Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID Number 410)
34
Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus
35
Statements of Distributable Income
35
Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus
36
Notes to Financial Statements
37
All financial statement schedules are omitted as they are inapplicable or the required information has been
included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
33
Table of Contents
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Unit Holders of Permian Basin Royalty Trust and Argent Trust Company, Trustee
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying statements of assets, liabilities and trust corpus of Permian Basin Royalty Trust (the Trust) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related statements of distributable income and changes in trust corpus for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the assets,
liabilities, and trust corpus of the Trust as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the distributable income and changes in trust corpus for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with the modified cash basis of
accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB),
the Trusts internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and
our report dated February 29, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
As described in Note 2 to the financial statements,
these financial statements were prepared on a modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Trustee. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether
due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Trustee, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
Critical audit
matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial
statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
WEAVER AND TIDWELL, L.L.P.
We have served as the
Trusts auditor since 2016.
Dallas, Texas
February 29, 2024
34
Table of Contents
PERMIAN BASIN ROYALTY TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS
December 31,
ASSETS
2023
2022
Cash and Short-term Investments
$
6,051,350
$
2,855,444
Net Overriding Royalty Interests in Producing Oil and Gas Properties Net
(Notes 2 and 3)
221,474
279,433
Total
$
6,272,824
$
3,134,877
LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS
Distribution Payable to Unit Holders
$
4,951,350
$
1,755,444
Commitments and Reserve for Contingencies (Note 8)
1,100,000
1,100,000
Total Liabilities
$
6,051,350
$
2,855,444
Trust Corpus 46,608,796 Units of Beneficial Interest Authorized and Outstanding
221,474
279,433
Total
$
6,272,824
$
3,134,877
STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME
For the years ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Royalty Income (Notes 2 and 3)
$
29,010,704
$
54,417,857
$
11,805,514
Interest Income
85,879
48,371
5,112
Total Income
29,096,583
54,466,228
11,810,626
Reserve for Expenses
General and Administrative Expenditures
1,118,096
922,404
1,088,851
Total Expenditures
1,118,096
922,404
1,088,851
Distributable Income
$
27,978,487
$
53,543,824
$
10,721,775
Distributable Income per Unit (46,608,796 Units)
$
0.60
$
1.15
$
0.23
Distributions per Unit
$
0.60
$
1.15
$
0.23
The accompanying notes to financial
statements are an integral part of these statements.
35
Table of Contents
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS
For the years ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Trust Corpus, Beginning of Year
$
279,433
$
352,688
$
382,876
Amortization of Net Overriding Royalty Interests (Notes 2 and 3)
(57,959
)
(73,255
)
(30,188
)
Distributable Income
27,978,487
53,543,824
10,721,775
Distributions Declared
(27,978,487
)
(53,543,824
)
(10,721,775
)
Trust Corpus, End of Year
$
221,474
$
279,433
$
352,688
The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
36
Table of Contents
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
Trust Organization and Provisions
The Permian Basin Royalty Trust (Trust) was established as of November 1, 1980. Argent Trust Company (Trustee) is
Trustee for the Trust. The net overriding royalties conveyed to the Trust include (1) a 75% net overriding royalty in Southland Royalty Companys fee mineral interest in the Waddell Ranch in Crane County, Texas (the Waddell Ranch
properties) and (2) a 95% net overriding royalty carved out of Southland Royalty Companys major producing royalty properties in Texas (the Texas Royalty properties). The net overriding royalty for the Texas Royalty
properties is subject to the provisions of the lease agreements under which such royalties were created. The net overriding royalties above are collectively referred to as the Royalties.
On November 3, 1980, Units of Beneficial Interest (Units) in the Trust were distributed to the Trustee for the benefit of
Southland Royalty Companys shareholders of record as of November 3, 1980, who received one Unit in the Trust for each share of Southland Royalty Company common stock held. The Units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP (BROG), a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips, was the interest owner for the Waddell
Ranch properties through November 1, 2019 and Riverhill Energy Corporation (Riverhill Energy), formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Riverhill Capital Corporation (Riverhill Capital) and formerly an affiliate of Coastal
Management Corporation (CMC), is the interest owner for the Texas Royalty properties. In February 1997, BROG sold its interest in the Texas Royalty properties to Riverhill Energy. Riverhill Energy currently conducts the accounting
operations for the Texas Royalty properties.
The Trustee was advised that in the first quarter of 1998, Schlumberger Technology
Corporation (STC) acquired all of the shares of stock of Riverhill Capital. Prior to such acquisition by STC, CMC and Riverhill Energy were wholly owned subsidiaries of Riverhill Capital. The Trustee was further advised that in
connection with STCs acquisition of Riverhill Capital, the shareholders of Riverhill Capital acquired ownership of all of the shares of stock of Riverhill Energy. Thus, the ownership in the Texas Royalty properties referenced above remained in
Riverhill Energy, the stock ownership of which was acquired by the former shareholders of Riverhill Capital.
BROG notified the Trust,
that on November 1, 2019, the Waddell Ranch properties that are subject to the Net Overriding Royalty Conveyance (Permian Basin Royalty Trust - Waddell Ranch) dated November 1, 1980 (the
Waddell Ranch Conveyance), were sold to Blackbeard Operating, LLC (Blackbeard) of Fort Worth, Texas. Blackbeard became the operator effective as of April 1, 2020.
On January 9, 2014, Bank of America N.A. (as successor to The First National Bank of Fort Worth) gave notice to Unit holders that it
would be resigning as trustee of the Trust subject to certain conditions that included the appointment of Southwest Bank as successor trustee. At a Special Meeting of Trust Unit holders, the Unit holders approved the appointment of Southwest Bank as
successor trustee of the Trust once the resignation of Bank of America N.A. took effect and also approved certain amendments to the Trust Indenture. The effective date of Bank of America N.A.s resignation and the effective date of Southwest
Banks appointment as successor trustee was August 29, 2014. Effective October 19, 2017, Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) completed its acquisition of First Texas BHC, Inc., the parent company of Southwest Bank.
SFNC is the parent company of Simmons Bank. SFNC merged Southwest Bank with Simmons Bank effective February 20, 2018.
On
November 4, 2021, Simmons Bank announced that it had entered into an agreement with Argent Trust Company, a Tennessee chartered trust company (Argent), pursuant to which Simmons Bank would be resigning as trustee of the Trust and
would nominate Argent as successor trustee of the Trust. The effective date of Simmons Banks resignation and Argents appointment as successor trustee was December 30, 2022. The defined term Trustee as used herein shall
refer to Bank of America N.A. for periods prior to August 29, 2014, shall refer to Southwest Bank for periods from August 29, 2014 through February 19, 2018, shall refer to Simmons Bank for periods from February 20, 2018 through
December 29, 2022, and shall refer to Argent for periods on and after December 30, 2022.
37
Table of Contents
The terms of the Trust Indenture provide, among other things, that:
the Trust shall not engage in any business or commercial activity of any kind or acquire any assets other than
those initially conveyed to the Trust;
the Trustee may not sell all or any part of the Royalties unless approved by holders of 75% of all Units
outstanding in which case the sale must be for cash and the proceeds promptly distributed;
the Trustee may establish a cash reserve for the payment of any liability which is contingent or uncertain in
amount;
the Trustee is authorized to borrow funds to pay liabilities of the Trust; and
the Trustee will make monthly cash distributions to Unit holders (see Note 3).
2.
Accounting Policies
The financial statements of the Trust are prepared on the following basis:
Royalty income recorded for a month is the amount computed and paid to the Trustee on behalf of the Trust by the
interest owners. Royalty income consists of the amounts received by the owners of the interest burdened by the Royalties from the sale of production less accrued production costs, development and drilling costs, applicable taxes, operating charges
and other costs and deductions multiplied by 75% in the case of the Waddell Ranch properties and 95% in the case of the Texas Royalty properties.
Trust expenses, consisting principally of routine general and administrative costs, recorded are based on
liabilities paid and cash reserves established out of cash received or borrowed funds for liabilities and contingencies.
Distributions to Unit holders are recorded when declared by the Trustee.
Royalty income is computed separately for each of the conveyances under which the Royalties were conveyed to the
Trust. If monthly costs exceed revenues for any conveyance (excess costs), such excess costs cannot reduce royalty income from other conveyances, but is carried forward with accrued interest to be recovered from future net proceeds of
that conveyance.
The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) because revenues are not accrued in the month of production expenses are recorded when paid and certain cash reserves may be established for contingencies
which would not be accrued in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Amortization of the Royalties calculated on a unit-of-production basis is charged
directly to trust corpus. This comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E,
Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with the basis of accounting described above requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses as of and for the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from such estimates.
Impairment
The
Trustee routinely reviews its royalty interests in oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If an impairment event occurs and it is determined that
the carrying value of the Trusts royalty interests may not be recoverable, an impairment will be recognized as measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the royalty interests exceeds the fair value of these assets, which would
likely be measured by discounting projected cash flows. There was no impairment of the assets as of December 31, 2023.
38
Table of Contents
Contingencies
Contingencies related to the Underlying Properties that are unfavorably resolved would generally be reflected by the Trust as reductions to
future royalty income payments to the Trust with corresponding reductions to cash distributions to Unit holders.
Distributable
Income Per Unit
Basic distributable income per Unit is computed by dividing distributable income by the weighted average of Units
outstanding. Distributable income per Unit assuming dilution is computed by dividing distributable income by the weighted average number of Units and equivalent Units outstanding. The Trust had no equivalent Units outstanding for any period
presented. Therefore, basic distributable income per Unit and distributable income per Unit assuming dilution are the same.
New
Accounting Pronouncements
There are no new pronouncements that are expected to have a significant impact on the Trusts
financial statements.
Inflation
Prices obtained for oil and gas production depend upon numerous factors that are beyond the control of the Trust. Inflationary pressures have
accelerated during 2023, which has impacted the cost of goods and services for operators on the Underlying Properties and administrative costs for the Trust.
3.
Net Overriding Royalty Interests and Distribution to Unit Holders
The amounts to be distributed to Unit holders (Monthly Distribution Amounts) are determined on a monthly basis. The Monthly
Distribution Amount is an amount equal to the sum of cash received by the Trustee during a calendar month attributable to the Royalties, any reduction in cash reserves and any other cash receipts of the Trust, including interest, reduced by the sum
of liabilities paid and any increase in cash reserves. If the Monthly Distribution Amount for any monthly period is a negative number, then the distribution will be zero for such month. To the extent the distribution amount is a negative number,
that amount will be carried forward and deducted from future monthly distributions until the cumulative distribution calculation becomes a positive number, at which time a distribution will be made. Unit holders of record will be entitled to receive
the calculated Monthly Distribution Amount for each month on or before 10 business days after the monthly record date, which is generally the last business day of each calendar month.
The cash received by the Trustee consists of the amounts received by owners of the interest burdened by the Royalties from the sale of
production less the sum of applicable taxes, accrued production costs, development and drilling costs, operating charges and other costs and deductions, multiplied by 75% in the case of the Waddell Ranch properties and 95% in the case of the Texas
Royalty properties.
The initial carrying value of the Royalties ($10,975,216) represented Southland Royalty Companys historical net
book value at the date of the transfer to the Trust. Accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $10,753,742 and $10,695,783, respectively.
4.
Federal Income Taxes
For federal income tax purposes, the Trust constitutes a fixed investment trust that is taxed as a grantor trust. A grantor trust is not
subject to tax at the Trust level. The Unit holders are considered to own the Trusts income and principal as though no trust were in existence. The income of the Trust is deemed to have been received or accrued by each Unit holder at the time
such income is received or accrued by the Trust and not when distributed by the Trust. The Trust has on file technical advice memoranda confirming the tax treatment described above.
39
Table of Contents
Some Trust Units are held by middlemen, as such term is broadly defined in U.S. Treasury
Regulations (and includes custodians, nominees, certain joint owners, and brokers holding an interest for a customer in street name, collectively referred to herein as middlemen). Therefore, the Trustee considers the Trust to be a non-mortgage widely held fixed investment trust (WHFIT) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Argent Trust Company, EIN: 62-1437218, 3838 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 1720,
Dallas, Texas 75219, telephone number (855) 588-7839, email address trustee@pbt-permian.com, is the representative of the Trust that will provide tax information in
accordance with applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT. Tax information is also posted by the Trustee at www.pbt-permian.com .
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the middlemen holding Trust Units on behalf of Unit holders, and not the Trustee of the Trust, are solely responsible for complying with the information reporting requirements under the U.S. Treasury Regulations with
respect to such Trust Units, including the issuance of IRS Forms 1099 and certain written tax statements. Unit holders whose Trust Units are held by middlemen should consult with such middlemen regarding the information that will be reported to them
by the middlemen with respect to the Trust Units.
Because the Trust is a grantor trust for federal tax purposes, each Unit holder is
taxed directly on his, her or its proportionate share of income, deductions and credits of the Trust consistent with each such Unit holders taxable year and method of accounting and without regard to the taxable year or method of accounting
employed by the Trust. The income of the Trust consists primarily of a specified share of the proceeds from the sale of oil and gas produced from the Underlying Properties. During 2023, the Trust also earned interest income on funds held for
distribution and the cash reserve maintained for the payment of contingent and future obligations of the Trust.
The Trust generally
allocates its items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of the Units each month based upon the ownership of the Units on the monthly record date, instead of on the basis of the date a particular Unit is
transferred. It is possible that the IRS could disagree with this allocation method and could assert that income and deductions of the Trust should be determined and allocated on a daily or prorated basis, which could require adjustments to the tax
returns of the Unit holders affected by the issue and result in an increase in the administrative expense of the Trust in subsequent periods.
The deductions of the Trust consist of severance taxes and administration expenses. In addition, each Unit holder is entitled to depletion
deductions because the Royalties constitute economic interests in oil and gas properties for federal income tax purposes. Each Unit holder is entitled to amortize the cost of the Units through cost depletion over the life of the
Royalties or, if greater, through percentage depletion equal to 15 percent of gross income attributable to the Royalties, limited to 100% of the net income from such Royalties. Unlike cost depletion, percentage depletion is not limited to a
Unit holders depletable tax basis in the Units. Rather, a Unit holder is entitled to a percentage depletion deduction as long as the applicable Underlying Properties generate gross income. Percentage depletion is allowed on proven properties
acquired after October 11, 1990. For Units acquired after such date, Unit holders should compute both percentage depletion and cost depletion from each property and claim the larger amount as a deduction on their income tax returns.
Unit holders must maintain records of their adjusted basis in their Trust Units (generally the Unit holders cost less prior depletion
deductions), make adjustments for depletion deductions to such basis, and use the adjusted basis for the computation of gain or loss on the disposition of the Trust Units.
If a taxpayer disposes of any Section 1254 property (certain oil, gas, geothermal or other mineral property), and if the
adjusted basis of such property includes adjustments for deductions for depletion under Section 611 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code), the taxpayer generally must recapture the amount deducted for depletion as ordinary income
(to the extent of gain realized on such disposition). This depletion recapture rule applies to any disposition of property that was placed in service by the taxpayer after December 31, 1986. Detailed rules set forth in Sections 1.1254-1 through 1.1254-6 of the U.S. Treasury Regulations govern dispositions of property after March 13, 1995. The Internal Revenue Service likely will take the
position that a Unit holder who purchases a Unit subsequent to December 31, 1986 must recapture depletion upon the disposition of that Unit.
40
Table of Contents
Individuals may incur expenses in connection with the acquisition or ownership of Trust
Units. For tax years beginning before January 1, 2018 and after December 31, 2025, these expenses may be deductible as miscellaneous itemized deductions only to the extent that such expenses exceed 2 percent of the
individuals adjusted gross income. As a result of the TCJA, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, miscellaneous itemized deductions are not allowed.
The classification of the Trusts income for purposes of the passive loss rules may be important to a Unit holder. Interest and royalty
income attributable to ownership of Trust Units and any gain on the sale thereof are generally considered portfolio income and not income from a passive activity, to the extent a Unit holder acquires and holds Trust Units as an
investment and not in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Therefore, in general, interest and royalty income attributable to ownership of Trust Units may not be offset by losses from any passive activities. Unit holders should consult their
tax advisor for further information.
Unit holders of record will continue to receive an individualized tax information letter for each of
the quarters ending March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2023, and for the year ending December 31, 2023. Unit holders owning Units in the name of a nominee may obtain monthly tax information from the Trustee upon request. See
discussion above regarding certain reporting requirements imposed upon middlemen under U.S. Treasury Regulations because the Trust is considered a WHFIT for federal income tax purposes.
Under the TCJA, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the highest marginal U.S. federal income
tax rate applicable to ordinary income of individuals is 37%, and the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains (generally, gains from the sale or exchange of certain investment assets held for more than one
year) and qualified dividends of individuals is 20%. Under the TCJA, for such tax years, personal exemptions and miscellaneous itemized deductions are not allowed. For such tax years, the U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to corporations is
21%, and such rate applies to both ordinary income and capital gains.
Section 1411 of the Code imposes a 3.8% Medicare tax on
certain investment income earned by individuals, estates, and trusts. For these purposes, investment income generally will include a Unit holders allocable share of the Trusts interest and royalty income plus the gain recognized from a
sale of Trust Units. In the case of an individual, the tax is imposed on the lesser of (i) the individuals net investment income from all investments, or (ii) the amount by which the individuals modified adjusted gross income
exceeds specified threshold levels depending on such individuals federal income tax filing status. In the case of an estate or trust, the tax is imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income, or (ii) the excess
adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.
Pursuant to
the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (commonly referred to as FATCA), distributions from the Trust to foreign financial institutions and certain other non-financial foreign
entities may be subject to U.S. withholding taxes. Specifically, certain withholdable payments (including certain royalties, interest and other gains or income from U.S. sources) made to a foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity will generally be subject to the withholding tax unless the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity complies with certain
information reporting, withholding, identification, certification and related requirements imposed by FATCA. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may
be subject to different rules.
The Treasury Department issued guidance providing that the FATCA withholding rules described above
generally apply to qualifying payments made after June 30, 2014. Foreign Unit holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisor regarding the possible implications of these withholding provisions on their investment in Trust Units.
The foregoing summary is not exhaustive and does not purport to be complete. Many other provisions of the federal income tax laws may affect
individual Unit holders. The federal income tax consequences to a Unit holder of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of Units will depend in part on the Unit holders individual tax circumstances. Unit holders should consult their tax
advisor regarding all Trust tax compliance matters.
41
Table of Contents
5.
Proved Oil and Gas Reserves (Unaudited)
Reserve Quantities
Information regarding estimates of the proved oil and gas reserves attributable to the Trust are based on reports prepared by Cawley,
Gillespie & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum engineering consultants. Estimates were prepared in accordance with the guidelines established by the FASB and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information required by this
guidance is not presented because that information is not applicable to the Trust due to its passive nature.
Oil and gas reserve
quantities (all located in the United States) are estimates based on information available at the time of their preparation. Such estimates are subject to change as additional information becomes available. Reserves actually recovered, and the
timing of the production of those reserves, may differ substantially from original estimates. The following schedule presents changes in the Trusts total proved reserves (in thousands):
Total
Oil
(Bbls)
Gas
(Mcf)
January 1, 2021
4,450
6,398
Extensions, discoveries, and other additions
1,309
2,123
Revisions of previous estimates
1,831
6,620
Production
(967
)
(3,877
)
December 31, 2021
6,623
11,264
Extensions, discoveries, and other additions
3,714
5,206
Revisions of previous estimates
2,976
18,728
Production
(1,760
)
(9,461
)
December 31, 2022
11,553
25,737
Extensions, discoveries, and other additions
4,504
8,064
Revisions of previous estimates
(2,118
)
7,137
Production
(2,277
)
(12,175
)
December 31, 2023
11,662
28,763
Estimated quantities of proved developed reserves of oil and gas as of the dates indicated were as follows (in
thousands):
Proved Developed Reserves:
Oil
(Barrels)
Gas
(Mcf)
January 1, 2021
4,450
6,398
December 31, 2021
6,623
11,264
December 31, 2022
8,022
21,216
December 31, 2023
11,662
28,763
Disclosure of a Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
The following is a summary of a standardized measure (in thousands) of discounted future net cash flows related to the total proved oil and gas
reserve quantities attributable to the Trust. Information presented is based upon valuation of proved reserves by using discounted cash flows based upon average oil and gas prices ($78.22 per bbl and $2.64 per Mcf, respectively) during the 12-month period prior to the fiscal year-end, determined as an unweighted arithmetic average of the first-day-of-the-month price for each month within such period, unless prices are defined by contractual arrangements, excluding escalations based upon future
conditions and severance and ad valorem taxes, if any, and economic conditions, discounted at the required rate of 10 percent. As the Trust is not subject to taxation at the Trust level, no provision for income taxes has been made in the
following disclosure. Trust prices may differ from posted NYMEX prices due to differences in product quality and property location. The impact of changes in current prices on reserves could vary significantly from year to year. Accordingly, the
information presented below should not be viewed as
42
Table of Contents
an estimate of the fair market value of the Trusts oil and gas properties nor should it be viewed as indicative of any trends.
December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Future net cash inflows
$
897,415
$
1,205,227
$
465,149
Discount of future net cash flows @ 10%
(388,866)
(518,760
)
(205,293
)
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash inflows
$
508,549
$
686,467
$
259,856
The change in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows for the years ended
December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 is as follows (in thousands):
Total
2023
2022
2021
January 1
$
686,487
$
259,857
$
80,091
Extensions, discoveries, and other additions
185,611
201,239
51,245
Accretion of discount
68,646
25,986
8,009
Revisions of previous estimates and other
(403,184
)
253,804
132,317
Royalty income
(29,011
)
(54,418
)
(11,806
)
December 31
$
508,549
$
686,467
$
259,856
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the price of both oil and gas continued to fluctuate, giving rise to a
correlating adjustment of the respective standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows. As of February 20, 2024, NYMEX posted oil prices were approximately $78.72 per barrel, which compared to the posted price of $78.22 per barrel, used
to calculate the worth of future net revenue of the Trusts proved developed reserves, would result in a larger standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows for oil. As of February 21 , 2024, NYMEX posted gas prices were $1.58
per million British thermal units. The use of such price, as compared to the posted price of $2.64 per million British thermal units, used to calculate the future net revenue of the Trusts proved developed reserves would result in a smaller
standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows for gas.
6.
Quarterly Schedule of Distributable Income (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly schedule of distributable income for the two years ended December 31, 2023 (in
thousands, except per Unit amounts):
2023
Royalty
Income
Distributable
Income
Distributable
Income and
Distribution
Per Unit
First Quarter
$
5,206,602
$
4,740,615
$
0.101709
Second Quarter
6,074,170
5,761,142
0.123605
Third Quarter
3,317,431
3,202,030
0.068698
Fourth Quarter
14,412,501
14,274,700
0.306265
Total
$
29,010,704
$
27,978,487
$
0.600277
2022
Royalty
Income
Distributable
Income
Distributable
Income and
Distribution
Per Unit
First Quarter
$
4,078,645
$
3,734,694
$
0.080128
Second Quarter
7,630,221
7,358,308
0.15787
Third Quarter
27,323,759
27,198,499
0.583549
Fourth Quarter
15,385,232
15,252,323
0.327223
Total
$
54,417,857
$
53,543,824
$
1.14877
43
Table of Contents
7.
State Tax Considerations
All revenues from the Trust are from sources within Texas, which does not impose an individual income tax. Texas imposes a franchise tax at a
rate of 0.75% on gross revenues less certain deductions, as specifically set forth in the Texas franchise tax statutes. Entities subject to tax generally include trusts and most other types of entities that provide limited liability protection,
unless otherwise exempt. Trusts that receive at least 90% of their federal gross income from certain passive sources, including royalties from mineral properties and other non-operated mineral interest income,
and do not receive more than 10% of their income from operating an active trade or business, generally are exempt from the Texas franchise tax as passive entities. The Trust has been and expects to continue to be exempt from Texas
franchise tax as a passive entity. Because the Trust should be exempt from Texas franchise tax at the Trust level as a passive entity, each Unit holder that is a taxable entity under the Texas franchise tax generally will be required to include its
portion of Trust revenues in its own Texas franchise tax computation. This revenue is sourced to Texas under provisions of the Texas Administrative Code providing that such income is sourced according to the principal place of business of the Trust,
which is Texas.
Unit holders should consult their tax advisor regarding the possible state tax implications of owning Trust Units.
8.
Commitments and Contingencies
Contingencies related to the Underlying Properties that are unfavorably resolved would generally be reflected by the Trust as reductions to
future royalty income payments to the Trust with corresponding reductions to cash distributions to Unit holders.
9.
Subsequent Events
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Trust declared the following distributions:
Monthly Record Date
Payment Date
Distribution
per Unit
January 31, 2024
February 14, 2024
$
0.031031
February 29, 2024
March 14, 2024
$
0.045460
* * * * *
44
Table of Contents
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.