Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Except as provided
below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors contained in Item 1A of the Trust’s 2019 Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
The
COVID-19 pandemic could materially adversely affect proceeds to the Trust and cash distributions to unitholders.
The
recent outbreak of the novel form of coronavirus known as COVID-19 and its development into a global pandemic has had,
and continues to have, a negative impact on worldwide economic and commercial activity and financial markets, as well as global
demand for crude oil and natural gas. The West Texas Intermediate spot price of crude oil has dropped sharply from
$61.17 per barrel on January 2, 2020 to $35.79 per barrel on October 30, 2020, but in the interim ranged widely in response
to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dispute over production levels between Russia and the members of OPEC.
COVID-19 has resulted in widespread and localized health crises that adversely affect general commercial activity, the economies
and financial markets of many countries and localities, as well as global demand for oil and natural gas. COVID-19 also has resulted
in significant business and operational disruptions, including business closures, disruptions to supply chains, travel restrictions
and limitations on the availability of workforces. The full impact of COVID-19 is unknown and is rapidly evolving, and it is not
possible to reliably estimate the impact that these developments will have on future periods. The
extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affects the operators of and production from the Underlying Properties
will depend on the severity, location and duration of the effects and spread of COVID-19, the actions undertaken by federal,
state and local governments and health officials to contain the virus or treat its effects, and how quickly and to what extent
economic conditions improve and normal business and operating conditions resume. A prolonged period of low crude oil and
natural gas prices will adversely affect the operators of the Underlying Properties. If commodity prices for crude oil and
natural gas remain volatile and below historical levels, monthly cash distributions to unitholders will be substantially lower
than historical distributions, and in certain periods there may be no distribution to unitholders. Continued
low oil and natural gas prices may ultimately reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that is economically viable to produce from
the Underlying Properties. As a result, the operators of the Underlying Properties could determine during periods of low commodity
prices to shut-in or curtail production from wells on the Underlying Properties, or even plug and abandon marginal wells that otherwise
may have been allowed to continue to produce for a longer period under conditions of higher prices. Specifically, an operator may
abandon any well or property if it reasonably believes that the well or property can no longer produce oil or natural gas in commercially
paying quantities, which could result in termination of the Net Profits Interest relating to the abandoned well or property. Future
downward revisions in actual production volumes relative to current forecasts, higher than expected operating costs, or lower than
anticipated commodity prices could result in recognition of impairment in future periods.
To
the extent COVID-19 adversely affects production from the Underlying Properties or the business, results of operations and financial
condition of the operators of the Underlying Properties, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described
in the Trust’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The ability
or willingness of OPEC and other oil exporting nations to set and maintain production levels has a significant impact on oil and
natural gas commodity prices, which could reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to Trust unitholders.
19
OPEC
is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to manage the price and supply of oil on the global energy market. Actions taken
by OPEC members, including those taken alongside other oil exporting nations, have a significant impact on global oil supply and
pricing. For example, OPEC and certain other oil exporting nations have previously agreed to take measures, including production
cuts, to support crude oil prices. In March 2020, members of OPEC and Russia considered extending and potentially increasing these
oil production cuts. However, those negotiations were unsuccessful. As a result, Saudi Arabia announced an immediate reduction
in export prices and Russia announced that all previously agreed upon oil production cuts would expire on April 1, 2020. These
actions led to an immediate and steep decrease in oil prices, which briefly reached a closing NYMEX price low of negative $37.63
per Bbl of crude oil in April 2020. Although OPEC has since agreed to certain production cuts, prices in the oil and gas market
have remained depressed, as the oversupply and lack of demand in the market persist. There can be no assurance that OPEC members
and other oil exporting nations will agree to future production cuts or other actions to support and stabilize oil prices, nor
can there be any assurance that they will not further reduce oil prices or increase production. Uncertainty regarding future actions
to be taken by OPEC members or other oil exporting countries could lead to increased volatility in the price of oil, which could
adversely affect the financial condition and economic performance of the operators of the underlying properties and may reduce
the net proceeds to which the Trust is entitled, which could materially reduce or completely eliminate the amount of cash available
for distribution to Trust unitholders.
If the Trust
cannot meet the New York Stock Exchange continued listing requirements, the NYSE may delist the Trust units.
Under the continued
listing requirements of the NYSE, a company will be considered to be out of compliance with the exchange’s minimum price
requirement if the company’s average closing price over a consecutive 30 trading day period (“Average Closing Price”)
is less than $1.00 (the “Minimum Price Requirement”). Under NYSE rules, a company that is out of compliance with
the Minimum Price Requirement has a cure period of six months to regain compliance if it notifies the NYSE within 10 business days
of receiving a deficiency notice of its intention to cure the deficiency. A company may regain compliance if on the last trading
day of any calendar month during the cure period the company has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing
share price of at least $1.00 over the 30-trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. If at the expiration
of the cure period, both a $1.00 closing share price on the last trading day of the cure period and a $1.00 average closing share
price over the 30-trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the cure period are not attained, the NYSE will commence
suspension and delisting procedures. If delisted by the NYSE, a company’s shares may be transferred to the over-the-counter
(“OTC”) market, a significantly more limited market than the NYSE, which could affect the market price, trading volume,
liquidity and resale price of such shares. Securities that trade on the OTC markets also typically experience more volatility compared
to securities that trade on a national securities exchange. During the cure period, the company’s shares would continue to
trade on the NYSE, subject to compliance with other continued listing requirements.
On September 25,
2020, the Trust received written notification from the NYSE that the Trust was not in compliance with the Minimum Price Requirement.
Neither the Trust nor the Trustee has any control over the trading price of the Trust units, nor does the Trust have the authority
to cause a reverse split of the units or to take similar action designed to affect the trading price of the units without a vote
from the Trust unitholders. Even if the Trust does regain compliance, it might be unable to maintain compliance, and would again
become subject to the NYSE delisting procedures.
20
Item 6. Exhibits.
The exhibits listed
in the following index to exhibits are filed or furnished as part of this Form 10-Q.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger of Enduro Royalty Trust and Enduro Texas LLC, dated as of November 3, 2011, by and between the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee of Enduro Royalty Trust, and Enduro Texas LLC. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 8, 2011 (File No. 1-35333))
3.1
Certificate of Trust of Enduro Royalty Trust. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on May 16, 2011 (Registration No. 333-174225))
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Trust. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 5, 2018 (File No. 1-35333))
3.3
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Enduro Royalty Trust, dated November 3, 2011, among Enduro Resource Partners LLC, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee of Enduro Royalty Trust, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee of Enduro Royalty Trust. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 8, 2011 (File No. 1-35333))
3.4
Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Enduro Royalty Trust, dated September 14, 2018, among COERT Holdings 1 LLC, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 14, 2018 (File No. 1-35333))
31.1*
Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1**
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
* Filed herewith.
** Furnished herewith.
21
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
PERMIANVILLE ROYALTY TRUST
By:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:
/s/ SARAH NEWELL
Sarah Newell
Vice President and Trust Officer
Date: November 6, 2020
The Registrant, Permianville
Royalty Trust, has no principal executive officer, principal financial officer, board of directors or persons performing similar
functions. Accordingly, no additional signatures are available, and none have been provided. In signing the report above, the Trustee
does not imply that it has performed any such function or that such function exists pursuant to the terms of the Trust.
22
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.