10-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
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þ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015
or
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¨ | 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)
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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)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (512) 433-5200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of Each Class | | Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered |
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share | | 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 registrant’s 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. ¨
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.
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Large accelerated filer o | | Accelerated filer þ | | Non-accelerated filer o | | Smaller reporting company o |
(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, 2015, was approximately $275 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 February 29, 2016, there were 33,906,986 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Selected portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement for the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Item 1. | | |
Item 1A. | | |
Item 1B. | | |
Item 2. | | |
Item 3. | | |
Item 4. | | |
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Item 5. | | |
Item 6. | | |
Item 7. | | |
Item 7A. | | |
Item 8. | | |
Item 9. | | |
Item 9A. | | |
Item 9B. | | |
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Item 10. | | |
Item 11. | | |
Item 12. | | |
Item 13. | | |
Item 14. | | |
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Item 15. | | |
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PART I
Overview
Forestar Group Inc. is a residential and mixed-use real estate development company. We own directly or through ventures interests in 58 residential and mixed-use projects comprised of 7,000 acres of real estate located in 11 states and 15 markets. We also own 590,000 net acres of oil and gas fee mineral interests located in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. In addition, we own interests in various other assets that have been identified as non-core that the company will exit opportunistically over time. Our non-core assets include our investment in oil and gas working interests, 89,000 acres of timberland and undeveloped land and commercial and income producing properties, which consists of one hotel, seven multifamily properties and two multifamily sites. In 2015, we had revenues of $262 million and net loss of $213 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, 2015, and references to acreage owned include approximate acres owned by us and ventures regardless of our ownership interest in a venture.
Key Initiatives
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• | Reducing costs across our entire organization, |
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• | Reviewing entire portfolio of assets, |
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• | Reviewing capital structure; and |
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• | Providing additional information. |
Business Segments
We manage our operations through three business segments:
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• | Other natural resources. |
Our real estate segment provided approximately 77% percent of our 2015 consolidated revenues. We are focused on maximizing real estate value 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 communities where we operate. Residential development activities target lot sales to local, regional and national homebuilders who build quality products and have strong and effective marketing and sales programs. The lots we develop in the majority of our communities are for mid-priced homes, predominantly in the first and second move up categories. We invest in projects principally in 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. A majority of our active real estate projects are developed on land we or our ventures acquired in the open market. We also develop and own directly or through ventures, multifamily communities as income producing properties, principally in our target markets. On January 28, 2016, we announced that multifamily is a non-core business. As a result, we plan to opportunistically exit our multifamily portfolio and no longer allocate capital to new communities in this business.
Our oil and gas segment provided 20% percent of our 2015 consolidated revenues. We promote the exploration, development and production of oil and gas on our owned and leasehold mineral interests. These interests include 590,000 core owned mineral acres and 228,000 net mineral acres leased from others, which represent oil and gas working interests and have been identified as non-core.
Our other natural resources segment provided 3% percent of our 2015 consolidated revenues. We sell wood fiber from our land, primarily in Georgia, and lease land for recreational uses. We have 89,000 acres of non-core timberland and undeveloped land we own directly or through ventures. In addition, we have water interests in 1.5 million acres, including a 45 percent nonparticipating royalty interest in groundwater produced or withdrawn for commercial purposes or sold from 1.4 million acres in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama, and 20,000 acres of groundwater leases in central Texas.
Our real estate origins date back to the 1955 incorporation of Lumbermen’s 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 oil and gas origins date back to the mid-1940s when we started leasing
our oil and 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, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
2015 Significant Highlights (including ventures):
Real Estate
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• | Sold 1,472 developed residential lots; average gross profit of approximately $34,400 per lot |
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• | Sold 13,862 acres of undeveloped land for almost $2,300 per acre |
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• | Sold 63 commercial acres for approximately $248,300 per acre |
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• | Sold 1,062 residential tract acres for almost $10,600 per acre |
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• | Sold Midtown Cedar Hill, a stabilized multifamily community, for $42.9 million, generating segment earnings of $9.3 million and reducing debt by $24.2 million |
Oil and Gas
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• | Incurred non-cash impairment charges of approximately $164.8 million related to unproved leasehold interests and proved properties principally due to the significant decline in oil prices and likelihood these non-core assets will be sold |
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• | Sold approximately 109,000 net leasehold mineral acres and 39 gross (7 net) producing wells for $17.8 million, primarily in Nebraska, Texas and North Dakota |
Other Natural Resources
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• | Sold nearly 227,000 tons of fiber for $13.50 per ton |
Real Estate
In our real estate segment, we conduct project planning and management activities related to the acquisition, entitlement, development and sale of real estate, primarily residential and mixed-use communities, which we refer to as community development. 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 partner’s local market contacts and expertise. Our development projects are principally located in the major markets of Texas.
We have three real estate projects representing 4,400 acres currently 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 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 home builders or for commercial tracts, internal development, sale to or venture with third parties.
We have 58 entitled, developed or under development projects in 11 states and 15 markets encompassing 7,000 acres planned for residential and commercial uses. We may sell land at any point when additional time required for entitlement or investment in development will not meet our return criteria. In 2015, we sold approximately 14,000 acres of undeveloped land at an average price of almost $2,300 per acre.
At year-end 2015, we have discontinued entitlement efforts on eight projects located in Georgia as we determined it is unlikely these will be developed and classified the acreage as higher and better use timberland. In addition, we have classified land associated with 12 projects as entitled undeveloped land as we determined it is unlikely these projects will be developed, resulting in a decrease of approximately 4,000 planned lots from our projects lot inventory.
A summary of our real estate projects in the entitlement process (a) at year-end 2015 follows:
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Project | | County | | Market | | Project Acres (b) |
California | | | | | | |
Hidden Creek Estates | | Los Angeles | | Los Angeles | | 700 |
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Terrace at Hidden Hills | | Los Angeles | | Los Angeles | | 30 |
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Texas | | | | | | |
Lake Houston | | Harris/Liberty | | Houston | | 3,700 |
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Total | | | | | | 4,430 |
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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, such as 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. |
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(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. |
A summary of our non-core timberland and undeveloped land at year-end 2015 follows:
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| | Acres |
Timberland | | |
Alabama | | 3,300 |
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Georgia | | 45,900 |
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Texas | | 14,300 |
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Higher and Better Use Timberland (a) | | |
Georgia | | 20,000 |
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Entitled Undeveloped Land (b) | | |
Georgia | | 5,100 |
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Total | | 88,600 |
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(a) | Higher and better use timberland represents eight projects previously in the entitlement process. We have discontinued entitlement efforts as we determined it is unlikely these projects will be developed. |
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(b) | Entitled undeveloped land represents 12 projects and nearly 4,000 planned future lots previously included with our projects in the development process. We determined it is unlikely these projects will be developed. |
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 develop lots for single-family homes and develop multifamily properties on our commercial tracts or other developed sites we may purchase. We sell residential lots primarily to local, regional and national home builders. We have 7,000 acres, principally in the major markets of Texas, comprised of land planned for about 13,900 residential lots. We generally 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 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 1,100 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 1,769 residential lots, of which 997 have been sold as of year-end 2015 at an average price of $73,000 per lot. The residential component includes not only traditional single-family homes but also an active adult section, and is planned to include condominiums. The remaining 56 acres of commercial component is designated principally for multifamily and retail uses. Located at Cibolo Canyons is the JW Marriott® San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa (Resort), a 1,002 room
destination resort and two PGA Tour® Tournament Players Club® (TPC) golf courses designed by Pete Dye and Greg Norman. We have the right to receive from the Cibolo Canyons Special Improvement District (CCSID) nine percent of hotel occupancy revenues and 1.5 percent of other resort sales revenues collected as taxes by CCSID through 2034 and reimbursement of certain infrastructure costs related to the mixed-use development.
In 2014, we received $50,550,000 from CCSID principally related to its issuance of $48,900,000 Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and Sales and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, resulting in recovery of our full Resort investment. These bonds are obligations solely of CCSID and are payable from HOT and sales and use taxes levied by CCSID. To facilitate the issuance of the bonds, we provided a $6,846,000 letter of credit to the bond trustee as security for certain debt service fund obligations in the event CCSID tax collections are not sufficient to support payment of the bonds in accordance with their terms. The letter of credit must be maintained until the earlier of redemption of the bonds or scheduled bond maturity in 2034. We also entered into an agreement with the owner of the Resort to assign its senior rights to us in exchange for consideration provided by us, including a surety bond to be drawn if CCSID tax collections are not sufficient to support ad valorem tax rebates payable. The surety bond decreases as CCSID makes annual ad valorem tax rebate payments, which obligation is scheduled to be retired in full by 2020.
A summary of activity within our projects in the development process, which includes entitled, developed and under development single-family and mixed-use projects, at year-end 2015 follows:
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| | | | | | Residential Lots/Units | | Commercial Acres |
Project | | County | | Interest Owned (a) | | Lots/Units Sold Since Inception | | Lots/Units Remaining | | Acres Sold Since Inception | | Acres Remaining |
Projects with lots/units in inventory, under development or future planned development and projects with remaining commercial acres only |
Texas | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Austin | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Arrowhead Ranch | | Hays | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 381 |
| | — |
| | 11 |
|
The Colony | | Bastrop | | 100 | % | | 459 |
| | 1,425 |
| | 22 |
| | 31 |
|
Double Horn Creek | | Burnet | | 100 | % | | 94 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | — |
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Entrada (b) | | Travis | | 50 | % | | — |
| | 821 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Hunter’s Crossing | | Bastrop | | 100 | % | | 510 |
| | — |
| | 54 |
| | 49 |
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La Conterra | | Williamson | | 100 | % | | 202 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 55 |
|
Westside at Buttercup Creek | | Williamson | | 100 | % | | 1,496 |
| | 1 |
| | 66 |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | 2,761 |
| | 2,633 |
| | 145 |
| | 146 |
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Corpus Christi | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Caracol | | Calhoun | | 75 | % | | 12 |
| | 62 |
| | — |
| | 14 |
|
Padre Island (b) | | Nueces | | 50 | % | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 15 |
|
Tortuga Dunes | | Nueces | | 75 | % | | — |
| | 134 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
|
| | | | | | 12 |
| | 196 |
| | — |
| | 33 |
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Dallas-Ft. Worth | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bar C Ranch | | Tarrant | | 100 | % | | 372 |
| | 733 |
| | — |
| | — |
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Keller | | Tarrant | | 100 | % | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Lakes of Prosper | | Collin | | 100 | % | | 157 |
| | 130 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
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Lantana | | Denton | | 100 | % | | 1,249 |
| | 515 |
| | 14 |
| | — |
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Maxwell Creek | | Collin | | 100 | % | | 943 |
| | 58 |
| | 10 |
| | — |
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Parkside | | Collin | | 100 | % | | 19 |
| | 181 |
| | — |
| | — |
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The Preserve at Pecan Creek | | Denton | | 100 | % | | 598 |
| | 184 |
| | — |
| | 7 |
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River's Edge | | Denton | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 202 |
| | — |
| | — |
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Stoney Creek | | Dallas | | 100 | % | | 255 |
| | 453 |
| | — |
| | — |
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Summer Creek Ranch | | Tarrant | | 100 | % | | 983 |
| | 268 |
| | 35 |
| | 44 |
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Timber Creek | | Collin | | 88 | % | | — |
| | 601 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Village Park | | Collin | | 100 | % | | 567 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 2 |
|
| | | | | | 5,143 |
| | 3,325 |
| | 66 |
| | 54 |
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Houston | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Barrington Kingwood | | Harris | | 100 | % | | 176 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | — |
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City Park | | Harris | | 75 | % | | 1,311 |
| | 157 |
| | 52 |
| | 113 |
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Harper’s Preserve (b) | | Montgomery | | 50 | % | | 513 |
| | 1,215 |
| | 30 |
| | 49 |
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Imperial Forest | | Harris | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 428 |
| | — |
| | — |
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Long Meadow Farms (b) | | Fort Bend | | 38 | % | | 1,551 |
| | 253 |
| | 190 |
| | 115 |
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Southern Trails (b) | | Brazoria | | 80 | % | | 915 |
| | 81 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
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Spring Lakes | | Harris | | 100 | % | | 348 |
| | — |
| | 25 |
| | 4 |
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Summer Lakes | | Fort Bend | | 100 | % | | 722 |
| | 347 |
| | 56 |
| | — |
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Summer Park | | Fort Bend | | 100 | % | | 102 |
| | 97 |
| | 32 |
| | 64 |
|
Willow Creek Farms II | | Waller/Fort Bend | | 90 | % | | 90 |
| | 175 |
| | — |
| | — |
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| | | | | | 5,728 |
| | 2,757 |
| | 386 |
| | 345 |
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San Antonio | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cibolo Canyons | | Bexar | | 100 | % | | 997 |
| | 772 |
| | 130 |
| | 56 |
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Oak Creek Estates | | Comal | | 100 | % | | 273 |
| | 281 |
| | 13 |
| | — |
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Olympia Hills | | Bexar | | 100 | % | | 740 |
| | 14 |
| | 10 |
| | — |
|
Stonewall Estates (b) | | Bexar | | 50 | % | | 371 |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | — |
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| | | | | | 2,381 |
| | 1,086 |
| | 153 |
| | 56 |
|
Total Texas | | | | | | 16,025 |
| | 9,997 |
| | 750 |
| | 634 |
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| | | | | | Residential Lots/Units | | Commercial Acres |
Project | | County | | Interest Owned (a) | | Lots/Units Sold Since Inception | | Lots/Units Remaining | | Acres Sold Since Inception | | Acres Remaining |
Colorado | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Denver | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Buffalo Highlands | | Weld | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 164 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Johnstown Farms | | Weld | | 100 | % | | 281 |
| | 313 |
| | 2 |
| | 3 |
|
Pinery West | | Douglas | | 100 | % | | 86 |
| | — |
| | 20 |
| | 106 |
|
Stonebraker | | Weld | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 603 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | 367 |
| | 1,080 |
| | 22 |
| | 109 |
|
Georgia | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Atlanta | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Harris Place | | Paulding | | 100 | % | | 22 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Montebello (b) (c) | | Forsyth | | 90 | % | | — |
| | 220 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Seven Hills | | Paulding | | 100 | % | | 851 |
| | 231 |
| | 26 |
| | 113 |
|
West Oaks | | Cobb | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 56 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | 873 |
| | 512 |
| | 26 |
| | 113 |
|
North & South Carolina | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Charlotte | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ansley Park | | Lancaster | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 304 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Habersham | | York | | 100 | % | | 28 |
| | 159 |
| | — |
| | 7 |
|
Walden | | Mecklenburg | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 387 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | 28 |
| | 850 |
| | — |
| | 7 |
|
Raleigh | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beaver Creek (b) | | Wake | | 90 | % | | — |
| | 193 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | — |
| | 193 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | 28 |
| | 1,043 |
| | — |
| | 7 |
|
Tennessee | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nashville | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beckwith Crossing | | Wilson | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 99 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Morgan Farms | | Williamson | | 100 | % | | 104 |
| | 69 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Vickery Park | | Williamson | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 87 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Weatherford Estates | | Williamson | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 17 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | 104 |
| | 272 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Wisconsin | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Madison | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Juniper Ridge/Hawks Woods (b) (c) | | Dane | | 90 | % | | — |
| | 215 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Meadow Crossing II (b) (c) | | Dane | | 90 | % | | — |
| | 172 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | — |
| | 387 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Arizona, California, Missouri, Utah | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tucson | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Boulder Pass (b) (c) | | Pima | | 50 | % | | — |
| | 88 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Dove Mountain | | Pima | | 100 | % | | — |
| | 98 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Oakland | | | | | | | | | | | | |
San Joaquin River | | Contra Costa/Sacramento | | 100 | % | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 288 |
|
Kansas City | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Somerbrook | | Clay | | 100 | % | | 173 |
| | 222 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Salt Lake City | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Suncrest (b) (d) | | Salt Lake | | 90 | % | | — |
| | 181 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
| | | | | | 173 |
| | 589 |
| | — |
| | 288 |
|
Total | | | | | | 17,570 |
| | 13,880 |
| | 798 |
| | 1,151 |
|
___________________
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(a) | 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. |
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(b) | Projects in ventures that we account for using equity method. |
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(c) | Venture project that develops and sells homes. |
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(d) | Venture project that develops and sells lots and homes. |
A summary of our significant non-core commercial and income producing properties at year-end 2015 follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Project | | Market | | Interest Owned (a) | | Type | | Acres | | Description |
Radisson Hotel & Suites (b) | | Austin | | 100 | % | | Hotel | | 2 |
| | 413 guest rooms and suites |
Dillon (c) | | Charlotte | | 100 | % | | Multifamily | | 3 |
| | 379-unit luxury apartment |
Eleven | | Austin | | 100 | % | | Multifamily | | 3 |
| | 257-unit luxury apartment |
Music Row (c) | | Nashville | | 100 | % | | Multifamily | | 1 |
| | 230-unit luxury apartment |
Elan 99 (c) | | Houston | | 90 | % | | Multifamily | | 17 |
| | 360-unit luxury apartment |
Acklen (c) | | Nashville | | 30 | % | | Multifamily | | 4 |
| | 320-unit luxury apartment |
HiLine (c) | | Denver | | 25 | % | | Multifamily | | 18 |
| | 385-unit luxury apartment |
360° (c) | | Denver | | 20 | % | | Multifamily | | 4 |
| | 304-unit luxury apartment |
_____________________
| |
(a) | Interest owned reflects our net equity interest in the project, whether owned directly or indirectly. |
| |
(b) | Under contract to be sold for $130.0 million and the transaction is expected to close in second quarter 2016. |
| |
(c) | Construction in progress. |
Our net investment in owned and consolidated real estate projects by geographic location at year-end 2015 follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
State | | Entitled, Developed, and Under Development Projects | | Undeveloped Land and Land in Entitlement | | Income Producing Properties | | Total |
| | (In thousands) |
Texas | | $ | 263,202 |
| | $ | 5,809 |
| | $ | 106,459 |
| | $ | 375,470 |
|
Georgia | | 5,244 |
| | 67,149 |
| | — |
| | 72,393 |
|
North Carolina | | 25,282 |
| | 118 |
| | 19,987 |
| | 45,387 |
|
California | | 8,915 |
| | 24,589 |
| | — |
| | 33,504 |
|
Tennessee | | 16,862 |
| | 10 |
| | 9,947 |
| | 26,819 |
|
Colorado | | 23,917 |
| | 245 |
| | — |
| | 24,162 |
|
Other | | 8,719 |
| | 261 |
| | — |
| | 8,980 |
|
Total | | $ | 352,141 |
| | $ | 98,181 |
| | $ | 136,393 |
| | $ | 586,715 |
|
Approximately 64 percent of our net investment in real estate is in the major markets of Texas.
Markets
Sales of new U.S. single-family homes rose to a seven-year high in December 2015, on a seasonally adjusted basis, but remain well below historical levels. Inventories of new homes are near historically low levels in many areas. In addition, declining finished lot inventories and limited supply of economically developable raw land has increased demand for our developed lots. However, national and global economic weakness and uncertainty, and a restrictive mortgage lending environment continue to threaten a robust recovery in the housing market, despite low interest rates. Multifamily market conditions continue to be strong, with many markets experiencing healthy occupancy levels and positive rent growth. This improvement has been driven primarily by limited housing inventory, 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.
Competition
We face significant 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 home builders 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.
Oil and Gas
Our oil and gas segment is focused on maximizing the value from our owned oil and gas mineral interests through promoting exploration, development and production activities by increasing acreage leased, lease rates, and royalty interests.
We typically lease our owned mineral interests to third parties for exploration and production of oil and gas. When we lease our mineral interests, we may negotiate a lease bonus payment and retain a royalty interest.
In addition, we are focused on exiting our non-core working interest oil and gas assets, principally in the Bakken/Three Forks of North Dakota and Lansing Kansas City formation of Nebraska and Kansas. We only intend to allocate capital going forward to these non-core assets to preserve value and optionality for the ultimate sale as we evaluate exiting these assets.
Owned Mineral Interests
We own mineral interests beneath 590,000 net acres located in the United States, principally in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama. Our revenue from our owned mineral interests is primarily from oil and gas royalty interests, lease bonus payments and delay rentals received 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 gas.
At year-end 2015, of our 590,000 net acres of owned mineral interests, 535,000 net acres are available for lease. We have about 55,000 net acres leased for oil and gas exploration activities, of which about 42,000 net acres are held by production from over 534 gross oil and gas wells that are operated by others, in which we have royalty interest. In addition, we have working interest ownership in 31 of these wells.
A summary of our owned mineral acres (a) at year-end 2015 follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
State | | Unleased | | Leased (b) | | Held By Production (c) | | Total (d) |
Texas | | 211,000 |
| | 9,000 |
| | 32,000 |
| | 252,000 |
|
Louisiana | | 130,000 |
| | 4,000 |
| | 10,000 |
| | 144,000 |
|
Georgia | | 152,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 152,000 |
|
Alabama | | 40,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 40,000 |
|
California | | 1,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,000 |
|
Indiana | | 1,000 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,000 |
|
| | 535,000 |
| | 13,000 |
| | 42,000 |
| | 590,000 |
|
_____________________
| |
(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 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. |
A summary of our Texas and Louisiana owned mineral acres (a) primarily in East Texas and Gulf Coast Basins by county or parish at year-end 2015 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. These owned mineral acre interests contain numerous oil and 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, Barnett Shale and Bossier formations. |
| |
(b) | A significant portion of our Louisiana net mineral acres were severed from the surface estate shortly before our 2007 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. Approximately 40,000 acres of our Louisiana owned net mineral acres may revert to the surface owner in 2017 unless drilling operations are commenced prior to the tenth anniversary of severance from the surface. |
We engage in leasing certain portions of our owned mineral interests to third parties for the exploration and production of oil and gas. Leasing mineral acres for exploration and production can create 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 gas production. The significant terms of these arrangements include granting the exploration company the rights to oil or gas it may find and requiring that drilling be commenced within a specified period. In return, we may receive an initial lease 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 gas produced (royalties). If no oil or gas is produced during the required period, all rights are returned to us. Historically, our capital requirements for our owned mineral acres have been minimal.
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 gas, the decline in production in existing wells, and other factors affecting the third-party oil and gas exploration and production companies that operate wells on our minerals including the cost of development and production.
Most leases are for a three to five 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, proximity to transportation facilities such as pipelines, depth of formations to be drilled and risk.
Mineral Interests Leased
As of year-end 2015, our leasehold interests include 228,000 net mineral acres leased from others, principally located in Nebraska and Kansas primarily targeting the Lansing – Kansas City formation and in North Dakota primarily targeting the Bakken and Three Forks formations. We have 43,000 net acres held by production and 369 gross oil and gas wells with working interest ownership, of which 126 are operated by us. These assets have been identified as non-core and we plan to exit these assets over time and we only intend to allocate capital going forward only to preserve value and optionality of the ultimate sale as we evaluate exiting these assets.
A summary of our net mineral acres leased from others as of year-end 2015 follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | |
State | | Undeveloped (b) | | Held By Production | | Total |
Nebraska | | 136,000 |
| | 10,000 |
| | 146,000 |
|
Kansas | | 9,000 |
| | 8,000 |
| | 17,000 |
|
Oklahoma | | 14,000 |
| | 17,000 |
| | 31,000 |
|
North Dakota | | 4,000 |
| | 5,000 |
| | 9,000 |
|
Other (a) | | 22,000 |
| | 3,000 |
| | 25,000 |
|
| | 185,000 |
| | 43,000 |
| | 228,000 |
|
__________________
| |
(a) | Excludes 8,000 net acres of overriding royalty interests |
| |
(b) | We have 82,000 gross and 57,000 net undeveloped acres scheduled to expire in 2016. |
Nebraska and Kansas
We have 163,000 net mineral acres primarily located on or near the Central Kansas Uplift formations located in the western Kansas counties of Graham, Lane, Thomas and Rawlins and in the southwest portion of Nebraska in the counties of Dundy, Red Willow and Hitchcock. At year-end 2015, we own working interests in 135 gross producing wells with an average working interest of 51 percent. These assets were sold for $21.0 million in first quarter 2016.
Oklahoma
We have 31,000 net mineral acres located in the Anadarko Basin. At year-end 2015, we own working interests in 76 gross producing wells with an average working interest of 39 percent. In first quarter 2016, we sold 16,700 net acres and 40 gross (8 net) wells in Oklahoma for $2.1 million.
North Dakota
We have 9,000 net acres in or near the core of the Bakken and Three Forks formations. Most of the acreage is located on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, south and west of the Parshall Field. We own working interests in 137 gross producing oil wells with an average working interest of 8 percent. Where a well has been drilled on a spacing unit, in many cases we expect additional development wells to be drilled on those spacing units in the future.
Most leases are for a three to five year term although a portion or all of a lease may be extended as long as production is occurring. Financial terms vary based on a number of factors including the location of the leasehold interest, the number of acres subject to the agreement, proximity to transportation facilities such as pipelines, depth of formations to be drilled and risk.
Estimated Proved Reserves
Our net estimated proved oil and gas reserves, all of which are located in the United States, as of year-end 2015, 2014 and 2013 are set forth in the table below. We engaged independent petroleum engineers, Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.(NSAI), to assist us in preparing estimates of our proved oil and gas reserves in accordance with the definitions and guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Net quantities of proved oil and gas reserves related to our working and royalty interests follow:
|
| | | | | |
| Reserves |
| Oil (a) (Barrels) | | Gas (Mcf) |
| (In thousands) |
Consolidated entities: | | | |
Proved developed | 5,179 |
| | 7,957 |
|
Proved undeveloped | — |
| | — |
|
Total proved reserves 2015 | 5,179 |
| | 7,957 |
|
Proved developed | 5,269 |
| | 10,848 |
|
Proved undeveloped | 2,403 |
| | 1,801 |
|
Total proved reserves 2014 | 7,672 |
| | 12,649 |
|
Proved developed | 3,893 |
| | 11,385 |
|
Proved undeveloped | 1,931 |
| | 2,245 |
|
Total proved reserves 2013 | 5,824 |
| | 13,630 |
|
Our share of ventures accounted for using the equity method: | | | |
Proved developed | — |
| | 1,263 |
|
Proved undeveloped | — |
| | — |
|
Total proved reserves 2015 | — |
| | 1,263 |
|
Proved developed | — |
| | 1,751 |
|
Proved undeveloped | — |
| | — |
|
Total proved reserves 2014 | — |
| | 1,751 |
|
Proved developed | — |
| | 2,332 |
|
Proved undeveloped | — |
| | — |
|
Total proved reserves 2013 | — |
| | 2,332 |
|
Total consolidated and our share of equity method ventures: | | | |
Proved developed | 5,179 |
| | 9,220 |
|
Proved undeveloped | — |
| | — |
|
Total proved reserves 2015 | 5,179 |
| | 9,220 |
|
Proved developed | 5,269 |
| | 12,599 |
|
Proved undeveloped | 2,403 |
| | 1,801 |
|
Total proved reserves 2014 | 7,672 |
| | 14,400 |
|
Proved developed | 3,893 |
| | 13,717 |
|
Proved undeveloped | 1,931 |
| | 2,245 |
|
Total proved reserves 2013 | 5,824 |
| | 15,962 |
|
_____________________
| |
(a) | Includes natural gas liquids. |
The following summarizes the changes in proved reserves for 2015:
|
| | | | | |
| Reserves |
| Oil (Barrels) | | Gas (Mcf) |
| (In thousands) |
Consolidated entities: | | | |
Year-end 2014 | 7,672 |
| | 12,649 |
|
Revisions of previous estimates | (855 | ) | | (1,675 | ) |
Extensions and discoveries | 224 |
| | 173 |
|
Acquisitions | — |
| | — |
|
Sales | (704 | ) | | (1,223 | ) |
Production | (1,158 | ) | | (1,967 | ) |
Year-end 2015 | 5,179 |
| | 7,957 |
|
Our share of ventures accounted for using the equity method: | | | |
Year-end 2014 | — |
| | 1,751 |
|
Revisions of previous estimates | — |
| | (320 | ) |
Extensions and discoveries | — |
| | — |
|
Production | — |
| | (168 | ) |
Year-end 2015 | — |
| | 1,263 |
|
Total consolidated and our share of equity method ventures: | | | |
Year-end 2015 | 5,179 |
| | 9,220 |
|
We do not have any estimated reserves of synthetic oil, synthetic gas or products of other non-renewable natural resources that are intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil and gas.
At year-end 2015, we have no barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) of proved undeveloped (PUD) reserves based on our plan to exit non-core oil and gas working interest assets and only allocate capital to preserve value and optionality for the ultimate sale as we evaluate exiting these assets. At year-end 2014, we had 2,703,000 BOE of PUD reserves. The decline in PUD reserves is principally due to (i) downward revisions of 1,694,000 BOE related to the continued decline in oil and gas prices during 2015, (ii) the conversion of 610,000 BOE of PUD reserves to proved developed reserves, and (iii) various asset divestments which included 399,000 BOE of PUD reserves. As a percent of our total proved reserves, PUD reserves were 0% at year-end 2015 and 27% at year-end 2014.
In 2015, we invested approximately $9,205,000 to convert 610,000 BOE of PUD reserves into proved developed reserves.
Reserve estimates were based on the economic and operating conditions existing at year-end 2015, 2014 and 2013. Oil and gas prices are based on the twelve month unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month in the period January through December. For 2015, 2014 and 2013, prices used for reserve estimates were $50.28, $94.99 and $96.91 per barrel of West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil and gas prices of $2.59, $4.35 and $3.67 per MMBTU per the Henry Hub spot market. All prices were then adjusted for quality, transportation fees and regional price differentials. Since the determination and valuation of proved reserves is a function of the interpretation of engineering and geologic data and prices for oil and 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 oil and gas reserves, please read Note 19 — Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures (Unaudited) to our consolidated financial statements included Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The process of estimating oil and 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 gas prices, capital costs, operating costs, revenues, taxes and quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves might vary from those estimated. Any variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of proved reserves. In addition, estimates of proved reserves may be adjusted to reflect production history, development, prevailing oil and 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 Physics and Mathematics and a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering. He has over 40 years of domestic and international experience in the exploration and production business including 40 years of reserve evaluations. He has been a registered Professional Engineer for over 25 years.
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 assist us in preparing reserve estimates. 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
In 2015, 2014 and 2013, oil and gas produced was approximately 1,158,500, 931,100 and 697,700 barrels of oil at an average realized price of $40.08, $80.63 and $89.40 per barrel and 2,134.8, 2,060.2 and 2,158.5 MMcf of gas at an average realized price of $2.60, $4.19 and $3.46 per Mcf. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) are aggregated with oil volumes and prices.
In 2015, 2014 and 2013, production lifting costs, which exclude ad valorem and severance taxes, were $12.95, $13.40 and $10.35 per BOE related to 369, 393 and 497 gross wells.
Drilling and Other Exploratory and Development Activities
The following tables set forth the number of gross and net oil and gas wells in which we participated:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross Wells |
| | | | Exploratory | | Development |
Year | | Total | | Oil | | Gas | | Dry | | Oil | | Gas | | Dry |
2015 (a) | | 38 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 34 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
2014 (b) | | 119 |
| | 21 |
| | — |
| | 32 |
| | 46 |
| | 1 |
| | 19 |
|
2013 | | 120 |
| | 10 |
| | — |
| | 30 |
| | 71 |
| | — |
| | 9 |
|
_____________________
| |
(a) | Of the gross wells drilled in 2015, we operated 3 wells or 8 percent. The remaining wells represent our participations in wells operated by others. The exploratory dry hole was located in Oklahoma. |
| |
(b) | Of the gross wells drilled in 2014, we operated 72 wells or 61 percent. The remaining wells represent our participations in wells operated by others. Dry holes were principally located in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Wells |
| | | | Exploratory | | Development |
Year | | Total | | Oil | | Gas | | Dry | | Oil | | Gas | | Dry |
2015 | | 6.3 |
| | 0.7 |
| | — |
| | 0.8 |
| | 4.3 |
| | — |
| | 0.5 |
|
2014 | | 57.3 |
| | 11.9 |
| | — |
| | 20.1 |
| | 13.6 |
| | 0.1 |
| | 11.6 |
|
2013 | | 46.7 |
| | 6.0 |
| | — |
| | 18.2 |
| | 16.8 |
| | — |
| | 5.7 |
|
Present Activities
At year-end 2015, there were 7 gross wells (1.2 net) being drilled in North Dakota and there were 2 gross wells (0.1 net) in North Dakota in some stage of the completion process requiring additional activities prior to generating sales.
Delivery Commitments
We have no oil or gas delivery commitments.
Wells and Acreage
The number of productive wells as of year-end 2015 follows:
|
| | | | | |
| Productive Wells (a) |
| Gross | | Net |
Consolidated entities: |
| | |
Oil | 577 |
| | 114.8 |
|
Gas | 303 |
| | 48.6 |
|
Total | 880 |
| | 163.4 |
|
Ventures accounted for using the equity method: | | | |
Oil | — |
| | — |
|
Gas | 23 |
| | 1.8 |
|
Total | 23 |
| | 1.8 |
|
Total consolidated and equity method ventures: | | | |
Oil | 577 |
| | 114.8 |
|
Gas | 326 |
| | 50.4 |
|
Total | 903 |
| | 165.2 |
|
_____________________
| |
(a) | Excludes 1,200 overriding royalty interest wells. |
At year-end 2015, 2014 and 2013, we have royalty interests in 534, 551 and 547 gross wells. In addition, at year-end 2015, 2014 and 2013, we have working interests in 400, 426 and 497 gross wells. Our plugging liabilities are accrued on the balance sheet based on the present value of our estimated future obligation.
We did not have any wells with production of synthetic oil, synthetic gas or products of other non-renewable natural resources that are intended to be upgraded into synthetic oil and gas as of year-end 2015, 2014 or 2013.
At year-end 2015, our working interests represent approximately 114,000 gross developed acres and 43,000 net developed acres leased from others that are held by production. We had approximately 249,000 gross undeveloped acres and 185,000 net undeveloped acres at year-end 2015.
Markets
Oil and gas revenues are influenced by prices of, and global and domestic supply and demand for, oil and gas. These commodities as determined by both regional and global markets depend on numerous factors beyond our control, including seasonality, the condition of the domestic and global economies, political conditions in other oil and gas producing countries, the extent of domestic production and imports of oil and gas, the proximity and capacity of gas pipelines and other transportation facilities, supply and demand for oil and gas and the effects of federal, state and local regulation. The oil and gas industry also competes with other industries in supplying the energy and fuel requirements of industrial, commercial and individual consumers. Global supply and demand fundamentals for crude oil at year-end 2015 remained out of balance with high global inventories and slower global growth. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices averaged $48.66 per Bbl in 2015, nearly 48% lower than in 2014, and ended 2015 at $37.13 per Bbl. OPEC continues to produce at record high levels, focused on maintaining market share, and the lifting of sanctions against Iran introduces additional supply into the global market. Estimates for global demand growth continue to be tempered and could extend the global supply glut, resulting in an extended period of low crude oil pricing.
Mineral leasing activity is influenced by changes in commodity prices, the location of our owned mineral interests relative to existing or projected oil and gas reserves, the proximity of successful production efforts to our mineral interests and the evolution of new plays and improvements in drilling and extraction technology.
Competition
The oil and gas industry is highly competitive, and we compete with a substantial number of other companies that may have greater resources than us. Many of these companies explore for, produce and market oil and gas, carry on refining operations and market the end products on a worldwide basis. The primary areas in which we face competition are from alternative fuel sources, including coal, heating oil, imported LNG, nuclear and other nonrenewable fuel sources, and renewable fuel sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and biomass. Competitive conditions may also be substantially affected by various forms of energy legislation and/or regulation considered from time to time by the United States government. It is not possible to predict whether such legislation or regulation may ultimately be adopted or its precise effects upon our future operations. Such laws and regulations may, however, substantially increase the costs of exploring for, developing or producing oil and gas.
In locations where our owned 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. Portions of our Texas and Louisiana minerals are in close proximity to producing wells and proven reserves. Interest in leasing our minerals is correlated with the economics of production which are substantially influenced by current oil and gas prices and improvements in drilling and extraction technologies.
Other Natural Resources
We sell wood fiber from portions of our land, primarily in Georgia, and lease land for recreational uses. We have 89,000 acres of non-core timberland and undeveloped land we own directly or through ventures. At year-end 2015, approximately 99 percent of available acres of our land including ventures, 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. We have water interests in 1.5 million acres which includes a 45 percent nonparticipating royalty interest in groundwater produced or withdrawn for commercial purposes or sold from 1.4 million acres in Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama, and 20,000 acres of groundwater leases in central Texas. We have not received significant revenues or earnings from these interests.
Competition
We face significant competition from other landowners for the sale of 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
At year-end 2015, we had 106 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 develop real estate, produce oil and gas, harvest and sell timber, or withdraw groundwater, or may require us to investigate and remediate contaminated properties.These laws and regulations may relate to, among other things, water quality, endangered species, protection and restoration of natural resources, timber harvesting practices, production of hydrocarbons 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 gas from that property. Environmental claims generally would not be covered by our insurance programs.
The particular environmental laws that apply to any given site vary according to the site’s 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.
At year-end 2015, we owned 288 acres in several parcels in or near Antioch, California, portions of which were sites of a 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. We have received certificates of completion on all but one 80 acre tract, a portion of which includes subsurface contamination. We increased our reserves for environmental remediation by $689,000 from 2014 to 2015 due to additional testing and remediation requirements by state regulatory agencies. At year-end 2015, our accrued liability to complete remediation activities is $682,000, which is included in other accrued expenses.
Oil and gas operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations controlling the generation, use, processing, storage, transportation, disposal and discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations affect our operations and costs as a result of their impact on oil and gas production operations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of investigatory and remedial obligations, the suspension or revocation of necessary permits, licenses and authorizations, the requirement that additional
pollution controls be installed and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations or imposing additional compliance requirements.
Compliance with environmental laws and regulations increases our overall cost of business, but has not had, to date, a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition or results of operations. It is not anticipated, based on current laws and regulations, that we will be required in the near future to expend amounts (whether for environmental control equipment, modification of facilities or otherwise) that are material in relation to our total development expenditure program in order to comply with such laws and regulations. However, given that such laws and regulations are subject to change, we are unable to predict the ultimate cost of compliance or the ultimate effect on our operations, financial condition and results of operations.
Available Information
Forestar Group Inc. is a Delaware corporation. 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.
From our Internet website, http://www.forestargroup.com, you may obtain additional information about us including:
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• | our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other documents as soon as reasonably practicable after we file them with the Securities and Exchange Commission; |
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• | 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 |
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• | corporate governance information that includes our: |
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• | corporate governance guidelines, |
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• | management development and executive compensation committee charter, |
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• | nominating and governance committee charter, |
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• | standards of business conduct and ethics, |
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• | code of ethics for senior financial officers, and |
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• | information on how to communicate directly with our board of directors. |
We will also provide printed copies of any of these documents to any stockholder free of charge upon request. In addition, the materials we file with the SEC may be read and copied at the SEC’s 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.
Executive Officers
The names, ages and titles of our executive officers are:
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Name | | Age | | Position |
Phillip J. Weber | | 55 | | Chief Executive Officer |
Charles D. Jehl | | 47 | | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Bruce F. Dickson | | 62 | | Chief Real Estate Officer |
David M. Grimm | | 55 | | Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Michael J. Quinley | | 54 | | President - Community Development |
Phillip J. Weber has served as our Chief Executive Officer since September 2015. He has served as Chairman of the Real Estate Investment Committee since May 2013 and previously served as Executive Vice President - Water Resources from May 2013 to September 2015 and as Executive Vice President - Real Estate from 2009 to May 2013. Prior to joining Forestar, 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, as Chief of Staff to non-Executive Chairman of the Board and Corporate Secretary from 2005 to 2006, and as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development in 2005.
Charles D. Jehl has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since September 2015. He previously served as our Executive Vice President - Oil and Gas from February 2015 to September 2015, as Executive Vice President - Oil and Gas Business Administration from 2013 to February 2015, and as Chief Accounting Officer from 2006 to 2013. Mr. Jehl 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-Inland’s financial services segment. Mr. Jehl is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Bruce F. Dickson has served as our Chief Real Estate Officer since March 2011. From 2009 through March 2011, he was the owner of Fairchild Investments LLC, a real estate investment firm. He served Standard Pacific Corp. as Southeast Region President from 2004 to 2009 and as Austin Division President from 2002 to 2004. From 1991 to 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.
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 Inc. 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 Inc., he was an attorney in private practice in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Grimm is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Michael J. Quinley has served as our President - Community Development since September 2015. He previously served as our Executive Vice President - Real Estate, East Region from 2011 to September 2015, as Executive Vice President - Eastern Region Real Estate Investments & Development from 2010 to 2011, and as Executive Vice President - Eastern Region Developments & Investments from 2008 to 2010. He has more than 30 years of prior real estate experience, including as CEO of Patrick Malloy Communities, as Senior Executive Vice President of Cousins Properties Incorporated and as Senior Vice President and CFO of Peachtree Corners Inc., all based in Atlanta.
General Risks Related to our Operations
Both our real estate and oil and gas 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 during the same period. Real estate development of residential lots is further influenced by new home construction activity, which has been volatile in recent years. Oil and gas may be further influenced by national and international commodity prices, principally for oil and gas. Cyclical downturns may materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. All of our operations are impacted by both national and global economic conditions.
The real estate, oil and gas and natural 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, oil and gas, and natural resources 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, changes in oil and gas prices, 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 or construction costs and delays in construction and leasing. We compete with numerous regional and local developers for the acquisition, entitlement, and development of land suitable for development. We also compete with national, regional and local home builders who develop real estate for their own use in homebuilding operations, many of which are larger and have greater resources, including greater marketing budgets. Any improvement in the cost structure or service of our competitors will increase the competition we face.
We face intense competition from both major and independent oil and gas companies. Many of our competitors have financial and other resources substantially greater than ours, and some of them are fully integrated oil and gas companies. These companies also may have greater geologic or other technical expertise than we do.
Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be negatively affected by any of these factors.
We may be unable to successfully divest our non-core assets, which could adversely affect our results of operations or cash flows.
We have announced that we are focused on our core residential housing business, and that we intend to exit non-core, non-residential housing assets. The sale of non-core real estate assets may be impacted by market conditions outside of our control, such as capitalization rates, anticipated market demand and job growth, property location and other existing or anticipated competitive properties, interest rates, availability of financing, and other factors that we do not control. Additionally, the sale of non-core oil and gas assets may be impacted by oil and gas commodity prices, demand for similar assets, extraction costs, regulatory environment, and other factors that we do not control. Our ability to divest non-core assets, the timing for such divestments, and the prices we may ultimately receive may be impacted by the foregoing or other factors.
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 or the promulgation of new environmental laws and regulations 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, oil and gas or other natural 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, the indentures governing our 3.75% convertible senior notes due 2020 (Convertible Notes), 4.50% senior amortizing notes due 2016 (Senior Amortizing Notes), 8.50% senior secured notes due 2022 (Senior Secured Notes) and any other existing or future debt arrangements. Significant reductions in cash flow from slowing real estate, oil and gas or other natural resources market conditions could require us to increase borrowing levels under our senior secured credit facility or to borrow under other debt arrangements and lead to higher levels of indebtedness, limiting our financial and operating flexibility, and ultimately limiting our ability to comply with our debt covenants, including the maintenance covenants under our senior secured credit facility. Realization of any of these factors could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Restrictive covenants under our senior secured credit facility and indentures governing our 3.75% convertible senior notes, 4.50% senior amortizing notes and 8.50% senior secured notes may limit the manner in which we operate.
Our senior secured credit facility and indentures covering our Convertible Notes, Senior Amortizing Notes and Senior Secured Notes contain various covenants and conditions that limit our ability to, among other things:
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• | incur or guarantee additional debt; |
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• | pay dividends or make distributions to our stockholders; |
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• | repurchase or redeem capital stock or subordinated indebtedness; |
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• | make loans, investments or acquisitions; |
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• | incur restrictions on the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments to us; |
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• | enter into transactions with affiliates; |
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• | merge or consolidate with other companies or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and |
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• | 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.
As of December 31, 2015, our unconsolidated ventures had approximately $134.7 million of debt, of which $28.3 million was non-recourse to us. 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 or elect to loan or contribute funds 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.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.
As of December 31, 2015, we had approximately $390 million of consolidated debt outstanding. Our ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance current or future debt obligations depends on our financial and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We cannot assure you that we will maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.
If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. We cannot be certain that we would be able to take any of these actions, that these actions would be successful and permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations or that these actions would be permitted under the terms of our existing or future debt agreements. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations.
Despite current indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantially more debt.
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. If new debt is added to our and our subsidiaries’ current debt levels, the related risks that we and they now face could intensify.
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.
In addition, we have determined that certain of our assets are not part of our core residential housing business. We have retained advisors to sell a hotel in Austin and to market non-core oil and gas assets. Although we have implemented compensation arrangements designed to retain key personnel associated with operating non-core assets, we may be unable to retain all such personnel until all non-core assets have been divested.
Risks Related to our Real Estate Operations
Reduced demand for new housing or commercial tracts in the markets where we operate could adversely impact 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. 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 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. The recent sharp decline in oil prices may impact near-term job growth and housing demand in Texas, particularly in Houston, where the energy industry has generated significant job growth over the past several years. 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 home builders.
We are highly dependent upon our relationships with national, regional, and local home builders to purchase lots in our residential developments. If home builders do not view our developments as desirable locations for homebuilding operations, or if home builders are limited in their ability to conduct operations due to economic conditions, our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
In addition, we enter into contracts to sell lots to home builders. A home builder could decide to delay purchases of lots in one or more 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. 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, 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, or if a partner takes actions inconsistent with our interest.
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 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 or increase our financial exposure in the project.
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.
For certain projects, we rely on governmental utility and special improvement districts (SID) to issue bonds to reimburse us for qualified expenses, such as road and utility infrastructure costs. Bonds must be supported by district 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.
Development and construction risks could impact our profitability.
We may develop and construct single family or multifamily communities as wholly-owned projects or through ventures with unaffiliated parties. Our development and construction activities may be exposed to the following risks:
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• | we may incur construction costs for a property that exceed original estimates due to increased materials, labor or other costs or unforeseen environmental or other conditions, which could make completion of the property uneconomical, and we may not be able to increase rents or sales to compensate for the increase in construction costs; |
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• | we may be unable to complete construction and/or lease-up of a community on schedule and meet financial goals for development projects; |
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• | an adverse incident during construction or development could adversely affect our ability to complete construction, conduct operations or cause substantial losses, including personal injury or loss of life, damage to or destruction of property, equipment, pollution or other environmental contamination, regulatory penalties, suspension of operations, and attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred in the prosecution or defense of litigation; and |
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• | 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. 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 receive lower returns than expected or 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 apartments 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 could adversely affect our ability to retain residents, lease apartments and increase or maintain rents.
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:
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• | an inability to accurately evaluate local housing market conditions and local economies; |
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• | 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; |
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• | an inability to successfully integrate operations; and |
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• | lack of familiarity with local governmental and permitting procedures. |
Risks Related to our Oil and Gas Operations
Volatile oil and 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 gas prices, which are volatile. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices averaged $48.66 per Bbl in 2015, nearly 48 percent lower than in 2014 due to growth in global oil inventories and weakening global demand, particularly in Asia. There is a risk that commodity prices could remain depressed for sustained periods. We can be impacted by short-term changes in commodity prices. Oil and gas prices also
impact the amounts we receive for selling and renewing our mineral leases. Moreover, oil and gas prices depend on factors we cannot control, such as: changes in foreign and domestic supply and demand for oil and gas; actions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); 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 gas could have a negative impact on our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Our operations are subject to the numerous risks of oil and gas drilling and production activities.
Oil and gas drilling and production activities are subject to numerous risks, many of which are beyond our control. These risks include the risk of fire, explosions, blow-outs, pipe failure, abnormally pressured formations and environmental hazards. Environmental hazards include oil spills, gas leaks, ruptures, discharges of toxic gases, underground migration and surface spills or mishandling of any toxic fracture fluids, including chemical additives. In addition, title problems, weather conditions and mechanical difficulties or shortages or delays in delivery of drilling rigs and other equipment could negatively affect our operations. If any of these or other similar industry operating risks occur, we could have substantial losses. Substantial losses also may result from injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, clean-up responsibilities, environmental damage, regulatory investigation, enforcement actions and penalties, and restriction or suspension of operations. In accordance with industry practice, we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of the risks described above. We cannot assure you that our insurance will be adequate to cover losses or liabilities. Also, we cannot predict the continued availability of insurance at premium levels that justify its purchase.
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 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 gas prices, revenues, taxes and quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves might vary from those estimated. Any variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of proved reserves. In addition, we may adjust estimates of proved reserves to reflect production history, development, prevailing oil and gas prices and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Such adjustments could negatively impact our ability to obtain financing.
The estimates of our reserves as of December 31, 2015 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, 2015. The average realized sales prices as of such date used for purposes of such estimates were $2.59 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of gas and $50.28 per barrel of oil. The December 31, 2015 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 our present value of estimated future oil and gas revenues 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:
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• | decisions and activities of the well operators; |
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• | supply of and demand for oil and gas; |
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• | actual prices we receive for oil and gas; |
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• | the amount and timing of capital expenditures; |
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• | the amount and timing of actual production; and |
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• | 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 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.
Hydraulic fracturing, the process used for extracting oil and gas from shale and other formations, and other subsurface injections have come under increased scrutiny and could be the subject of further regulation that could impact the timing and cost of extractive activities.
Hydraulic fracturing is the primary production method used to extract hydrocarbon reserves located in many of the unconventional oil and gas plays in the United States. Following years of study, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 2015 issued a draft report regarding the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. The draft report did not find evidence of widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources, but did identify spills and other mechanisms associated with hydraulic fracturing that could impact drinking water resources. The report, when finalized, may influence federal and state legislative and regulatory developments. Other federal regulatory developments in 2015 include (i) new rules by EPA which tightened the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone, which could result in additional mandatory controls on oil and gas sector volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions; and (ii) new rules by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management addressing hydraulic fracturing on federal and tribal lands, including new requirements for well casing, cementing, wastewater disposal, and disclosure of chemicals used in well completions. In addition, in September 2015, EPA proposed, as part of the agency’s Climate Action Plan, new regulations to further reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry, including during well completions and hydraulic fracturing, and asserted that the industry is one of the largest emitters of methane, a green-house gas.
Hydraulic fracturing is also extensively regulated at the state and local level and has been subject to temporary or permanent moratoria in some states, although in 2015, it has not been subject to such moratoria in the states and locations of our oil and gas operations or minerals. Also under public and governmental scrutiny is subsurface injection of water or other produced fluids from drilling or hydraulic fracturing processes due to potential environmental and physical impacts, including possible links to swarms of earthquakes occurring in areas near certain injection wells. For example, the Railroad Commission of Texas has hired a staff seismologist to study seismic activity and in 2014 adopted new rules for injection wells aimed at reducing the potential for earthquakes. Tighter regulation of injection wells could increase our costs of operations, including costs for well completions.
Depending on legislation that may ultimately be enacted or regulations that may be adopted at the federal, state and local levels, exploration, exploitation and production activities that entail hydraulic fracturing or other subsurface injection could be subject to additional regulation and permitting requirements. Individually or collectively, such new legislation or regulation could lead to operational delays, increased costs and other burdens that could delay the development of oil and gas resources from formations that are not commercial without the use of these techniques. This could have a material effect on our oil and gas production operations and on the operators conducting activities on our minerals and on the cash flows we receive from them.
Our reserves and production will decline from their current levels.
The rate of production from oil and 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.
Our oil and gas production may be subject to interruptions that could have a material and adverse effect on us.
Our oil and gas production may be interrupted, or shut in, from time to time for various reasons, including as a result of accidents, natural disasters, 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 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 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 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 party’s 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.
We have limited control over the activities on properties we do not operate and are unable to ensure their proper operation and profitability.
Many of the properties in which we have working interests are 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. 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 non-operated properties therefore depends upon a number of factors currently outside of our control, including the operator’s 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 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.
The ability to sell and deliver oil and gas produced from wells on our mineral leasehold interests could be materially and adversely affected if adequate gathering, processing, compression and transportation services are not obtained.
The sale of oil and gas produced from wells on our mineral leasehold 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 or operated 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. In addition, federal, state and provincial governments in the United States and Canada have issued or are considering issuance of additional regulations governing transportation of crude oil and its byproducts by rail. Such regulations could increase the cost of transportation or limit the availability of suitable rail cars or both. 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.
A significant portion of our Louisiana owned net mineral acres are subject to prescription of non-use under Louisiana law.
A significant portion of our Louisiana owned net mineral acres were severed from surface ownership and retained by creation of one or more mineral servitudes shortly before our 2007 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. Approximately 40,000 acres of our Louisiana owned net mineral acres may revert to the surface owner in 2017 unless drilling operations are commenced prior to the tenth anniversary of severance from the surface.
Weather, climate and climate change regulation 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 gas wells 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 gas, higher inventory (as less gas is used to heat residences and businesses) and, as a result, relatively lower prices for gas production.
Drilling for and production of oil and gas also can be impacted by weather and climate. Specifically, cold temperatures or significant precipitation or both can restrict operation of machinery or access to well sites by personnel or equipment. These restrictions may reduce our production and, in turn, our cash flow and results of operations.
The EPA has proposed regulations for the purpose of restricting greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources. Such regulatory and legislative proposals to restrict greenhouse gas emissions, or to address climate change generally, could increase our operating costs as well operators incur costs to comply with new rules. Such increased costs may include installation of new or expanded emissions control systems, purchase of allowances to authorize greenhouse gas emissions, and increased taxes. Regulation of greenhouse gases may also occur at the state level. Depending on legislation that may ultimately be enacted or regulations that may be adopted at the Federal or state level, there could be increased costs, operational delays and other burdens affecting the oil and gas industry. This could have a material effect on our oil and gas production operations and on the operators conducting activities on our properties and on cash flows we receive from them.
Risks Related to our Other Natural Resources Operations
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 buyers 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.
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.
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 other natural resources segment are dependent to a significant extent on the pricing of our products and our continued ability to harvest timber at adequate levels.
Other Risks
The market price of and trading volume of our shares of common stock may be volatile.
The market price of our shares of common stock has fluctuated substantially and may continue to fluctuate in response to the following factors, many of which are beyond our control:
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• | fluctuations in our operating results, including results that vary from expectations of management, analysts and investors; |
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• | changes in investors’ and analysts’ perception of the business risks and conditions of our business; |
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• | broader market fluctuations; |
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• | general financial, economic and political conditions; |
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• | regulatory changes affecting our industry generally or our businesses and operations; |
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• | environmental regulations and liabilities that could have a negative effect on our operating results; |
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• | announcements of strategic developments, acquisitions, financings and other material events by us or our competitors; |
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• | the sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock held by existing security holders in the public market; and |
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• | general conditions in the real estate and mineral resources industries. |
The stock markets in general have experienced extreme volatility that has at times been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock, make it difficult to predict the market price of our common stock in the future and cause the value of our common stock to decline.
Provisions of Delaware law, our charter documents, the indentures governing the 3.75% convertible senior notes, 8.50% senior secured notes and the stock purchase contracts under the 6.00% tangible equity units may impede or discourage a takeover, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
We are a Delaware corporation, and the anti-takeover provisions of Delaware law impose various impediments to the ability of a third party to acquire control of us, even if a change in control would be beneficial to our existing stockholders. In addition, our board of directors has the power, without stockholder approval, to designate the terms of one or more series of
preferred stock and issue shares of preferred stock. These and other impediments to third party acquisition or change of control could limit the price investors are willing to pay for shares of our common stock, which could in turn reduce the market price of our common stock. In addition, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change under the terms of the convertible senior notes, the senior secured notes or the tangible equity units, certain repurchase rights and early settlement rights would be triggered under the indentures governing the convertible senior notes, senior secured notes and the stock purchase contracts under the 6.00% tangible equity units, respectively. In such event, the increase of the conversion or early settlement rate, as applicable, in connection with certain make-whole fundamental change transactions under the terms of the convertible senior notes or the stock purchase contracts, respectively, could discourage a potential acquirer.
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Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments. |
None.
Our principal executive offices are located in Austin, Texas, where we recently commenced the process to reduce our office space from approximately 32,000 to 18,600 square feet. We also lease office space in Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Lufkin, Texas. We believe these offices are suitable for conducting our business.
For a description of our properties in our real estate, oil and gas and other natural resources segments, see “Business — Real Estate”, “Business — Oil and Gas” and “Business — Other Natural Resources”, respectively, in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Item 3. | Legal Proceedings. |
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 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures. |
Not Applicable.
PART II
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Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s 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 2015 and 2014 were:
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| 2015 | | 2014 |
| Price Range | | Price Range |
| High | | Low | | High | | Low |
First Quarter | $ | 15.91 |
| | $ | 13.27 |
| | $ | 21.30 |
| | $ | 17.67 |
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Second Quarter | $ | 16.29 |
| | $ | 13.16 |
| | $ | 19.22 |
| | $ | 16.70 |
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Third Quarter | $ | 13.67 |
| | $ | 11.98 |
| | $ | 20.10 |
| | $ | 17.72 |
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Fourth Quarter | $ | 14.59 |
| | $ | 10.58 |
| | $ | 17.68 |
| | $ | 14.42 |
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For the Year | $ | 16.29 |
| | $ | 10.58 |
| | $ | 21.30 |
| | $ | 14.42 |
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Shareholders
Our stock transfer records indicated that as of February 29, 2016, there were approximately 3,244 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividend Policy
We currently intend to retain any future earnings to support our business. 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 or indentures 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)
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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 10 (10/1/2015 — 10/31/2015) | 693 |
| | $ | 14.39 |
| | — |
| | 3,506,668 |
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Month 11 (11/1/2015 — 11/30/2015) | 2,192 |
| | $ | 12.80 |
| | — |
| | 3,506,668 |
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Month 12 (12/1/2015 — 12/31/2015) | — |
| | $ | — |
| | — |
| | 3,506,668 |
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Total | 2,885 |
| | $ | 13.18 |
| | — |
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_____________________
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(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 3,493,332 shares under this authorization, which has no expiration date. We did not make any repurchases in 2015. 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. |
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(b) | Includes shares withheld to pay taxes in connection with vesting of restricted stock awards and exercises of stock options. |
Performance Graph
Our peer group consists of the following real estate and oil and gas companies: Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., AV Homes Inc., Approach Resources, Inc., Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co., Cousins Properties Incorporated, Contango Oil and Gas Co., Goodrich Petroleum Corp., Magnum Hunter Resources Corp., Matador Resources Co., Penn Virginia Corp., Petroquest Energy Inc., Post Properties, Inc., Potlatch Corporation, PS Business Parks, Inc., Resolute Energy Corp., The St. Joe Company, and Tejon Ranch Co. There were no changes to the peer group in 2015.
Pursuant to SEC rules, returns of each of the companies in the Peer Index are weighted according to the respective company’s stock market capitalization at the beginning of each period for which a return is indicated.
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Item 6. | Selected Financial Data. |
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| For the Year |
| 2015 | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 |
| (In thousands, except per share amount) |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Real estate | $ | 202,830 |
| | $ | 213,112 |
| | $ | 248,011 |
| | $ | 120,115 |
| | $ | 106,168 |
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Oil and gas | 52,939 |
| | 84,300 |
| | 72,313 |
| | 44,220 |
| | 24,448 |
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Other natural resources | 6,652 |
| | 9,362 |
| | 10,721 |
| | 8,256 |
| | 4,957 |
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Total revenues | $ | 262,421 |
| | $ | 306,774 |
| | $ | 331,045 |
| | $ | 172,591 |
| | $ | 135,573 |
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Segment earnings (loss): | | | | | | | | | |
Real estate (a) | $ | 67,678 |
| | $ | 96,906 |
| | $ | 68,454 |
| | $ | 53,582 |
| | $ | (25,704 | ) |
Oil and gas (b) | (184,396 | ) | | (22,686 | ) | | 18,859 |
| | 26,608 |
| | 19,783 |
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Other natural resources | (608 | ) | | 5,499 |
| | 6,507 |
| | 29 |
| | (1,867 | ) |
Total segment earnings (loss) | (117,326 | ) | | 79,719 |
| | 93,820 |
| | 80,219 |
| | (7,788 | ) |
Items not allocated to segments: | | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expense (c) | (24,802 | ) | | (21,229 | ) | | (20,597 | ) | | (25,176 | ) | | (20,110 | ) |
Share-based compensation expense | (4,474 | ) | | (3,417 | ) | | (16,809 | ) | | (14,929 | ) | | (7,067 | ) |
Gain on sale of assets (d) | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 16 |
| | 61,784 |
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Interest expense | (34,066 | ) | | (30,286 | ) | | (20,004 | ) | | (19,363 | ) | | (17,012 | ) |
Other corporate non-operating income | 256 |
| | 453 |
| | 119 |
| | 191 |
| | 368 |
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(Loss) Income before taxes | (180,412 | ) | | 25,240 |
| | 36,529 |
| | 20,958 |
| | 10,175 |
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Income tax expense (e) | (32,635 | ) | | (8,657 | ) | | (7,208 | ) | | (8,016 | ) | | (3,021 | ) |
Net income (loss) attributable to Forestar Group Inc. | $ | (213,047 | ) | | $ | 16,583 |
| | $ | 29,321 |
| | $ | 12,942 |
| | $ | 7,154 |
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Net income (loss) per common share | $ | (6.22 | ) | | $ | 0.38 |
| | $ | 0.80 |
| | $ | 0.36 |
| | $ | 0.20 |
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Average diluted shares outstanding (f) | 34,266 |
| | 43,596 |
| | 36,813 |
| | 35,482 |
| | 35,781 |
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At year-end: | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | $ | 980,513 |
| | $ | 1,258,199 |
| | $ | 1,172,152 |
| | $ | 918,434 |
| | $ | 794,857 |
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Debt | 389,782 |
| | 432,744 |
| | 357,407 |
| | 294,063 |
| | 221,587 |
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Noncontrolling interest | 2,515 |
| | 2,540 |
| | 5,552 |
| | 4,059 |
| | 1,686 |
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Forestar Group Inc. shareholders’ equity | 501,600 |
| | 707,202 |
| | 709,845 |
| | 529,488 | |