CKX Lands (CKX) Risk Analysis

We have only two employees, both of whom are part-time and serve as our corporate officers. Therefore, we substantially depend on local third-party managers for the day-to-day management of our timberland properties. The cash flows from our timberland properties may be adversely affected if the property manager fails to provide quality services. These third-party managers may fail to manage our properties effectively or efficiently or in accordance with the terms of our agreement with them. If any of these events occurs, we could incur losses or face liabilities from the loss or injury to our property or to persons at our properties. In addition, disputes may arise between us and third-party managers, and we may incur significant expenses to resolve those disputes or terminate the relevant agreement with the third parties and locate and engage competent and cost-effective alternative service providers to remediate any mismanagement and/or manage the relevant properties. Additionally, third-party managers may manage and own other properties that may compete with our properties, which may result in conflicts of interest and decisions regarding the operation of our properties that are not in our best interests.

Because we are a public company filing reports with the SEC, we are subject to regulatory and public scrutiny and extensive and complex regulation. In addition, we are required to maintain financial accounting controls and comply with rules concerning the accuracy and completeness of our books and records. In addition to regulation by the SEC, we are subject to the listing fees and rules of the NYSE American stock exchange. The NYSE American rules contain requirements related to corporate governance, communications with shareholders, and various other matters. Compliance with these public company obligations requires significant time and expense. Other expenses associated with being a public company include auditing, accounting and legal fees and expenses, director and officer liability insurance costs, transfer agent fees and other expenses. The cost of being a publicly traded company is substantial, not only in absolute terms but, more importantly, in relation to the overall scope of the operations of a small company. Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure has created uncertainty for public companies and significantly increased the costs and risks associated with accessing the public markets and public reporting. Over time, as the SEC and NYSE American have adopted new rules, including rules requiring us to make additional public disclosures, the costs and time necessary for us to comply with public company rules has increased. Failure to comply with these requirements can have numerous adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, our inability to file required periodic reports on a timely basis, loss of market confidence, delisting of our securities and/or governmental or private actions against us. Our efforts to comply with new and changing regulations are likely to continue to result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention.

Disruptions in commercial activity and changes in consumer spending resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected worldwide commerce and the global economy. Although we operated continuously throughout the pandemic, and while conditions in the U.S. and around the world have significantly improved, we cannot predict how new variants of coronavirus could impact our operations in the future. In addition, we could be affected by other significant events in the United States or abroad that could cause similar disruptions in commerce, like future pandemics, the outbreak of war or other hostilities, geopolitical conflicts, cyberattacks affecting infrastructure we depend on, and climate emergencies. Among other possible effects, these kinds of events could materially and adversely affect us in the following ways: - We have two employees, who are our President and Chief Financial Officer.  They both work on a part-time basis. Although our Board of Directors has an emergency management succession plan in case they become unavailable due to illness, death or other reasons, the transition in management to their interim successors may be impeded by the lack of other employees.  In addition, it may be more difficult for our Board of Directors to attract and retain a permanent replacement for their positions.  Likewise, if a significant number of our directors were to be incapacitated, the continuity of our operations might be materially and adversely affected. - We depend on third parties for the generation of revenues, such as exploration and production companies, land management companies, surface lessees and timber mills. If any of these businesses limit or suspend their operations due to adverse events or their economic effects, our operations could be materially, adversely affected. We may be unable to determine whether declines in income-producing activities on our lands are the result of such events or other conditions. - A recession in Louisiana where our lands are located may depress the values of our lands and falling commodity prices could continue to reduce certain of our revenue streams. The direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are widespread and may evolve, and the effects of similar future disasters are also uncertain. It is possible that the pandemic and similar events, and economic conditions resulting from those events, could affect our business in the future in ways that we do not or cannot now anticipate.