History
A former internet and consumer electronics firm that collapsed under debt, settled with its lender, then pivoted in 2009 to Kentucky and Tennessee oil, funding itself by share issues and asset sales.
2001-2004: Mergers and a private placement
The record begins with Mcglen Internet Group, which in 2001 filed to merge with Lan Plus Corporation. The deal closed on March 20, 2002. The company renamed itself Northgate Innovations, did a 1-for-10 reverse split, and issued about 9,854,091 common and 1,350,000 preferred shares to former Lan Plus holders. Andy Teng became Chairman and CEO. The filings do not explain how TN-K's name relates to this company. In May 2002 it dismissed its auditor BDO Seidman, whose reports had expressed doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.
By 2004 it was called Digital Lifestyles Group and based in Austin, Texas. In September it raised about $5 million by selling 14,450,858 shares at $0.346 with warrants attached. In November it closed a $7.5 million credit facility with Laurus Master Fund, secured on nearly all its assets.
2005-2008: Default, a failed merger and a settled debt
The money did not last. In April 2005 the company reported about $120,000 in cash, an expected 2004 net loss of about $11.0 million, and about $9.5 million of mostly past-due unsecured debt. It warned it might have to cease business. On May 4, 2005 Laurus declared a default and demanded about $3.3 million. Andy Teng returned as CEO in August, and in October agreed to swap about $1 million owed to him for 1,000,000 shares at $1.00.
The company sought rescue through a merger with Protron Digital Corporation. A letter of intent came in September 2005, and a definitive agreement in March 2006 would have given Protron's owners 70% of the company through 74,353,942 new shares. The company said it then had no operations. In September 2006 it terminated the deal, saying Protron had breached its covenants, including late audited accounts. Protron disputed this.
In April 2007 the company settled the remaining $2.1 million owed to Laurus for $200,000 in cash plus a warrant for 1,000,000 shares at $0.40. It also raised $250,000 through a convertible note and moved its office to Crossville, Tennessee. The final Laurus payment was made on April 2, 2008, closing out the debt.
2009-2010: A turn to oil and gas
In October 2009 the company signed leases in Overton County, Tennessee and Clinton County, Kentucky, and said it was no longer a shell company. Its plan was to keep about a 25% working interest in wells it drilled and sell the rest. On October 19 it renamed itself TN-K Energy Group Inc. Ken Page was its only employee.
Growth was paid for in shares. In November 2009 it issued 4,000,000 restricted shares, valued at $1 million, for a 27.5% interest in 18 producing wells in Green County, Kentucky, estimated at about 100 barrels a day. In February 2010 it issued a further 425,000 and 175,000 shares for more Green County interests, including 81.25% of a lease with one producing well. In April 2010 it said its 2008 accounts could not be relied on. A liquidating damages correction raised the 2008 net loss from $93,703 to $698,355. Unpaid registration rights penalties of about $2.17 million also remained on its books.
In September 2010 it bought 85% of the Anderson lease for $1 million. It sold King's Oil, LLC an interest for $1.2 million under a guaranteed contract, which the company guaranteed and Ken Page personally guaranteed.
2011-2012: Selling assets to fund the business
In December 2011 the company sold its Anderson working interest to K & K Acquisitions, LLC for $910,000. It kept small retained interests and expected to remain operator. Of the proceeds, $510,500 repaid King's Oil in full, ending the guarantees. Filings differ on whether the lease lay in Tennessee or Kentucky.
In April 2012 it sold its 27.5% interest in the 738-acre Clark lease to Texas Mineral Properties, LLC (BSAG Properties), receiving $716,666.68 in cash, 5% overriding royalties on five Green County leases and 30% drilling participation rights. The company called it part of a $4.8 million two-part transaction.
Shares on issue fell from 41,131,178 at the end of 2010 to 37,888,939 at the end of 2011, a change the record does not explain. They were 38,176,085 from 2012 onward, and the record is quiet after that.
As of its latest context in October 2012, the company had changed auditors again, engaging Liggett, Vogt & Webb after dismissing Sherb & Co., whose reports on 2010 and 2011 carried going-concern doubt. It was relying on asset sales and share issues, with Clinton County leases and the retained royalties and Anderson interests as its remaining assets.
Written from the 25 story beats below (2001 to 23 Apr 2012), which come from the company's own announcements and filings.