to lower interest rates as a result of the maturity of our interest rate swap agreement, lower average debt levels outstanding and decreased amortization of prepaid loan fees due to refinancing and extending our senior credit facility.
48
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate and the benefit attributable to noncontrolling interests was 25 percent and 6 percent in 2011, 30 percent and 3 percent in 2010, and 37 percent and 1 percent in 2009. Our 2011 and 2010 rates include benefits for percentage depletion and charitable contributions related to timberland conservation while our 2009 rate includes a benefit from percentage depletion and a federal income tax rate change for qualified timber gains pursuant to the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.
We have not provided a valuation allowance for our deferred tax asset because we believe it is likely it will be recoverable in future periods based on considerations including taxable income in prior carryback years, future reversals of existing temporary differences, tax planning strategies and future taxable income. If these sources of income are not sufficient in future periods, we may be required to provide a valuation allowance for our deferred tax asset.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
Sources and Uses of Cash
We operate in cyclical industries and our cash flows fluctuate accordingly. Our principal operating cash requirements are for the acquisition and development of real estate, either directly or indirectly through ventures, taxes, interest and compensation. Our principal sources of cash are proceeds from the sale of real estate and timber, the cash flow from minerals and income producing properties, borrowings, and reimbursements from utility and improvement districts. Operating cash flows are affected by the timing of the payment of real estate development expenditures and the collection of proceeds from the eventual sale of the real estate, the timing of which can vary substantially depending on many factors including the size of the project, state and local permitting requirements and availability of utilities, and by the timing of oil and natural gas leasing and production activities. Working capital is subject to operating needs, the timing of sales of real estate and timber, the timing of collection of mineral royalties or mineral lease payments, collection of receivables, reimbursement from utility and improvement districts and the payment of payables and expenses.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Cash flows from our real estate development activities, undeveloped land sales, income producing properties, timber sales, mineral and recreational leases and reimbursements from utility and improvement districts are classified as operating cash flows.
Net cash provided by (used for) operations was $34,992,000 in 2011, $13,551,000 in 2010 and $142,120,000 in 2009.
In 2011, the sale of 57,000 acres of timberland in accordance with our 2009 strategic initiatives generated net proceeds of $86,018,000. Expenditures for development and acquisitions exceeded non-cash real estate cost of sales principally due to our acquisition of a non-performing loan secured by a lien on approximately 900 acres of developed and undeveloped land near Houston for $21,137,000 and $32,789,000 in real estate acquisitions principally located in various Texas markets. We received $10,461,000 in reimbursements from utility and improvement districts, of which $8,656,000 was related to our Cibolo Canyons project and was accounted for as a reduction of our investment. We paid $25,335,000 in federal and state income taxes, net of refunds.
In 2010, operating cash flow was adversely affected by lower operating income primarily due to difficult conditions in the housing industry and lower proceeds from the sale of assets in accordance with our 2009 strategic initiatives. Expenditures for real estate development were slightly less than non-cash cost of real estate sales due to a reduction in development. In 2010, we sold about 24,000 acres of timberland in Georgia, Alabama and Texas generating net proceeds of $38,040,000, of which $24,392,000 was held by a qualified intermediary under IRC Section 1031.
In 2009, the sale of about 95,000 acres of timberland in accordance with our 2009 strategic initiatives generated net proceeds of $153,851,000. Expenditures for real estate development slightly exceeded non-cash cost of sales due to our capital commitment to the resort at Cibolo Canyons and our development of existing real
49
estate projects, principally in the major markets of Texas. We invested $18,857,000 in Cibolo Canyons, of which $16,235,000 was invested in the resort development. We received $24,945,000 in reimbursements from utility and improvement districts, of which $20,270,000 was related to our Cibolo Canyons mixed-use development and was accounted for as a reduction of our investment. We paid estimated income taxes of $48,299,000 in 2009.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital contributions to and capital distributions from unconsolidated ventures, business acquisitions and investment in oil and natural gas properties and equipment are classified as investing activities. In addition, proceeds from the sale of property and equipment, software costs and expenditures related to reforestation activities are also classified as investing activities.
In 2011, net cash (used for) investing activities was ($4,895,000). We invested $4,304,000 in oil and natural gas properties and equipment associated with our non-operating working interests and $2,044,000 in property, equipment, software and reforestation. Net cash return of investment in our unconsolidated ventures was $1,060,000.
In 2010, net cash (used for) investing activities was ($26,597,000). In fourth quarter 2010, we acquired a 401 unit, Class A multifamily property in Houston, Texas for $49,100,000. We used $23,045,000 of the proceeds held by a qualified intermediary under Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 and $26,500,000 of non-recourse borrowings to fund this acquisition. In addition, we acquired a water resources company in central Texas for $12,000,000.
In 2009, net cash (used for) investing activities was ($6,373,000) and is principally related to our investment in property, equipment, software and reforestation. Net cash returned from our unconsolidated ventures provided $922,000.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
In 2011, net cash (used for) financing activities was ($17,180,000) as we repurchased about 907,000 shares of our common stock for $12,977,000 and incurred $3,750,000 in deferred financing fees primarily related to supplementing and amending our senior secured credit facility.
In 2010, net cash (used for) financing activities was ($2,639,000) as we repurchased about 1,001,000 shares of our common stock for $15,178,000 and incurred $6,304,000 in bank fees primarily related to our amendment and extension of our senior credit facility, which was partially offset by a net increase in our debt of $18,170,000 which is principally due to $26,500,000 in non-recourse borrowings used to finance a 401 unit, Class A multifamily property acquired in fourth quarter 2010.
In 2009, net cash (used for) financing activities was ($122,823,000) as we reduced our outstanding debt by $120,776,000 principally from the net proceeds generated from the sale of about 95,000 acres of timberland in Georgia and Alabama.
Liquidity and Contractual Obligations
Liquidity
In 2011, we supplemented and amended our senior secured credit facility to provide us with, among other matters, additional flexibility with respect to the borrowing base, collateral coverage and leverage requirements. As a result, we increased our unused borrowing capacity and extended the maturity of our revolving line of credit by one year.
At year-end 2011, our senior secured credit facility provides for a $130,000,000 term loan maturing August 6, 2015 and a $200,000,000 revolving line of credit maturing August 6, 2014. Both the term loan and the revolving line of credit may be prepaid at any time without penalty. The revolving line of credit includes a $100,000,000 sublimit for letters of credit. Total borrowings under our senior secured credit facility (including the face amount of letters of credit) may not exceed a borrowing base formula. Our borrowing base availability is calculated on a monthly basis by applying advance rates of between 35 60% against borrowing base asset values which include timberland, high-value timberland (land in the entitlement process), raw entitled land, land under development, and
50
minerals. All assets included in the borrowing base must be wholly-owned and unencumbered. At year-end 2011, net unused borrowing capacity under our senior credit facility is calculated as follows:
Senior Credit Facility |
||||
(In thousands) | ||||
Borrowing base availability |
$ | 288,446 | ||
Less: borrowings |
(130,000 | ) | ||
Less: letters of credit |
(2,318 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Unused borrowing capacity |
$ | 156,128 | ||
|
|
Our unused borrowing capacity during 2011 ranged from a high of $176,337,000 to a low of $94,872,000. This facility is used primarily to fund our operating cash needs, which fluctuate due to timing of residential real estate sales, undeveloped land sales, oil and natural gas royalty and mineral lease bonus payments, timber sales, payment of accounts payables and expenses and capital expenditures.
In third quarter 2011, we borrowed $15,400,000 which is collateralized by a 413 guest room hotel located in Austin, Texas with a carrying value of $21,569,000. This financing replaced debt retired in second quarter 2011.
Our senior credit facility and other debt agreements contain financial covenants customary for such agreements including minimum levels of interest coverage and limitations on leverage. At year-end 2011, we were in compliance with the financial covenants of these agreements.
The following table details our compliance with the financial covenants calculated as provided in the senior credit facility:
Financial Covenant |
Requirement | Year-End 2011 | ||
Interest Coverage Ratio(a) |
³1.05:1.0 | 6.23:1.0 | ||
Revenues/Capital Expenditures Ratio(b) |
³1.00:1.0 | 2.18:1.0 | ||
Total Leverage Ratio(c) |
£40% | 24.9% | ||
Net Worth(d) |
³ $439 million | $504 million | ||
Collateral Value to Loan Commitment Ratio(e) |
³ 1.50:1.0 | 1.72:1.0 |
(a) | Calculated as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), plus non-cash compensation expense, plus other non-cash expenses, divided by interest expense excluding loan fees. This covenant is applied at the end of each quarter on a rolling four quarter basis. |
(b) | Calculated as total gross revenues, plus our pro rata share of the operating revenues from unconsolidated ventures, divided by capital expenditures. Capital expenditures are defined as consolidated development and acquisition expenditures plus our pro rata share of unconsolidated ventures development and acquisition expenditures. This covenant is applied at the end of each quarter on a rolling four quarter basis. |
(c) | Calculated as total funded debt divided by adjusted asset value. Total funded debt includes indebtedness for borrowed funds, secured liabilities and reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit or similar instruments. Adjusted asset value is defined as the sum of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, timberlands, high value timberlands, raw entitled lands, entitled land under development, minerals business, other real estate owned at book value without regard to any indebtedness and our pro rata share of joint ventures book value without regard to any indebtedness. This covenant is applied at the end of each quarter. |
(d) | Calculated as the amount by which consolidated total assets exceeds consolidated total liabilities. At year-end 2011, the requirement is $438,644,000 computed as: $438,644,000 plus 85 percent of the aggregate net proceeds received by us from any equity offering, plus 75 percent of all positive net income, on a cumulative basis. This covenant is applied at the end of each quarter. |
(e) | Calculated as the total collateral value of timberland, high value timberland and our minerals business, divided by total aggregate loan commitment. This covenant is applied at the end of each quarter. |
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To make additional investments, acquisitions, or distributions, we must maintain available liquidity equal to the lesser of $35,000,000 or 10% of the aggregate commitments in place. At year-end 2011, this requirement was $33,000,000 resulting in approximately $173,156,000 in available liquidity, which represents our unused borrowing capacity under our senior credit facility plus unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. The failure to maintain such minimum liquidity does not constitute a default or event of default of our senior credit facility.
Contractual Obligations
At year-end 2011, contractual obligations consist of:
Payments Due or Expiring by Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2012 | 2013-14 | 2015-16 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Debt(a) |
$ | 221,587 | $ | 4,953 | $ | 55,317 | $ | 133,400 | $ | 27,917 | ||||||||||
Interest payments on debt |
46,226 | 12,827 | 23,495 | 8,464 | 1,440 | |||||||||||||||
Purchase obligations |
15,738 | 15,738 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Operating leases |
21,710 | 2,531 | 4,538 | 3,923 | 10,718 | |||||||||||||||
Other commitments |
540 | 540 | | | | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$ | 305,801 | $ | 36,589 | $ | 83,350 | $ | 145,787 | $ | 40,075 | ||||||||||
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|
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(a) | Items included in our balance sheet. |
Our sources of funding are our operating cash flows and borrowings under our senior credit facility. Our contractual obligations due in 2012 will likely be paid from operating cash flows and from borrowings under our senior credit facility.
Interest payments on debt include interest payments related to our fixed rate debt and estimated interest payments related to our variable rate debt. Estimated interest payments on variable rate debt were calculated assuming that the outstanding balances and interest rates that existed at year-end 2011 remain constant through maturity.
Purchase obligations are defined as legally binding and enforceable agreements to purchase goods and services. Our purchase obligations include commitments for land acquisition and land development, engineering and construction contracts for development and service contracts. In 2011, we began construction on a 289 unit multifamily project in Austin in which the estimated total cost, including land, is approximately $30,536,000. At year-end 2011, our investment in this project is $13,428,000 and the total cost to complete construction is $17,108,000, which includes both contracted and un-contracted costs.
Our operating leases are for timberland, facilities, equipment and groundwater. In 2008, we entered into a 10-year agreement to lease approximately 32,000 square feet in Austin, Texas as our corporate headquarters. At year-end 2011, the remaining contractual obligation is $8,839,000. Also included in operating leases is a long-term timber lease of over 16,000 acres that has a remaining lease term of 14 years and a remaining contractual obligation of $10,224,000 and about 17,800 acres of groundwater leases with remaining contractual obligations of $627,000.
We have other long-term liabilities that are not included in the table because they do not have scheduled maturities.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
From time to time, we enter into off-balance sheet arrangements to facilitate our operating activities. At year-end 2011, our off-balance sheet unfunded arrangements, excluding contractual interest payments, purchase obligations, operating lease obligations and venture contributions included in the table of contractual obligations, consist of:
Payments Due or Expiring by Year | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 2012 | 2013-14 | 2015-16 | Thereafter | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Performance bonds |
$ | 4,598 | $ | 4,335 | $ | 243 | $ | 20 | $ | | ||||||||||
Standby letters of credit |
2,318 | 984 | 1,334 | | | |||||||||||||||
Recourse obligations |
3,178 | 551 | 1,282 | 90 | 1,255 | |||||||||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Total |
$ | 10,094 | $ | 5,870 | $ | 2,859 | $ | 110 | $ | 1,255 | ||||||||||
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|
Performance bonds, letters of credit and recourse obligations are primarily for our real estate development activities and include $1,428,000 of performance bonds and letters of credit we provided on behalf of certain ventures. Our venture partners also provide performance bonds and letters of credit. Generally these performance bonds or letters of credit would be drawn on due to lack of specific performance by us or the ventures, such as failure to deliver streets and utilities in accordance with local codes and ordinances.
At year-end 2011, we participate in three partnerships that have total assets of $49,799,000 and total liabilities of $79,623,000, which includes $63,353,000 of borrowings classified as current maturities. These partnerships are managed by third parties who intend to extend or refinance these borrowings; however, there is no assurance that this can be done. Although these borrowings are guaranteed by third parties, we may under certain circumstances elect or be required to provide additional equity to these partnerships. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a significant effect on our earnings or financial position. Our investment in these partnerships is $2,108,000 at year-end 2011. These three partnerships are variable interest entities.
Cibolo Canyons San Antonio, Texas
Cibolo Canyons consists of the JW Marriott® San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa development owned by third parties and a mixed-use development we own. We have about $80,431,000 invested in Cibolo Canyons at year-end 2011.
Resort Hotel, Spa and Golf Development
In 2007, we entered into agreements to facilitate third-party construction and ownership of the JW Marriott ® San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, which includes a 1,002 room destination resort and two PGA Tour ® Tournament Players Club ® (TPC) golf courses. Under these agreements, we agreed to transfer to third-party owners 700 acres of undeveloped land, to provide $30,000,000 cash and to provide $12,700,000 of other consideration principally consisting of golf course construction materials, substantially all of which has been provided.
In exchange for our commitment to the resort, the third-party owners assigned to us certain rights under an agreement between the third-party owners and a legislatively created Special Improvement District (SID). This agreement includes the right to receive from the SID 9 percent of hotel occupancy revenues and 1.5 percent of other resort sales revenues collected as taxes by the SID through 2034. The amount we receive will be net of annual ad valorem tax reimbursements by the SID to the third-party owners of the resort through 2020. In addition, these payments will be net of debt service, if any, on bonds issued by the SID collateralized by hotel occupancy tax and other resort sales tax through 2034.
The amounts we collect under this agreement are dependent on several factors including the amount of revenues generated by and ad valorem taxes imposed on the resort and the amount of any applicable debt service
53
incurred by the SID. As a result, there is significant uncertainty as to the amount and timing of collections under this agreement. Until these uncertainties are clarified, amounts collected under the agreement will be accounted for as a reduction of our investment in the resort development. The resort began operations on January 2010.
In 2011, we received $6,906,000 related to our share of hotel occupancy revenues and other resort sales revenues collected as taxes by the SID. Since inception, we have received $7,906,000 in reimbursements and have accounted for this as a reduction of our investment. At year-end 2011, we have $35,368,000 invested in the resort development.
Mixed-Use Development
The mixed-use development we own consists of 2,100 acres planned to include about 1,475 residential lots and about 150 commercial acres designated for multifamily and retail uses, of which 697 lots and 68 commercial acres have been sold through year-end 2011.
In 2007, we entered into an agreement with the SID providing for reimbursement of certain infrastructure costs related to the mixed-use development. Reimbursements are subject to review and approval by the SID and unreimbursed amounts accrue interest at 9.75 percent. The SIDs funding for reimbursements is principally derived from its ad valorem tax collections and bond proceeds collateralized by ad valorem taxes, less debt service on these bonds and annual administrative and public service expenses.
Because the amount of each reimbursement is dependent on several factors, including timing of SID approval and the SID having an adequate tax base to generate funds that can be used to reimburse us, there is uncertainty as to the amount and timing of reimbursements under this agreement. We expect to recover our investment from lot and tract sales and reimbursement of approved infrastructure costs from the SID. We have not recognized income from interest due, but not collected. As these uncertainties are clarified, we will modify our accounting accordingly.
Through year-end 2011, we have submitted and received approval for reimbursement of about $57,322,000 of infrastructure costs and have received reimbursements totaling $22,520,000, of which $1,750,000 was received in 2011, $500,000 in 2010 and $20,270,000 in 2009, all were accounted for as a reduction of our investment in the mixed-use development. At year-end 2011, we have $34,802,000 in approved and pending reimbursements, excluding interest. At year-end 2011, we have $45,063,000 invested in the mixed-use development.
Accounting Policies
Critical Accounting Estimates
In preparing our financial statements, we follow generally accepted accounting principles, which in many cases require us to make assumptions, estimates, and judgments that affect the amounts reported. Our significant accounting policies are included in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Many of these principles are relatively straightforward. There are, however, a few accounting policies that are critical because they are important in determining our financial condition and results of operations and involve significant assumptions, estimates and judgments that are difficult to determine. We must make these assumptions, estimates and judgments currently about matters that are inherently uncertain, such as future economic conditions, operating results and valuations, as well as our intentions. As the difficulty increases, the level of precision decreases, meaning actual results can, and probably will, differ from those currently estimated. We base our assumptions, estimates and judgments on a combination of historical experiences and other factors that we believe are reasonable. We have reviewed the selection and disclosure of these critical accounting estimates with our Audit Committee.
| Investment in Real Estate and Cost of Real Estate Sales In allocating costs to real estate owned and real estate sold, we must estimate current and future real estate values. Our estimates of future real estate values sometimes must extend over periods 15 to 20 years from today and are dependent on numerous |
54
assumptions including our intentions and future market and economic conditions. In addition, when we sell real estate from projects that are not finished, we must estimate future development costs through completion. Differences between our estimates and actual results will affect future carrying values and operating results. |
| Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Measuring assets for impairment requires estimating future fair values based on our intentions as to holding periods, future operating cash flows and the residual value of assets under review, primarily undeveloped land. Depending on the asset under review, we use varying methods to determine fair value, such as discounting expected future cash flows, determining resale values by market, or applying a capitalization rate to net operating income using prevailing rates in a given market. Changes in economic conditions, demand for real estate, and the projected net operating income for a specific property will inevitably change our estimates. |
| Share-Based Compensation We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by the stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of other variables. These variables include expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors (term of option), risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. We have limited historical experience as a stand-alone company so we utilized alternative methods in determining our valuation assumptions. The expected life was based on the simplified method utilizing the midpoint between the vesting period and the contractual life of the awards. In 2011, the expected stock price volatility was based on a blended rate utilizing our historical volatility and historical prices of our peers common stock for a period corresponding to the expected life of the options. In 2010 and 2009, the expected stock price volatility was based on historical prices of our peers common stock for a period corresponding to the expected life of the options. Pre-vesting forfeitures are estimated based upon the pool of participants and their expected activity and historical trends. |
| Income Taxes In preparing our consolidated financial statements, significant judgment is required to estimate our income taxes. Our estimates are based on our interpretation of federal and state tax laws. We estimate our actual current tax due and assess temporary and permanent differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. The temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheet. If needed, we record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. In addition, when we believe a tax position is supportable but the outcome uncertain, we include the item in our tax return but do not recognize the related benefit in our provision for taxes. Instead, we record a reserve for unrecognized tax benefits, which represents our expectation of the most likely outcome considering the technical merits and specific facts of the position. Changes to liabilities are only made when an event occurs that changes the most likely outcome, such as settlement with the relevant tax authority, expiration of statutes of limitations, changes in tax law, or recent court rulings. Adjustments to temporary differences, permanent differences or uncertain tax positions could materially impact our financial position, cash flow and results of operation. |
| Oil and Natural Gas Reserves The estimation of oil and natural gas reserves is a significant estimate. On an annual basis, our consulting petroleum engineering firm, with our assistance, prepares estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves based on available geologic and seismic data, reservoir pressure data, core analysis reports, well logs, analogous reservoir performance history, production data and other available sources of engineering, geological and geophysical information. Oil and natural gas prices are volatile and largely affected by worldwide or domestic production and consumption and are outside our control. |
Adopted and Pending Accounting Pronouncements
We adopted three new accounting pronouncements in 2011, the adoption of which did not have a significant effect on our earnings or financial position. There are three pending accounting pronouncements that we will be required to adopt in 2012 and adoption is not anticipated to have a significant effect on our earnings or financial position. Please read Note 2 New Accounting Pronouncements to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Effects of Inflation
Inflation has had minimal effects on operating results the past three years. Our real estate, timber, and property and equipment are carried at historical costs. If carried at current replacement costs, the cost of real estate sold, timber cut, and depreciation expense would have been significantly higher than what we reported.
Legal Proceedings
We are involved in various legal proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of doing business. We believe we have established adequate reserves for any probable losses, and we do not believe that the outcome of any of these proceedings should have a material adverse effect on our financial position, long-term results of operations, or cash flow. It is possible, however, that charges related to these matters could be significant to results of operations or cash flows in any one accounting period.
Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. |
Interest Rate Risk
Our interest rate risk is principally related to our variable-rate debt. Interest rate changes impact earnings due to the resulting increase or decrease in our variable-rate debt, which was $191,656,000 at year-end 2011 and $191,658,000 at year-end 2010.
The following table illustrates the estimated effect on our pre-tax income of immediate, parallel, and sustained shifts in interest rates for the next 12 months on our variable-rate debt at year-end 2011, with comparative year-end 2010 information. This estimate assumes that debt reductions from contractual payments will be replaced with short-term, variable-rate debt; however, that may not be the financing alternative we choose.
At Year-End | ||||||||
Change in Interest Rates |
2011 | 2010 | ||||||
(In thousands) | ||||||||
+2% |
$ | (3,296 | ) | $ | (3,728 | ) | ||
+1% |
(1,917 | ) | (1,917 | ) | ||||
-1% |
1,917 | 1,917 | ||||||
-2% |
3,833 | 3,833 |
Foreign Currency Risk
We have no exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.
Commodity Price Risk
We have no significant exposure to commodity price fluctuations.
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Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. |
Page | ||||
Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting |
58 | |||
59 | ||||
60 | ||||
Audited Financial Statements |
||||
61 | ||||
62 | ||||
63 | ||||
64 | ||||
65 | ||||
Financial Statement Schedule |
||||
Schedule III Consolidated Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation |
92 |
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MANAGEMENTS ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The management of Forestar is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Management has designed our internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance that our published financial statements are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Management is required by paragraph (c) of Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of each year end. In making this assessment, management used the Internal Control Integrated Framework issued in July 1994 by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Management conducted the required assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of year-end. Based upon this assessment, management believes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of year-end 2011.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included in this Form 10-K, has also audited our internal control over financial reporting. Their attestation report follows this report of management.
58
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Forestar Group Inc.:
We have audited Forestar Group Inc. and subsidiaries (Forestar Group) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Forestar Groups management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the effectiveness of the companys internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Forestar Group maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Forestar Group as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three years ended December 31, 2011 and our report dated March 7, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Ernst & Young LLP
Austin, Texas
March 7, 2012
59
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Forestar Group Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Forestar Group Inc. and subsidiaries (Forestar Group) as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three years ended December 31, 2011. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule 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. 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 consolidated financial position of Forestar Group at December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Forestar Groups internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 7, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Ernst & Young LLP
Austin, Texas
March 7, 2012
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FORESTAR GROUP INC.
At Year-End | ||||||||
2011 | 2010 | |||||||
(In thousands, except share data) |
||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 18,283 | $ | 5,366 | ||||
Real estate |
565,367 | 561,652 | ||||||
Assets held for sale |
| 21,122 | ||||||
Investment in unconsolidated ventures |
64,223 | 101,166 | ||||||
Timber |
14,240 | 17,959 | ||||||
Receivables, net of allowance for bad debts of $62 in 2011 and $144 in 2010 |
23,281 | 3,415 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses |
2,931 | 2,034 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $5,164 in 2011 and $4,271 in 2010 |
5,178 | 5,577 | ||||||
Oil and natural gas properties and equipment, net of accumulated depletion of $155 in 2011 and $134 in 2010 |
4,561 | 322 | ||||||
Deferred tax asset |
72,942 | 47,141 | ||||||
Goodwill and other intangible assets |
5,451 | 6,527 | ||||||
Other assets |
18,400 | 17,043 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 794,857 | $ | 789,324 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 5,044 | $ | 4,214 | ||||
Accrued employee compensation and benefits |
1,421 | 994 | ||||||
Accrued property taxes |
4,986 | 3,662 | ||||||
Accrued interest |
1,086 | 1,061 | ||||||
Income taxes payable |
8,501 | 3,293 | ||||||
Other accrued expenses |
7,716 | 8,168 | ||||||
Other liabilities |
33,304 | 32,064 | ||||||
Debt |
221,587 | 221,589 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
283,645 | 275,045 | ||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Forestar Group Inc. shareholders equity: |
||||||||
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 25,000,000 authorized shares, none issued |
| | ||||||
Common stock, par value $1.00 per share, 200,000,000 authorized shares, 36,835,732 issued at December 31, 2011 and 36,667,210 issued at December 31, 2010 |
36,836 | 36,667 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
398,517 | 391,352 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
108,155 | 101,001 | ||||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,212,876 shares at December 31, 2011 and 1,216,647 shares at December 31, 2010 |
(33,982 | ) | (19,456 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Forestar Group Inc. shareholders equity |
509,526 | 509,564 | ||||||
Noncontrolling interests |
1,686 | 4,715 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
511,212 | 514,279 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
$ | 794,857 | $ | 789,324 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Please read the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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FORESTAR GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Year | ||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||
REVENUES |
||||||||||||
Real estate sales |
$ | 77,839 | $ | 45,003 | $ | 75,050 | ||||||
Income producing properties and other |
28,329 | 23,266 | 19,386 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Real estate |
106,168 | 68,269 | 94,436 | |||||||||
Mineral resources |
24,584 | 24,790 | 36,256 | |||||||||
Fiber resources and other |
4,821 | 8,301 | 15,559 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
135,573 | 101,360 | 146,251 | ||||||||||
EXPENSES |
||||||||||||
Cost of real estate sales |
(44,913 | ) | (27,488 | ) | (30,463 | ) | ||||||
Cost of income producing properties and other |
(18,062 | ) | (17,997 | ) | (15,043 | ) | ||||||
Cost of mineral resources |
(2,918 | ) | (1,097 | ) | (922 | ) | ||||||
Cost of fiber resources |
(1,072 | ) | (1,640 | ) | (3,396 | ) | ||||||
Other operating |
(48,951 | ) | (40,279 | ) | (45,486 | ) | ||||||
General and administrative |
(23,326 | ) | (22,581 | ) | (29,926 | ) | ||||||
Gain on sale of assets |
61,784 | 28,607 | 104,047 | |||||||||
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(77,458 | ) | (82,475 | ) | (21,189 | ) | |||||||
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OPERATING INCOME |
58,115 | 18,885 | 125,062 | |||||||||
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated ventures |
(29,209 |