New Concept Energy, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2016 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2016

Or

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM           TO

Commission File Number 000-08187

NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

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: [X   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: [X]   No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or smaller reporting company.  See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Index to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

Period ended March 31, 2016

 

PART I:  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets	3
Consolidated Statements of Operations	5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	6
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements	7
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	10
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	12
Item 4T.  Controls and Procedures	12
PART II:  OTHER INFORMATION	13
Item 6.  Exhibits	14
Signatures	15

 

 

 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(amounts in thousands)
		March 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	547			$	473
Accounts receivable from oil and gas sales			95				141
Other current assets			48				37
Total current assets			690				651
Oil and natural gas properties (full cost accounting method)
Proved developed and undeveloped oil and gas properties, net of depletion			5,779				5,914
Property and equipment, net of depreciation
Land, buildings and equipment - oil and gas operations			777				803
Other			130				134
Total property and equipment			907				937
Other assets			1,345				1,328
Total assets		$	8,721			$	8,830

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - CONTINUED
(unaudited)
(amounts in thousands, except share amounts)
		March 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable - (including $348 and $168 due to related parties in 2016 and 2015)		$	440			$	241
Accrued expenses			160				151
Current portion of long term debt			831				831
Total current liabilities			1,431				1,223
Long-term debt
Notes payable less current portion			1,145				1,166
Asset retirement obligation			2,770				2,770
Total liabilities			5,346				5,159
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, Series B			1				1
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized, 100,000,000
shares; issued and outstanding, 1,946,935 shares
at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015			20				20
Additional paid-in capital			58,838				58,838
Accumulated deficit			(55,484	)			(55,188	)
Total stockholders' equity			3,375				3,671
Total liabilities & equity		$	8,721			$	8,830

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
		For the Three Months ended March 31,
		2016				2015
Revenue
Oil and gas operations, net of royalties		$	219			$	172
Real estate operations			677				717
Total Revenues			896				889
Operating expenses
Oil and gas operations			396				470
Real estate operations			361				410
Real Estate - lease expense			259				245
Corporate general and administrative			166				154
Total Operating Expenses			1,182				1,279
Operating earnings (loss)			(286	)			(390	)
Other income (expense)
Interest income			6				0
Interest expense			(11	)			(26	)
Recovery of bad debt expense			-				738
Other income (expense), net			(5	)			(8	)
Expense			(10	)			704
Net income (loss) applicable to common shares		$	(296	)		$	314
Net income (loss) per common share-basic and diluted		$	(0.15	)		$	0.16
Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding - basic			1,947				1,947

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(amounts in thousands)
		For the Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2016				2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)		$	(296	)		$	314
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			186				187
Write-off (recovery) of affiliate receivable			-				(739	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Other current and non-current assets			11				124
Accounts payable and other liabilities			208				284
Net cash provided by (used) in operating activities			109				170
Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in oil & gas properties			-				(92	)
Investment in undeveloped land			-				-
Fixed asset additions			(8	)			(15	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(8	)			(107	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of loans to affiliates			-				126
Payment on notes payable			(27	)			(77	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(27	)			49
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			74				112
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			473				300
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$	547			$	412
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest on notes payable		$	11			$	13

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

NEW CONCEPT ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE A: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of New Concept Energy, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, "NCE" or the "Company").  All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.  Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year revenue and operating expense amounts in the statement of operations to conform to the current year presentation.

 

The unaudited financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present such information.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  Although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures, including a description of significant accounting policies normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

 

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015.  Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any subsequent quarter or for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

 

NOTE B: NATURE OF OPERATIONS

 

The Company operates oil and gas wells and mineral leases in Athens and Meigs Counties in Ohio and in Calhoun, Jackson and Roane Counties in West Virginia through its wholly owned subsidiaries Mountaineer State Energy, LLC and Mountaineer State Operations, LLC.

 

The Company also leases and operates a retirement community in King City Oregon, with a capacity of 114 residents.

 

NOTE C: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

We consider accounting policies related to our estimates of depreciation amortization and depletion, segments, oil and gas properties, oil and gas reserves, gas gathering assets, office and field equipment, revenue recognition and gas imbalances, leases, revenue recognition for real estate operations, impairment, and sales of real estate as significant accounting policies.  The policies include significant estimates made by management using information available at the time the estimates are made.  However, these estimates could change materially if different information or assumptions were used.  These policies are summarized in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

NOTE D: OIL AND GAS RESERVES

 

The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investment in oil and natural gas properties.  Under this method of accounting, all costs of acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties (including such costs as leasehold acquisition costs, geological expenditures, dry hole costs, tangible and intangible development costs and direct internal costs) are capitalized as the cost of oil and natural gas properties when incurred.

The full cost method requires the Company to calculate quarterly, by cost center, a "ceiling," or limitation on the amount of properties that can be capitalized on the balance sheet.  To the extent capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, less accumulated depletion and related deferred taxes exceed the sum of the discounted future net revenues of proved oil and natural gas reserves, the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties subject to amortization, the cost of properties not being amortized, and the related tax amounts, such excess capitalized costs are charged to expense.

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows and changes in such cash flows are prepared using assumptions required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Such assumptions include a standardized method for determining pricing and require that future cash flow be discounted using a 10% rate. The valuation that results may not represent management's estimated current market value of proved reserves.

During the past few years the exploration, development and production of natural gas has resulted in an oversupply of natural gas which has resulted in a substantial reduction in the market price. Management of the Company believes that this oversupply will last for some time and does not anticipate an increase in the price we can receive in the market palace. In April 2012 the Company entering into an agreement to fix the price it receives for the sale of its gas. For the five years ended April 2017 the Company will receive $4.53 per MCF.

NOTE F: CONTINGENCIES

In December 2006, Carlton Energy Group, LLC ("Carlton") instituted litigation against an individual, Eurenergy Resources Corporation ("Eurenergy") and several other entities including New Concept Energy, Inc., which was then known as CabelTel International Corporation (the "Company") alleging tortuous conduct, breach of contract and other matters and as to the Company that it was the alter ego of Eurenergy. The Carlton claims were based upon an alleged tortuous interference with a contract by the individual and Eurenergy related to the right to explore a coal bed methane concession in Bulgaria which had never (and has not to this day) produced any hydrocarbons. At no time during the pendency of this project or since did the company or any of its officers or directors have any interest whatsoever in the success or failure of the so-called "Bulgaria Project". However, in the litigation, Carlton alleged that the Company was the alter-ego of certain of the other Defendants including Eurenergy.

 

Following a jury trial in 2009, the Trial Court (295th District Court of Harris County, Texas) reduced the actual damages found by the jury of $66.5 million and entered judgment against EurEnergy and The individual jointly and severally for $31.16 million in actual damages on its tortuous-interference claim and the Court further assessed exemplary damages against The individual and EurEnergy in the amount of $8.5 million each. The Court granted a judgment for the Company that it was not the alter ego of any of the other parties and thereby would not incur any damages.

Cross appeals were filed by Carlton, The individual and EurEnergy to the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas (the "Court of Appeals") which rendered its opinion on February 14, 2012.  The Court of Appeals opinion, among other things, reinstated the jury award of actual damages jointly and severely against The individual and EurEnergy in the amount of $66.5 million and overturned the Trial Court's ruling favorable to the Company rendering a judgment for that amount plus exemplary damages against the Company as the "alter ego" of Eurenergy.

 

The Company and the other defendants filed a Petition for Review of the Court of Appeals Opinion with the Supreme Court of the State of Texas. On May 8, 2015, the Supreme Court of Texas affirmed, in part, and reversed, in part, the Court of Appeals Judgment, remanding the case to that Court for further proceedings. In its opinion, the Supreme Court concluded that the evidence supports the Jury's verdict that the individual used the Company and other entities, that it would be unjust to require Carlton to treat them separately and found that the Company was an alter ego as a matter of law.  The Supreme Court determined that the Court of Appeals erred in reinstating the jury's verdict on damages in the amount of $66.5 million as the amount was speculative and not supported by competent evidence. The court declined to reinstate the trial court's judgment of $31.16 million. The Supreme Court did rule that there was some evidence to support an award of actual damages and therefore remanded the case to the Court of Appeals to make a factual sufficiency determination, if possible, as to as to the amount.

Management's preliminary analysis of these developments suggests it is reasonably possible that the claim will result in an unfavorable outcome. Management notes that in connection with the original appeal, the individual defendant deposited alternative security with the Court to supersede the judgment which the Court determined to have a value in excess of $56 million. Management believes that the maximum exposure would be in an amount significantly less than the amount on deposit. Accordingly, management believes that any adverse outcome is fully secured by that deposit.

The Company has been named as a defendant in other lawsuits in the ordinary course of business.  Management is of the opinion that these lawsuits will not have a material effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

 

NOTE G:  OPERATING SEGMENTS

The following table reconciles the segment information to the corresponding amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and total assets:

Three months ended March 31, 2016		Oil and Gas Operations				Retirement Facility				Corporate				Total
Operating revenue		$	219			$	677			$	-			$	896
Operating expenses			232				348				157				737
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			164				13				9				186
Lease expense			-				259				-				259
Total operating expenses			396				620				166				1,182
Interest income			-				-				6				6
Interest expense			(11	)			-				-				(11	)
Recovery of bad debt expense			-				-				-				0
Other income			-				-				(5	)			(5	)
Segment operating income		$	(188	)		$	57			$	(165	)		$	(296	)
Three months ended March 31, 2015		Oil and Gas Operations				Retirement Facility				Corporate				Total
Operating revenue		$	172			$	717			$	-			$	889
Operating expenses			311				394				154				859
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			159				16				-				175
Lease expense			-				245				-				245
Total operating expenses			470				655				154				1,279
Interest income			-				-				0				0
Interest expense			(26	)			-				-				(26	)
Recovery of bad debt expense			-				-				738				738
Other income			-				-				(8	)			(8	)
Segment operating income		$	(324	)		$	62			$	576			$	314

 

 

NOTE H:  NEWLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs" ("ASU 2015-03").  ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability, consistent with the presentation of a debt discount. Prior to the issuance of the standard, debt issuance costs were required to be presented in the balance sheet as an asset. The Company has adopted this standard effective June 30, 2015.  The accompanying financials have been reclassified to reflect the adoption.

 

 

In February 2016, Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 ("ASU 2016-02"), Leases was issued.  This new guidance establishes a new model for accounting for leases and provides for enhanced disclosures.  ASU 2016-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance, if any, on its financial position and results of operations.

NOTE I:  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through May 13, 2016, the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and determined that there are none to be reported.

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  Certain of the Company's accounting policies require the application of judgment in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates.  By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty.  These judgments and estimates are based upon the Company's historical experience, current trends and information available from other sources that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The Company's significant accounting policies are summarized in Note B to our consolidated financial statements in our annual report on Form 10-K.  The Company believes the following critical accounting policies are more significant to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.  Revisions in such estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revisions become known.

 

Oil and Gas Property Accounting

 

The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investment in oil and natural gas properties.  Under this method of accounting, all costs of acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties (including such costs as leasehold acquisition costs, geological expenditures, dry hole costs, tangible and intangible development costs and direct internal costs) are capitalized as the cost of oil and natural gas properties when incurred.

The full cost method requires the Company to calculate quarterly, by cost center, a "ceiling," or limitation on the amount of properties that can be capitalized on the balance sheet.  To the extent capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, less accumulated depletion and related deferred taxes exceed the sum of the discounted future net revenues of proved oil and natural gas reserves, the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties subject to amortization, the cost of properties not being amortized, and the related tax amounts, such excess capitalized costs are charged to expense.

 

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows and changes in such cash flows are prepared using assumptions required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Such assumptions include a standardized method for determining pricing and require that future cash flow be discounted using a 10% rate. The valuation that results may not represent management's estimated current market value of proved reserves.

Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company's allowance for doubtful accounts receivable and notes receivable is based on an analysis of the risk of loss on specific accounts.  The analysis places particular emphasis on past due accounts.  Management considers such information as the nature and age of the receivable, the payment history of the tenant, customer or other debtor and the financial condition of the tenant or other debtor.  Management's estimate of the required allowance, which is reviewed on a quarterly basis, is subject to revision as these factors change.

Deferred Tax Assets

 

Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets.  The future recoverability of the Company's net deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income prior to the expiration of the loss carry forwards.  At March 31, 2016, the Company had a deferred tax asset due to tax deductions available to it in future years.  However, as management could not determine that it was more likely than not that the benefit of the deferred tax asset would be realized, a 100% valuation allowance was established.

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

At March 31, 2016, the Company had current assets of $690,000 and current liabilities of $1,431,000.

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2016 were $547,000 as compared to $473,000 at December 31, 2015.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $109,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  During the three-month period, the Company had net loss of $296,000.

Net cash used in investing activities was $8,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, consisting of the purchase of equipment at the Company's retirement center.

Net cash used in financing activities was $27,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, consisting of the repayments of loans to a bank.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2016 to the same period in 2015

 

The Company reported a net loss of $296,000 for three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to net income of $314,000 for the similar period in 2015.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded oil and gas revenues of $219,000 as compared to $172,000 for the comparable period of 2015. The increase in oil & gas revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $47,000. The increase is due to the production of more gas in 2016 than 2015. During the first quarter of 2015 there was unusual harsh weather in the areas where the Company maintains its wells. The weather severely hampered the Company's ability to repair and maintain well equipment as well as limited the pickups of oil from wells that were located in areas that were impossible to reach.

The Company recorded revenues of $677,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 from its retirement property compared to $717,000 for the comparable period in 2014. The decrease is due to reduced occupancy at the facility.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded oil and gas operating expenses of $396,000 as compared to $470,000 for the comparable period of 2015.The decrease was due to a specific effort by management to reduce operation costs. The decrease represents a $41,000 reduction in payroll costs and a reduction in general operating expenses of $38,000.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, operating expenses at the retirement property were $348,000, as compared to $394,000 for the comparable period in 2015. The decreases were due to a reduction in general operating expenses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, corporate general & administrative expenses were $166,000 as compared to $154,000 for the comparable periods in 2015.  

Comparison of the three months ended March 31, 2015 to the same period in 2014

The Company reported net income of $314,000 for three months ended March 31, 2015, as compared to a net loss of $40,000 for the similar period in 2014.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded oil and gas revenues of $172,000 as compared to $344,000 for the comparable period of 2014. The decrease in oil & gas revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $172,000. The average price was $46 per barrel during the first quarter of 2015 as compared to $93 per barrel in 2014. The company estimates that approximately $100,000 of the decrease was due to the price of oil. During the first quarter of 2015 there was unusual harsh weather in the areas where the Company maintains its wells. The weather severely hampered the Company's ability to repair and maintain well equipment as well as limited the pickups of oil from wells that were located in areas that were impossible to reach. The Company believes that the shortfall in revenue beyond the drop in price of oil were weather related.

The Company recorded revenues of $717,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 from its retirement property compared to $725,000 for the comparable period in 2014. 

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company recorded oil and gas operating expenses of $470,000 as compared to $483,000 for the comparable period of 2014.The increases were due to general operating expenses of $20,000 which was partially offset by lower depreciation, depletion and amortization cost of $7,000.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, operating expenses at the retirement property were $410,000, as compared to $396,000 for the comparable period in 2014. The increases were due to general operating expenses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, corporate general & administrative expenses were $154,000 as compared to $192,000 for the comparable periods in 2014.  The decrease is due to a reduction of legal fees.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 the company recorded a bad debt expense recovery of $738,000 with respect to a note receivable that was fully reserved in a prior year (For a more complete discussion of history of the receivable, the establishment of a reserve due to concerns regarding collectability if the receivable and the recovery efforts refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 in Item 13. on page 21 and Footnote C on page 34)

Forward Looking Statements

 

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in this filing that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances, operations and prospects.  The discussion of such matters and subject areas is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, and also may materially differ from the Company's actual future experience involving any one or more of such matters and subject areas relating to interest rate fluctuations, the ability to obtain adequate debt and equity financing, demand, pricing, competition, construction, licensing, permitting, construction delays on new developments, contractual and licensure, and other delays on the disposition, transition, or restructuring of currently or previously owned, leased or managed properties in the Company's portfolio, and the ability of the Company to continue managing its costs and cash flow while maintaining high occupancy rates and market rate charges in its retirement community.  The Company has attempted to identify, in context, certain of the factors that it currently believes may cause actual future experience and results to differ from the Company's current expectations regarding the relevant matter of subject area.  These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

 

Inflation

 

The Company's principal source of revenue is rents from a retirement community and fees for services rendered.  The real estate operation is affected by rental rates that are highly dependent upon market conditions and the competitive environment in the areas where the property is located.  Compensation to employees and maintenance are the principal cost elements relative to the operation of this property.  Although the Company has not historically experienced any adverse effects of inflation on salaries or other operating expenses, there can be no assurance that such trends will continue or that, should inflationary pressures arise, the Company will be able to offset such costs by increasing rental rates in its real estate operation.

 

Environmental Matters

 

The Company has conducted environmental assessments on most of its existing owned or leased properties.  These assessments have not revealed any environmental liability that the Company believes would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, assets or results of operations.  The Company is not aware of any such environmental liability.  The Company believes that all of its properties are in compliance in all material respects with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations regarding hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products.  The Company has not been notified by any governmental authority and is not otherwise aware of any material non-compliance, liability or claim relating to hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products in connection with any of its communities.

 Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Nearly all of the Company's debt is financed at fixed rates of interest.  Therefore, the Company has minimal risk from exposure to changes in interest rates.

   

Item 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a)           Based on an evaluation by our management (with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer), as of the end of the period covered by this report, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")). Were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

(b)           There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as indicated below.

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.