Form 10-K

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-K

 

x Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from             to             

Commission File No. 1-8032

San Juan Basin Royalty Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in the Amended and Restated San Juan Basin Royalty Trust Indenture)

 

Texas   75-6279898

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Compass Bank

300 W. 7th Street, Suite B

Fort Worth, Texas

  76102
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(866) 809-4553

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Units of Beneficial Interest   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a 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):

 

Large accelerated filer  x   Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated filer  ¨   Smaller reporting company  ¨
  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)            

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

State the aggregate market value of the Units of Beneficial Interest held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2014: $898,562,613.

At March 2, 2015, there were 46,608,796 Units of Beneficial Interest of the Trust outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

“Units of Beneficial Interest” and “Description of the Properties”, in registrant’s Annual Report to Unit Holders for the year ended December 31, 2014, are incorporated herein by reference for Item 5 (Market for Registrant’s Units, Related Unit Holder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Units) and Item 7 (Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation) of Part II of this Report.

 

 

 


PART I

Certain information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains, and other materials filed or to be filed by the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (the “Trust”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the Trust) may contain or include, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. Such forward-looking statements may be or may concern, among other things, capital expenditures, drilling activity, development activities, production efforts and volumes, hydrocarbon prices, estimated future net revenues, estimates of reserves, the results of the Trust’s activities, and regulatory matters. Such forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “expect,” “predict,” “project,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “should,” “assume,” “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Such statements reflect the current view of Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP (“Burlington”), the owner of the working interest, with respect to future events; are based on an assessment of, and are subject to, a variety of factors deemed relevant by Compass Bank, the Trustee (the “Trustee”) of the Trust, and Burlington and involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include volatility of oil and gas prices, product supply and demand, competition, regulation or government action, litigation and uncertainties about estimates of reserves. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, actual results may vary materially and adversely from those anticipated.

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

The Trust is an express trust created under the laws of the state of Texas by the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust Indenture (the “Original Indenture”) entered into on November 3, 1980, between Southland Royalty Company (“Southland”) and The Fort Worth National Bank. Effective as of September 30, 2002, the Original Indenture was amended and restated (the Original Indenture, as amended and restated, the “First Restated Indenture”) and, effective as of December 12, 2007, the First Restated Indenture was amended and restated (the First Restated Indenture, as amended and restated, the “Indenture”). The current Trustee of the Trust is Compass Bank (as a result of a series of mergers and other transactions). In 2007, Compass Bank’s parent company, Compass Bancshares, Inc., was acquired by and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. The principal office of the Trust is located at 300 West 7th Street, Suite B, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (toll-free telephone number (866) 809-4553). The Trust maintains a website at www.sjbrt.com. The Trust makes available (free of charge) its annual, quarterly and current reports (and any amendments thereto) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) through its website as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing or furnishing such material with or to the SEC. The Trust’s materials filed with the SEC are available at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549 or by calling the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains the internet site of http://www.sec.gov. This site contains reports and, as applicable, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Trust and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

Pursuant to the Net Overriding Royalty Conveyance (the “Conveyance”) effective November 1, 1980, Southland conveyed to the Trust a 75% net overriding royalty interest (the “Royalty”). The Royalty is similar to a net profits interest and it burdens certain of Southland’s oil and gas leasehold interests (the “Underlying Properties”) in properties located in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico, all as more particularly described in the Conveyance and under “Item 2. Properties” herein.

The Royalty constitutes the principal asset of the Trust. The beneficial interests in the Royalty are divided into that number of Units of Beneficial Interest (the “Units”) of the Trust equal to the number of shares of the common stock of Southland outstanding as of the close of business on November 3, 1980. Each stockholder of Southland of record at the close of business on November 3, 1980 received one freely tradable Unit for each share of the common stock of Southland then held. Holders of Units are referred to herein as “Unit Holders.” Subsequent to the Conveyance of the Royalty, through a series of assignments and mergers, Southland’s

 

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successor became Burlington. On March 31, 2006, a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips completed its acquisition of Burlington Resources, Inc., Burlington’s parent. As a result, ConocoPhillips became the parent of Burlington Resources, Inc., which in turn, is the parent of Burlington.

The function of the Trustee is to collect the net proceeds attributable to the Royalty (“Royalty Income”), to pay all expenses and charges of the Trust and distribute the remaining available income to the Unit Holders. The Trust does not operate the Underlying Properties and, in fact, is not empowered to carry on any business activity. The Trust has no employees, officers or directors. All administrative functions of the Trust are performed by the Trustee.

Burlington is the principal operator of the Underlying Properties. A very high percentage of the Royalty Income is attributable to the production and sale by Burlington of natural gas from the Underlying Properties. Accordingly, the market price for natural gas produced and sold from the San Juan Basin heavily influences the amount of Royalty Income distributed by the Trust and, by extension, the price of the Units.

The Trust is a widely held fixed investment trust (“WHFIT”) classified as a non-mortgage widely held fixed investment trust (“NMWHFIT”) for federal income tax purposes. The Trustee, 300 West 7th Street, Suite B, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (toll-free telephone number (866) 809-4553, email address: sjt.us@bbva.com), is the representative of the Trust that will provide tax information in accordance with the applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT and a NMWHFIT. The tax information is generally posted by the Trustee on the Trust’s website: www.sjbrt.com.

The Trust received approximately $61.5 million, $38 million, and $34.5 million in Royalty Income from Burlington in each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. After deducting administrative expenses and accounting for interest income and any change in cash reserves, the Trust distributed approximately $59.9 million, $36.5 million, and $33.5 million to Unit Holders in each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. The Trust’s corpus was approximately $9.4 million, $11 million, and $12.2 million as of December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

The term “net proceeds,” as used in the Conveyance, means the excess of “gross proceeds” received by Burlington during a particular period over “production costs” for such period. “Gross proceeds” means the amount received by Burlington (or any subsequent owner of the Underlying Properties) from the sale of the production attributable to the Underlying Properties subject to certain adjustments. “Production costs” generally means costs incurred on an accrual basis by Burlington in operating the Underlying Properties, including both capital and non-capital costs. For example, these costs include development drilling, production and processing costs, applicable taxes and operating charges. If production costs exceed gross proceeds in any month, the excess is recovered out of future gross proceeds prior to the making of further payment to the Trust, but the Trust is not otherwise liable for any production costs or other costs or liabilities attributable to the Underlying Properties or the minerals produced therefrom. If at any time the Trust receives more than the amount due under the Royalty, it shall not be obligated to return such overpayment, but the amounts payable to it for any subsequent period shall be reduced by such amount, plus interest, at a rate specified in the Conveyance.

Compliance with state and federal environmental protection laws could reduce the Royalty Income received by the Trust. Costs of complying with such laws and regulations affect the production costs incurred by Burlington in operating the Underlying Properties and may also affect capital expenditures by Burlington. The Trust has no information regarding any estimated capital expenditures by Burlington specifically allocable to environmental control facilities in the current or succeeding fiscal years.

Certain of the Underlying Properties are operated by Burlington which has the obligation to conduct its operations in accordance with reasonable and prudent business judgment and good oil and gas field practices. As operator, Burlington has the right to abandon any well when, in its opinion, such well ceases to produce or is not capable of producing oil and gas in paying quantities. Burlington also is responsible, subject to the terms of an

 

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agreement with the Trust, for marketing the production from such properties, either under existing sales contracts or under future arrangements – at the best prices and on the best terms it shall deem reasonably obtainable in the circumstances. Additionally, Burlington is obligated under the Conveyance to maintain books and records sufficient to determine the amounts payable to the Trustee.

Proceeds from production in the first month are generally received by Burlington in the second month, the net proceeds attributable to the Royalty are paid by Burlington to the Trustee in the third month, and distribution by the Trustee to the Unit Holders is made in the fourth month. Unit Holders of record as of the last business day of each month (the “monthly record date”) will be entitled to receive the calculated monthly distribution amount for such month on or before ten business days after the monthly record date. The amount of each monthly distribution will generally be determined and announced ten days before the monthly record date. The aggregate monthly distribution amount is the excess of (i) the net proceeds attributable to the Royalty paid to the Trustee, plus any decrease in cash reserves previously established for contingent liabilities and any other cash receipts of the Trust, over (ii) the expenses and payments of liabilities of the Trust, plus any net increase in cash reserves for contingent liabilities.

Cash being held by the Trustee as a reserve for liabilities or contingencies (which reserves may be established by the Trustee in its discretion) or pending distribution may be placed, in the Trustee’s discretion, in obligations issued by (or unconditionally guaranteed by) the United States or any agency thereof, repurchase agreements secured by obligations issued by the United States or any agency thereof, certificates of deposit of banks having capital, surplus and undivided profits in excess of $50,000,000, or money market funds that have been rated at least AAm by Standard & Poor’s and at least Aa by Moody’s, subject, in each case, to certain other qualifying conditions. Currently, such funds are placed in interest-bearing negotiable order of withdrawal accounts whose funds are either insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or secured by other assets of BBVA Compass Bank.

The Underlying Properties are primarily gas producing properties. Normally there is greater demand for gas used for heating or air conditioning purposes in the summer and winter months than during the rest of the year. Otherwise, the Royalty Income is not subject to seasonal factors or in any manner related to or dependent upon patents, licenses, franchises or concessions. The Trust conducts no research activities.

The exploration for and the production of gas and oil is a speculative business. The Trust has no means of ensuring continued income from the Royalty will be maintained at the present level or otherwise. In addition, fluctuations in prices and supplies of gas and oil and the effect these fluctuations might have on Royalty Income to the Trust and on reserves net to the Trust cannot be accurately projected. The Trustee has no information with which to make any projections beyond information on economic conditions that is generally available to the public and thus is unwilling to make any such projections.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Although risk factors are described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following is a summary of the principal risks associated with an investment in Units of the Trust.

Oil and gas prices fluctuate due to a number of factors, and lower prices will reduce net proceeds to the Trust and distributions to Unit Holders.

The Trust’s monthly distributions are highly dependent upon the prices realized from the sale of gas and, to a lesser extent, oil. Oil and gas prices can fluctuate widely in response to a variety of factors that are beyond the control of the Trust and Burlington. Factors that contribute to price fluctuation include, among others:

 

   

political conditions worldwide, in particular political disruption, war or other armed conflicts in oil producing regions;

 

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worldwide economic conditions;

 

   

weather conditions;

 

   

the supply and price of foreign oil and gas, including liquefied natural gas;

 

   

the level of consumer demand;

 

   

the price and availability of alternative fuels;

 

   

the proximity to, and capacity of, transportation facilities;

 

   

the effect of worldwide energy conservation and climate change measures; and

 

   

technological advances in the methods for the exploration and production of natural gas.

Moreover, government regulations, such as regulation of natural gas transportation and price controls, can affect product prices in the long term.

Lower oil and gas prices may reduce the amount of oil and gas that is economic to produce and reduce net profits to the Trust. The volatility of energy prices reduces the predictability of future cash distributions to Unit Holders.

Increased costs of production and development will result in decreased Trust distributions.

Production and development costs attributable to the Underlying Properties are deducted in the calculation of net proceeds. Accordingly, higher production and development costs, without concurrent increases in revenues, decrease the share of net proceeds paid to the Trust as Royalty Income.

If development and production costs of the Underlying Properties exceed the proceeds of production from the Underlying Properties, such excess costs are carried forward and the Trust will not receive a share of net proceeds for the Underlying Properties until future net proceeds from production from such properties exceed the total of the excess costs. Development activities may not generate sufficient additional revenue to repay the costs; however, the Trust is not obligated to repay the excess costs except through future production.

Trust reserve estimates depend on many assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate, which could cause both estimated reserves and estimated future revenues to be too high.

The value of the Units of the Trust depends upon, among other things, the amount of reserves attributable to the Royalty and the estimated future value of the reserves. Estimating reserves is inherently uncertain. Ultimately, actual production, revenues and expenditures for the Underlying Properties will vary from estimates and those variations could be material. Petroleum engineers consider many factors and make assumptions in estimating reserves. Those factors and assumptions may include:

 

   

historical production from the area compared with production rates from similar producing areas;

 

   

the assumed effect of governmental regulation; and

 

   

assumptions about future commodity price adjustments, production and development costs, severance and excise taxes, and capital expenditures.

Changes in these assumptions can materially change reserve estimates. The reserve data included herein are estimates only and are subject to many uncertainties. Actual quantities of oil and natural gas may differ considerably from the amounts set forth herein. In addition, different reserve engineers may make different estimates of reserve quantities and cash flows based upon the same available data.

 

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The operators of the Underlying Properties are subject to extensive governmental regulation.

Oil and gas operations have been, and in the future will be, affected by federal, state and local laws and regulations and other political developments, such as price or gathering rate controls and environmental protection regulations. Also, climate change laws and regulations may, in the future, have an increasing impact on oil and natural gas production, gathering, marketing and transportation.

Operating risks for Burlington and other operators of the Underlying Properties can adversely affect Trust distributions.

Royalty Income payable to the Trust is derived from the sale of natural gas and oil production following the gathering and processing of those minerals, which operations are subject to risk inherent in such activities, such as blowouts, cratering, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, gas or well fluids, fires, pollution and other environmental risks and litigation concerning routine and extraordinary business activities and events. These risks could result in substantial losses which are deducted in calculating the net proceeds paid to the Trust due to injury and loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment, pollution and other environmental damage and suspension of operations.

None of the Trustee, the Trust nor the Unit Holders control the operation or development of the Underlying Properties.

Neither the Trustee nor the Unit Holders can influence or control the operation or future development of the Underlying Properties. The Underlying Properties are owned by Burlington and Burlington operates the majority of such properties and handles the calculation of the net proceeds attributable to the Royalty and the payment of Royalty Income to the Trust.

The Royalty can be sold and the Trust can be terminated in certain circumstances.

The Trust will be terminated and the Trustee must sell the Royalty if holders of at least 75% of the Units approve the sale or vote to terminate the Trust, or if the Trust’s gross revenue for each of two successive years is less than $1,000,000 per year. Following any such termination and liquidation, the net proceeds of any sale will be distributed to the Unit Holders and Unit Holders will receive no further distributions from the Trust. We cannot assure you that any such sale will be on terms acceptable to all Unit Holders.

Mineral properties, such as the Underlying Properties, are depleting assets and, if Burlington or other operators of the Underlying Properties do not perform additional development projects, the assets may deplete faster than expected.

The Royalty Income payable to the Trust is derived from the sale of depleting assets. Accordingly, the portion of the distributions to Unit Holders (to the extent of depletion taken) may be considered a return of capital. The reduction in proved reserve quantities is a common measure of depletion. Future maintenance and development projects on the Underlying Properties will affect the quantity of proved reserves. The timing and size of these projects will depend primarily on the market prices of natural gas. If Burlington does not implement additional maintenance and development projects, the future rate of production decline of proved reserves may be higher than the rate currently expected by the Trust.

Unit Holders have limited voting rights.

Voting rights as a Unit Holder are more limited than those of stockholders of most public corporations. For example, there is no requirement for annual meetings of Unit Holders or for an annual or other periodic re-election of the Trustee. Unlike corporations, which are generally governed by boards of directors elected by their equity holders, the Trust is administered by a corporate trustee in accordance with the Indenture and other organizational documents. The Trustee has extremely limited discretion in its administration of the Trust.

 

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

During the 180-day period before the end of the Trust’s fiscal year to which this Annual Report on Form 10-K relates, the Trust did not receive any written comments from the SEC staff regarding its periodic or current reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that remain unresolved.

 

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Royalty conveyed to the Trust was carved out of Southland’s (now Burlington’s) working interests and royalty interests in certain properties situated in the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico. See “Item 1. Business” for information on the conveyance of the Royalty to the Trust. References below to “gross” wells and acres are to the interests of all persons owning interests therein, while references to “net” are to the interests of Burlington (from which the Royalty was carved) in such wells and acres.

Unless otherwise indicated, the following information in this Item 2 is based upon data and information furnished to the Trustee by Burlington.

Producing Acreage, Wells and Drilling

The Underlying Properties consist of working interests, royalty interests, overriding royalty interests and other contractual rights in 151,900 gross (119,000 net) producing acres in San Juan, Rio Arriba and Sandoval Counties of northwestern New Mexico and 4,000 gross 1,154.8 net) wells, calculated on a well bore basis and not including multiple completions as separate wells. Of those wells, seven gross (five net) are oil wells and the balance are gas wells. Burlington reports that approximately 845 gross (322.52 net) of the wells are multiple completion wells resulting in a total of 4,845 gross (1,477.62 net) completions. The Trust has inquired of Burlington whether the acreage is developed or undeveloped. Burlington has informed the Trust that all of the subject acreage is held by production, and even though it has not been fully developed in every formation, Burlington has classified all of such acreage as developed. Production from conventional gas wells is primarily from the Pictured Cliffs, Mesaverde and Dakota formations. During 1988, Southland began development of coal seam reserves in the Fruitland Coal formation. In 2011 Burlington drilled a well which was completed not only to the Mesaverde and the Dakota formations, but also to the Mancos Shale formation which lies between the two. In 2012 and 2013 Burlington drilled an exploratory horizontal well in the Mancos Shale formation, which was completed on lands burdened by the Royalty. While Burlington will continue to assess its program of horizontal drilling, it expects no new horizontal drilling activity in the San Juan Basin in 2015.

The Royalty conveyed to the Trust is limited to the base of the Dakota formation, which is currently the deepest significant producing formation under acreage affected by the Royalty. Rights to production, if any, from deeper formations are retained by Burlington.

Capital expenses of $6.5 million were included in calculating Royalty Income paid to the Trust in calendar year 2014, and included expenditures for the drilling of five gross (3.2 net) conventional wells. All five of such conventional wells were commenced in the fourth quarter. Two gross (1.13 net) were completed, and three gross (2.1 net) were still in progress as of December 31, 2014. Burlington reports that a sixth conventional well was spudded December 31, 2014 which, by Burlington’s convention, will be accounted for as attributable to its capital budget for 2015. All of the wells commenced in 2014 were development wells. There were no dry exploratory or development wells drilled in 2014.

Approximately $1.8 million of capital expenditures covered 103 projects budgeted for prior years, including continued work on 49 new wells commenced in the years prior to 2014, all operated by Burlington, and 54 maintenance and facilities projects. The approximately $4.7 million balance for 2014 expenditures was attributable to five operated new drill projects, and 41 projects for the maintenance and improvement of production facilities.

 

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The capital expenses reported by Burlington for 2014 included amounts attributable to the capital budgets for prior years because capital expenditures are deducted in calculating Royalty Income in the month they accrue, and projects within a given year’s budget often extend into subsequent years. Further, Burlington’s accounting period for capital expenditures runs through November 30 of each calendar year, such that capital expenditures incurred in December of each year are actually accounted for as part of the following year’s capital expenditures. In addition, with respect to wells not operated by Burlington, Burlington’s share of capital expenditures may not actually be paid by it until the year or years after those expenses were incurred by the operator.

During 2013, in calculating Royalty Income, Burlington deducted approximately $21.5 million of capital expenditures for projects, including the drilling and completion of 19 gross (9.85 net) conventional wells. All of the wells commenced in 2013 were development wells. There was one exploratory well completed in 2013 at a cost of approximately $3.45 million, as described above. There were no conventional wells in progress as of December 31, 2013. There were no dry exploratory or development wells drilled in 2013.

During 2012, in calculating Royalty Income, Burlington deducted approximately $22.2 million of capital expenditures for projects, including the drilling and completion of 28 gross (7.97 net) conventional wells. There were six gross (4.39 net) conventional wells in progress as of December 31, 2012. As discussed above, during 2012, Burlington commenced an exploratory horizontal well in the Mancos Shale formation. All of the other wells were development wells and there were no dry development or exploratory wells drilled in 2012.

Burlington has informed the Trust that its budget for capital expenditures for the Underlying Properties in 2015 is estimated at $14 million. Burlington reports that based on its actual capital requirements, the pace of regulatory approvals, the mix of projects and swings in the price of natural gas, the actual capital expenditures for 2015 are subject to change.

Burlington anticipates 91 projects in 2015. However, in light of the challenged price environment for natural gas and natural gas liquids, Burlington anticipates no new drilling or recompletion activity to be commenced during 2015 after the first quarter of that year. Approximately $5.5 million of the 2015 budget is to be spent on six new drills to be operated by Burlington and $1.7 million is allocated to 40 miscellaneous facilities projects. The $6.8 million balance of the aggregate $14 million is attributable to the budgets for prior years, including five new wells commenced prior to 2015 and 40 miscellaneous capital projects such as workovers and operated facility projects.

Burlington plans a temporary suspension of its drilling program in the San Juan Basin after the first quarter of 2015, indicating that it currently plans to have no drilling rigs operating in the Basin during the balance of calendar year 2015. However, Burlington reported that it continually monitors natural gas prices and plans to restart the program at some point in the future, dependent upon such gas prices. Existing wells will continue to be operated.

In February 2002, Burlington informed the Trust that the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (the “OCD”) had approved plans for 80-acre infill drilling of the Dakota formation in the San Juan Basin. In July 2003, the OCD approved 160-acre spacing in the Fruitland Coal formation. Eighty-acre spacing has been permitted in the Mesaverde formation since 1997. The OCD has approved 320-acre spacing units for wells completed to the Mancos Shale within the Basin Mancos Gas Pool. For wells drilled horizontally, multiple units may be combined along the well bore so long as that well bore is perforated in each such unit.

 

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Oil and Gas Production

The Trust recognizes production during the month in which the related net proceeds attributable to the Royalty are paid to the Trust. Royalty Income for a calendar year is based on the actual gas and oil production during the period beginning with November of the preceding calendar year through October of the current calendar year. Production of oil and gas and related average sales prices attributable to the Royalty for the three years ended December 31, 2014, were as follows:

 

     2014      2013      2012  
     Gas      Oil      Gas      Oil      Gas      Oil  
     (Mcf)      (Bbls)      (Mcf)      (Bbls)      (Mcf)      (Bbls)  

Production

     15,303,435         30,112         10,131,009         18,308         10,259,791         16,369   

Average Price

   $ 4.47       $ 82.99       $ 3.88       $ 86.38       $ 3.56       $ 84.36   

Production volumes and costs attributable to the Underlying Properties for the three years ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     2014      2013      2012  

Production (Mcf)

     30,872,147         31,711,193         32,580,756   

Total Production Costs (including capital expenses)

   $ 60,278,903       $ 73,909,480       $ 67,790,539   

Average Production Costs per unit of Production

   $ 1.9525       $ 2.3307       $ 2.0807   

Lease Operating Expenses

   $ 34,575,374       $ 37,820,636       $ 34,804,029   

Average Lifting Cost per unit of Production

   $ 1.1200       $ 1.1927       $ 1.0682   

Pricing Information

Gas produced in the San Juan Basin is sold in both interstate and intrastate commerce. Reference is made to the discussion contained herein under “Regulation” for information as to federal regulation of prices of oil and natural gas. Gas production from the Underlying Properties totaled 30,872,147 Mcf during 2014.

Gas produced from the Underlying Properties is processed at one of the following five plants: Chaco, Val Verde, Milagro, Ignacio, and Kutz, all located in the San Juan Basin. All of such gas other than that processed at Kutz is being sold to Chevron USA, Inc. (“Chevron”) under a contract with Burlington dated April 1, 2011 which provides for the delivery of gas through March 31, 2015 and from year to year thereafter. Neither Burlington nor Chevron exercised their right to terminate the Chevron contract and therefore, its term has been extended through March 31, 2016, and thereafter until terminated by either party upon six months notice to the other.

Gas produced from the Underlying Properties and processed at Kutz was being sold under three separate contracts with EDF Trading North America, LLC (“EDF”), Shell Energy North America (US), LP (“Shell”) and New Mexico Gas Company, Inc. (“NMGC”). The NMGC contract for the sale of certain winter-only supplies of the Kutz gas is for a five-year term expiring March 31, 2017. The contracts effective as of April 1, 2014 with EDF and Shell are set to expire March 31, 2015. Burlington has circulated another round of requests for proposal for the purchase of those volumes through March 31, 2016.

All four of the current contracts provide for (i) the delivery of such gas at various delivery points through their respective termination dates; and (ii) the sale of such gas at prices which fluctuate in accordance with the published indices for gas sold in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico.

Burlington contracts with Williams Four Corners, LLC (“WFC”) and Enterprise Field Services, LLC (“EFS”) for the gathering and processing of virtually all of the gas produced from the Underlying Properties. Four new contracts were entered into with WFC, each of which is effective for a term of 15 years, which commenced April 1, 2010. Burlington has signed a similar agreement with EFS which was effective

 

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November 1, 2011 for a term of 15 years. Burlington has disclosed to the Trust a summary of that agreement which the Trust has reviewed with its consultants, subject to conditions of confidentiality.

Confidentiality agreements with gatherers and purchasers of gas produced from the Underlying Properties prohibit public disclosure of certain terms and conditions of gas sales contracts with those entities, including specific pricing terms and gas receipt points. Such disclosure could compromise the ability to compete effectively in the marketplace for the sale of gas produced from the Underlying Properties.

Oil and Gas Reserves

The following are definitions adopted by the SEC and the Financial Accounting Standards Board which are applicable to terms used within this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

“Developed oil and gas reserves” are reserves of any category that can be expected to be recovered (i) through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods or in which the cost of the required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of a new well; and (ii) through installed extraction equipment and infrastructure operational at the time of the reserves estimate if the extraction is by means not involving a well. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(a)(6).

“Estimated future net revenues” are computed by applying current oil and gas prices (with consideration of price changes only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements and allowed by federal regulation) to estimated future production of proved oil and gas reserves as of the date of the latest balance sheet presented, less estimated future expenditures (based on current costs) to be incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves and assuming continuation of existing economic conditions. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(c)(4)(A). “Estimated future net revenues” are sometimes referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as “estimated future net cash flows.”

“Present value of estimated future net revenues” is computed using the estimated future net revenues (as defined above) and a discount rate of 10%. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(c)(4)(A).

“Proved oil and gas reserves” are those quantities of oil and gas, which, by analysis of geoscience and engineering data, can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be economically producible — from a given date forward, from known reservoirs, and under existing economic conditions, operating methods, and government regulations — prior to the time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire, unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain, regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are used for the estimation. The project to extract the hydrocarbons must have commenced or the operator must be reasonably certain that it will commence the project within a reasonable time. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(a)(22).

“Proved reserves” are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known oil and gas reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(a)(22); 17 CFR 210.4-10(a)(2)(iii).

“Proved undeveloped reserves” or “PUDs” are undeveloped oil and gas reserves.

“Reasonable certainty” means (i) if deterministic methods are used, reasonable certainty means a high degree of confidence that the quantities will be recovered or (ii) if probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimate. A high degree of confidence exists if the quantity is much more likely to be achieved than not, and, as changes due to increased availability of geoscience (geological, geophysical, and geochemical), engineering, and economic data are made to estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) with time, reasonably certain EUR is much more likely to increase or remain constant than to decrease. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(a)(24).

“Reserves” are estimated remaining quantities of oil and gas and related substances anticipated to be economically producible, as of a given date, by application of development projects to known

 

9


accumulations. In addition, there must exist, or there must be a reasonable expectation that there will exist, the legal right to produce or a revenue interest in the production, installed means of delivering oil and gas or related substances to market, and all permits and financing required to implement the project. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(a)(26).

“Undeveloped oil and gas reserves” are reserves of any category that are expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for recompletion. See 17 CFR 210.4-10(a)(31).

The process of estimating oil and gas reserves is complex and requires significant judgment. The Trust, however, does not have information that would be available to a company with oil and gas operations because detailed information is not generally available to owners of royalty interests. Given this, the Trustee accumulates information and data provided by Burlington regarding the Royalty derived from the Underlying Properties and provides such information to Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. (“CG&A”). CG&A extrapolates from such information estimates of the reserves attributable to the Underlying Properties based on its expertise in the oil and gas fields where the Underlying Properties are situated, as well as publicly available information. The Trust maintains internal controls and procedures applicable to reserve estimation which are reviewed annually and updated as required and reviews the reserve reports prepared by CG&A for reasonableness. The Trust’s internal controls and procedures regarding reserve estimates require proved reserves to be determined and disclosed in compliance with the SEC definitions and guidance.

The Trust does not maintain an internal petroleum engineering department and instead relies upon CG&A for a qualified, independent report of estimated reserves. The Trust verifies the qualifications and credentials of CG&A to prepare reserve estimates on behalf of the Trust. The independent petroleum engineers’ reports as to the proved oil and gas reserves as of December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 were prepared by CG&A. CG&A, whose firm registration number is F-693, was founded in 1961 and is nationally recognized in the evaluation of oil and gas properties. The technical person at CG&A primarily responsible for overseeing the reserve estimate with respect to the Trust is Zane Meekins. Mr. Meekins has been a practicing petroleum engineering consultant since 1989, with over 26 years of practice experience in petroleum engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas (License No. 71055). He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1987, summa cum laude, with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering. CG&A and Mr. Meekins have indicated that they meet or exceed all requirements set forth in Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

The following table presents a reconciliation of proved reserve quantities attributable to the Royalty from December 31, 2011, to December 31, 2014, (in thousands):

 

     Crude
Oil
     Natural
Gas
 
     (Bbls)      (Mcf)  

Reserves as of December 31, 2011

     255         135,941   

Revisions of previous estimates

     (45      (24,802

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

     10         3,569   

Production

     (16      (10,260
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserves as of December 31, 2012

     204         104,448   

Revisions of previous estimates

     (2      7,437   

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

     10         2,764   

Production

     (18      (10,131
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserves as of December 31, 2013

     194         104,518   

Revisions of previous estimates

     105         29,096   

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

     7         2,437   

Production

     (30      (15,303
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserves as of December 31, 2014

     276         120,748   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

10


Estimated quantities of proved developed oil and gas reserves as of December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

 

     2014      2013      2012  

Crude Oil (Bbls)

     268         189         192   

Natural Gas (Mcf)

     118,594         103,405         101,132   

A summary of estimated quantities by geographic area for total proved and proved undeveloped oil and gas reserves as of December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):

 

Reserves Category

   Crude Oil
Reserves
     Natural  Gas
Reserves
 
     (Bbls)      (Mcf)  

Developed:

     

United States

     268         118,594   

Other Countries

     0         0   

Undeveloped:

     

United States

     8         2,154   

Other Countries

     0         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Proved

     276         120,748   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Based on information provided by Burlington, there were 36 PUDs identified as of December 31, 2014, as compared to 30 as of December 31, 2013. This estimate does not include two PUDs previously identified but not drilled within five years from date of booking. For the year ended December 31, 2014, an aggregate of 0.1 Mbbls of oil and 52 MMcf of gas were converted from proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves.

The current estimate has also been adjusted to take into account the elimination of PUDs no longer deemed commercially viable due to declines in the market price of natural gas, as well as new PUDs identified during the year and those converted to proved developed, all in the ordinary course of business. See the discussion of historical and budgeted investment and progress to convert PUDs to proved developed under Producing Acreage, Wells, and Drilling in this Item 2. Properties, above.

Generally, the calculation of oil and gas reserves takes into account a comparison of the value of the oil or gas to the cost of producing those minerals, in an attempt to cause minerals in the ground to be included in reserve estimates only to the extent that the anticipated costs of production will be exceeded by the anticipated sales revenue. Accordingly, an increase in sales price and/or a decrease in production cost can itself result in an increase in estimated reserves and declining prices and/or increasing costs can result in reserves reported at less than the physical volumes actually thought to exist. The Financial Accounting Standards Board requires supplemental disclosures for oil and gas producers based on a standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserve quantities. Under this disclosure, future cash inflows are estimated by applying annual average prices of oil and gas relating to the enterprise’s proved reserves to the year-end quantities of those reserves, less estimated future expenditures (based on current costs) of developing and producing the proved reserves, and assuming continuation of existing economic conditions. Future price changes are only considered to the extent provided by contractual arrangements in existence at year-end. The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is achieved by using a discount rate of 10% a year to reflect the timing of future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves.

Estimates of proved oil and gas reserves are by their nature imprecise. Estimates of future net revenue attributable to proved reserves are sensitive to the unpredictable prices of oil and gas and other variables. Accordingly, under the allocation method used to derive the Trust’s quantity of proved reserves, changes in prices will result in changes in quantities of proved oil and gas reserves and estimated future net revenues.

 

11


The 2014, 2013, and 2012 changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows related to future Royalty Income from proved reserves are as follows (in thousands):

 

     2014      2013      2012  

Balance, January 1

   $ 236,622       $ 213,565       $ 384,406   

Revisions of prior-year estimates, change in prices and other

     103,179         33,445         (178,205

Extensions, discoveries and other additions

     6,133         6,298         3,409   

Accretion of discount

     23,662         21,357         38,441   

Royalty Income

     (61,508)         (38,043)         (34,486
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, December 31

   $ 308,088       $ 236,622       $ 213,565   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reserve quantities and revenues shown in the tables above for the Royalty were estimated from projections of reserves and revenues attributable to the combined Burlington and Trust interests. Reserve quantities attributable to the Royalty were derived from estimates by allocating to the Royalty a portion of the total net reserve quantities of the interests, based upon gross revenue less production taxes. Because the reserve quantities attributable to the Royalty are estimated using an allocation of the reserves, any changes in prices or costs will result in changes in the estimated reserve quantities allocated to the Royalty. Therefore, the reserve quantities estimated will vary if different future price and cost assumptions occur. The future net cash flows were determined without regard to future federal income tax credits, if any, available to production from coal seam wells.

For 2014, $4.68 per Mcf of gas and $81.09 per Bbl of oil were used in determining future net revenue. These prices were based on a 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month pricing of $4.35 per MMBtu of Henry Hub natural gas and $94.99 per Bbl of West Texas Intermediate oil. The upward revision in reserve quantities for 2014 is due primarily to higher natural gas prices and lower lease operating expense.

For 2013, $3.98 per Mcf of gas and $84.86 per Bbl of oil were used in determining future net revenue. These prices were based on a 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month pricing of $3.67 per MMBtu of Henry Hub natural gas and $96.94 per Bbl of West Texas Intermediate oil. The upward revision in reserve quantities for 2013 is due primarily to higher natural gas prices.

For 2012, $3.30 per Mcf of gas and $82.87 per Bbl of oil were used in determining future net revenue. These prices were based on a 12-month unweighted average of the first-day-of-the-month pricing of $2.76 per MMBtu of Henry Hub natural gas and $94.71 per Bbl of West Texas Intermediate oil. The downward revision in reserve quantities for 2012 is due to the natural decline in the production from the properties as well as lower average gas prices during 2012 as compared to 2011.

The following presents estimated future net revenues and present value of estimated future net revenues attributable to the Royalty for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012 (in thousands, except amounts per Unit):

 

     2014      2013      2012  
     Estimated
Future
Net
Revenue
     Present
Value
at
10%
     Estimated
Future
Net
Revenue
     Present
Value
at
10%
     Estimated
Future
Net
Revenue
     Present
Value
at
10%
 

Total Proved

   $ 532,637       $ 308,088       $ 395,305       $ 236,622       $ 364,027       $ 213,565   

Proved Developed

   $ 522,018       $ 305,281       $ 390,497       $ 236,212       $ 353,091       $ 212,551   

Total Proved Per Unit

   $ 11.43       $ 6.61       $ 8.48       $ 5.08       $ 7.81       $ 4.58   

 

12


Estimated quantities of proved reserves increased in 2014 as compared to 2013 primarily due to higher gas prices and lower lease operating expense in 2014. Proved reserve quantities are estimates based on information available at the time of preparation and such estimates are subject to change as additional information becomes available. The reserves actually recovered and the timing of production of those reserves may be substantially different from the above estimates. Moreover, the present values shown above should not be considered the market values of such oil and gas reserves or the costs that would be incurred to acquire equivalent reserves. A market value determination would require the analysis of additional parameters. Reserve estimates were not filed with any Federal authority or agency other than the SEC.

Regulation

Many aspects of the production, pricing and marketing of crude oil and natural gas are regulated by federal and state agencies. Legislation affecting the oil and gas industry is under constant review for amendment or expansion, frequently increasing the regulatory burden on affected members of the industry.

Exploration and production operations are subject to various types of regulation at the federal, state and local levels. Such regulation includes requiring permits for the drilling of wells, maintaining bonding requirements in order to drill or operate wells, and regulating the location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled and the plugging and abandonment of wells. Natural gas and oil operations are also subject to various conservation laws and regulations that regulate the size of drilling and spacing units or proration units and the density of wells which may be drilled and unitization or pooling of oil and gas properties. In addition, state conservation laws establish maximum allowable production from natural gas and oil wells, generally prohibit the venting or flaring of natural gas and impose certain requirements regarding the ratability of production. The effect of these regulations is to limit the amounts of natural gas and oil that Burlington can produce and to limit the number of wells or the locations at which Burlington can drill.

Federal Natural Gas Regulation

The transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce, historically, have been regulated pursuant to several laws enacted by Congress and the regulations promulgated under these laws by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and its predecessor. In the past, the federal government has regulated the prices at which gas could be sold. Congress removed all price and non-price controls affecting wellhead sales of natural gas effective January 1, 1993. Congress could, however, reenact controls in the future.

Sales of natural gas are affected by the availability, terms and cost of transportation. The price and terms for pipeline transportation remain subject to extensive federal and state regulation. Several major regulatory changes have been implemented by Congress and FERC from 1985 to the present that affect the economics of natural gas production, transportation and sales. In addition, FERC continues to promulgate revisions to various aspects of the rules and regulations affecting those segments of the natural gas industry, most notably interstate natural gas transmission companies, that remain subject to FERC’s jurisdiction. These initiatives may also affect the intrastate transportation of gas under certain circumstances. The stated purpose of many of these regulatory changes is to promote competition among the various sectors of the natural gas industry.

Additional proposals and proceedings that might affect the natural gas industry are considered from time to time by Congress, FERC, state regulatory bodies and the courts. The Trust cannot predict when or if any such proposals might become effective, or their effect, if any, on the Trust. The natural gas industry historically has been very heavily regulated; therefore, there is no assurance that the less stringent regulatory approach to natural gas sales pursued over the last two decades by FERC and Congress will continue.

Sales of crude oil, condensate and gas liquids are not currently regulated and are made at market prices. The ability to transport and sell petroleum products depends on pipelines that transport such gas in interstate commerce and whose rates, terms and conditions of service are subject to FERC jurisdiction under the Interstate Commerce Act.

 

13


Section 45 Tax Credit

Sales of gas production from certain coal seam wells drilled prior to January 1, 1993, qualified for federal income tax credits under Section 29 (now Section 45K) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended, the “Code”) through 2002 but not thereafter. Accordingly, under present law, the Trust’s production and sale of gas from coal seam wells does not qualify for tax credit under Section 45K of the Code (the “Section 45 Tax Credit”). Congress has at various times since 2002 considered energy legislation, including provisions to reinstate the Section 45 Tax Credit in various ways and to various extents, but no legislation that would qualify the Trust’s current production for such credit has been enacted. No prediction can be made as to what future tax legislation affecting Section 45K of the Code may be proposed or enacted or, if enacted, its impact, if any, on the Trust and the Unit Holders.

Passive Loss Rules

The classification of the Trust’s income for purposes of the passive loss rules may be important to a Unit Holder. As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, royalty income such as that derived through the Trust will generally be treated as portfolio income that may not be offset or reduced by passive losses.

Climate Change Regulation

The oil and natural gas industry is also subject to compliance with federal, state and local regulations and laws regarding the effects of climate change. These laws and regulations have impacted, and will in the future continue to impact, the production, gathering, marketing and transportation of oil and natural gas.

Other Regulation

The oil and natural gas industry is also subject to compliance with various other federal, state and local regulations and laws, including, but not limited to, environmental protection, occupational safety, resource conservation and equal employment opportunity.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As discussed herein under Part II, Item 9A (Controls and Procedures), due to the pass-through nature of the Trust, Burlington is the primary source of the information disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other periodic reports filed by the Trust with the SEC. Although the Trustee receives periodic updates from Burlington regarding activities which may relate to the Trust, the Trust’s ability to timely report certain information required to be disclosed in the Trust’s periodic reports is dependent on Burlington’s timely delivery of the information to the Trust.

On July 31, 2014, the Trustee filed a lawsuit (the “2014 Litigation”) against Burlington in the 1st Judicial District Court for the County of Santa Fe, State of New Mexico. The case is styled Compass Bank, in its Capacity as Trustee of the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust v. Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP and BROG GP LLC, No. D-101-CV-2014-01765. The Trust asserts claims for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and seeks a declaratory judgment arising out of a number of unresolved revenue and expense audit exceptions asserted by the Trust’s auditors. More particularly, the claims involve Burlington’s failure to properly account for and pay net overriding royalty interests to the Trust with respect to oil and gas production from numerous properties in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico. Based on information currently available to the Trust and its auditors, the Trust seeks monetary relief (including actual and punitive damages, costs, expenses, interest and attorney fees) in excess of $12,000,000, along with specific performance of certain contractual obligations, declaratory relief and a judgment for other relief to which it may show itself to be justly entitled. Burlington has filed an answer, the parties have commenced discovery and there is a mediation scheduled for April 2015.

 

14


On March 14, 2008, Burlington notified the Trust that the distribution for March would be reduced by $4,921,578. Burlington described this amount as the Trust’s portion of what Burlington had paid to settle claims for the underpayment of royalties in the case styled United States of America ex rel. Harrold E. (“Gene”) Wright v. AGIP Petroleum Co. et al., Civil Action No. 5:03CV264 (formerly 9:98-CV-30) (E.D. Tex.). The Trust has objected to Burlington’s unilateral decision to deduct any amount of the settlement paid by Burlington from the distributions payable to the Trust and formally complained of that action as part of the 2014 Litigation. The Trust argues that no part of the settlement should have been allocated to the Trust because the claim which gave rise to the settlement was presented to Burlington for payment prior to the effective date of a mutual release of all claims entered into by Burlington and the Trust in 1996. In the alternative, the Trust contends that even if Burlington’s allocation of part of the Wright settlement was not barred by the mutual release, the amount allocated to the Trust by Burlington was improper and excessive.

Burlington has informed the Trust that pursuant to an Order to Perform issued by the Minerals Management Service (“MMS”) dated June 10, 1998 (the “MMS Order”), the Jicarilla Apache Nation (the “Jicarilla”) alleged that in valuing production for royalty purposes one must perform (i) a major portion analysis, which calculates value on the highest price paid or offered for a major portion of the gas produced from the field where the leased lands are situated; and (ii) a dual accounting calculation, which computes royalties on the greater of (a) the value of gas prior to processing or (b) the combined value of processed residue gas and plant products plus the value of any condensate recovered downstream without processing. The MMS Order alleged that Burlington’s dual accounting calculations on Native American leases were based on less than major portion prices. In 2000, Burlington and the Jicarilla entered into a settlement agreement resolving the issues associated with the dual accounting calculation. The major portion calculation issue remains outstanding. Burlington takes the position that a judgment or settlement could entitle Burlington to reimbursement from the Trust for past periods.

In 2007 Burlington obtained an Administrative Order from the Department of the Interior (the “DOI”) rejecting that portion of the MMS Order requiring Burlington to calculate and pay additional royalties based on the major portion price derived by the MMS. The Jicarilla filed suit solely against the DOI in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in an action entitled 1:07-CV-00803-RJL, Jicarilla Apache Nation v. Department of Interior (the “DOI Case”) seeking a declaration that the Administrative Order is unlawful and of no force and effect, as well as an injunction requiring enforcement of the underlying major portion orders that were rejected by the Assistant Secretary. In 2009, a summary judgment was entered by the district court in the DOI Case upholding the Administrative Order and dismissing the Jicarilla’s claims. The Jicarilla appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. On July 16, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals held that the 2007 Administrative Order dismissing the Jicarilla claims was arbitrary and capricious with respect to January 1984 through February 1988 production periods and by Memorandum Order dated October 7, 2011, remanded the matter to the DOI for further proceedings. While a judgment or settlement in the DOI Case could impact the Royalty Income of the Trust, Burlington has informed the Trust that it does not have sufficient information to estimate a range of loss for the Trust because the DOI has not provided a major portion calculation for the January 1984 to February 1988 time period as required by the July 16, 2010 Court of Appeals ruling described above. Burlington indicates that the situation will not be alleviated until the DOI provides Burlington with a new Order to Perform or similar notice, but that it cannot predict when or if the DOI will provide such information or notice. The Trust’s consultants will continue to monitor development in this matter and analyze the appropriateness of the allocation, if any, by Burlington of any portion of any settlement or judgment in calculating the Royalty.

 

ITEM 4. Not Applicable.

 

15


PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S UNITS, RELATED UNIT HOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF UNITS

The information under “Units of Beneficial Interest” in the Trust’s Annual Report to Unit Holders for the year ended December 31, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference. The Trust has no directors, executive officers or employees. Accordingly, the Trust does not maintain any equity compensation plans and there are no Units reserved for issuance under any such plans.

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Royalty Income

   $ 61,507,662       $ 38,042,603       $ 34,485,777       $ 68,029,748       $ 79,971,751   

Distributable income

     59,873,115         36,492,592         33,481,687         67,190,000         78,355,835   

Distributable income per Unit

     1.284587         0.782955         0.718358         1.441573         1.681139   

Distributions per Unit

     1.284587         0.782955         0.718358         1.441573         1.681139   

Total assets, December 31

     13,374,097         15,619,678         13,583,556         20,246,377         19,969,007   

 

ITEM 7. TRUSTEE’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

The “Description of the Properties” in the Trust’s Annual Report to Unit Holders for the year ended December 31, 2014, is herein incorporated by reference and such Annual Report is available on the Trust’s website: www.sjbrt.com.

Gas and Oil Production

Total gas and oil production from the Underlying Properties for the five years ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Gas — Mcf

     30,872,147         31,711,193         32,580,756         32,964,647         33,378,855   

Mcf per Day

     84,581         86,880         89,018         90,314         91,449   

Oil — Bbls

     60,002         55,857         50,617         58,908         62,675   

Bbls per Day

     164         153         138         161         172   

Royalty Income for a calendar year is based on the actual gas and oil production during the period beginning with November of the preceding calendar year through October of the current calendar year. Gas and oil sales attributable to the Royalty for the past five years are summarized in the following table:

 

     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Gas — Mcf

     15,303,435         10,131,009         10,259,791         15,265,827         17,102,939   

Average Price (per Mcf)

   $ 4.47       $ 3.88       $ 3.56       $ 4.76       $ 4.86   

Oil — Bbls

     30,112         18,308         16,369         26,981         31,808   

Average Price (per Bbl)

   $ 82.99       $ 86.38       $ 84.36       $ 81.08       $ 67.08   

Sales volumes attributable to the Royalty are determined by dividing the net profits received by the Trust from the sale of oil and gas, respectively, by the prices received for sales of such volumes from the Underlying Properties, taking into consideration production taxes attributable to the Underlying Properties. Because the oil

 

16


and gas sales attributable to the Royalty are based upon an allocation formula dependent on such factors as price and cost, including capital expenditures, the aggregate sales amounts from the Underlying Properties may not provide a meaningful comparison to sales attributable to the Royalty.

The fluctuations in annual gas production that have occurred during these five years generally resulted from changes in the demand for gas during that time, market conditions, and variances in capital spending to generate production from new and existing wells, as offset by the natural production decline curve. Also, production from the Underlying Properties is influenced by the line pressure of the gas gathering systems in the San Juan Basin. As noted above, oil and gas sales attributable to the Royalty are based on an allocation formula dependent on many factors, including oil and gas prices and capital expenditures.

Gas produced from the Underlying Properties is processed at one of the following five plants: Chaco, Val Verde, Milagro, Ignacio, and Kutz, all located in the San Juan Basin. All of such gas other than that processed at Kutz is being sold to Chevron USA, Inc. (“Chevron”) under a contract with Burlington dated April 1, 2011 which provides for the delivery of gas through March 31, 2015 and from year to year thereafter. Neither Burlington nor Chevron exercised their right to terminate the Chevron contract and therefore, its term has been extended through March 31, 2016, and thereafter until terminated by either party upon six months notice to the other.

Gas produced from the Underlying Properties and processed at Kutz was being sold under three separate contracts with EDF Trading North America, LLC (“EDF”), Shell Energy North America (US), LP (“Shell”) and New Mexico Gas Company, Inc. (“NMGC”). The NMGC contract for the sale of certain winter-only supplies of the Kutz gas is for a five-year term expiring March 31, 2017. The contracts effective as of April 1, 2014 with EDF and Shell are set to expire March 31, 2015. Burlington has circulated another round of requests for proposal for the purchase of those volumes through March 31, 2016.

All four of the current contracts provide for (i) the delivery of such gas at various delivery points through their respective termination dates; and (ii) the sale of such gas at prices which fluctuate in accordance with the published indices for gas sold in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico.

Burlington contracts with Williams Four Corners, LLC (“WFC”) and Enterprise Field Services, LLC (“EFS”) for the gathering and processing of virtually all of the gas produced from the Underlying Properties. Four new contracts were entered into with WFC, each of which is effective for a term of 15 years, which commenced April 1, 2010. Burlington has signed a similar agreement with EFS which was effective November 1, 2011 for a term of 15 years. Burlington has disclosed to the Trust a summary of that agreement which the Trust has reviewed with its consultants, subject to conditions of confidentiality.

Confidentiality agreements with gatherers and purchasers of gas produced from the Underlying Properties prohibit public disclosure of certain terms and conditions of gas sales contracts with those entities, including specific pricing terms and gas receipt points. Such disclosure could compromise the ability to compete effectively in the marketplace for the sale of gas produced from the Underlying Properties.

 

17


Royalty Income

Royalty Income consists of monthly Net Proceeds attributable to the Royalty. Royalty Income for the five years ended December 31, 2014 was determined as shown in the following table:

 

     2014      2013     2012     2011      2010  

Gross Proceeds From The Underlying Properties:

            

Gas

   $ 137,324,791       $ 118,276,065      $ 109,817,282      $ 156,770,429       $ 164,194,440 (3) 

Oil

     4,964,328         4,721,365        4,200,625        4,785,736         4,201,260   

Other

     -0-         -0-        (246,332 )(2)      -0-         -0-   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 142,289,119       $ 122,997,430      $ 113,771,575      $ 161,556,165       $ 168,395,700   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

   $ 6,531,316       $ 21,470,626      $ 22,195,936      $ 21,052,419       $ 13,101,962   

Severance tax – Gas

     18,162,866         11,748,779        10,088,154        14,343,854         14,816,771   

Severance Tax – Oil

     507,433         483,018        417,036        482,396         407,627   

Other

     -0-         4,430 (1)      -0-        -0-         -0-   

Lease Operating Expenses and Property Taxes

     35,077,288         38,567,106        35,089,413        34,971,165         33,440,339   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 60,278,903       $ 72,273,959      $ 67,790,539      $ 70,849,834       $ 61,766,699   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Profits

   $ 82,010,216       $ 50,723,471      $ 45,981,036      $ 90,706,331       $ 106,629,001   

Net Overriding Royalty Interest

     75%         75%        75%        75%         75%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Royalty Income

   $ 61,507,662       $ 38,042,603      $ 34,485,777      $ 68,029,748       $ 79,971,751   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Interest on excess production cost.

 

(2) 

Reduction of April revenue due to recovery by Burlington of an overpayment of compliance audit exceptions.

 

(3) 

In May 2010, gas proceeds included $2,600,000 received in settlement of litigation.

Distributable Income

“Distributable Income” (as that term is used herein) consists of Royalty Income plus interest, less the general and administrative expenses of the Trust and any changes in cash reserves established by the Trustee.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, Distributable Income was $59,873,115 as compared to $36,492,592 for the year ended December 31, 2013. Distributable Income in 2012 was $33,481,687.

The Trust received Royalty Income of $61,507,662 and interest income of $75,835 in 2014. After deducting administrative expense of $1,710,382, Distributable Income was $59,873,115 ($1.284587 per Unit). In 2013, Royalty Income was $38,042,603, and interest income was $3,413. No distributions were made in March or April 2013. In March 2013, production costs exceeded revenues, and there was a $156,724 decrease in cash reserves as funds were withdrawn to pay administrative expenses. The cash available for distribution in April 2013 was applied first to pay administrative costs and to replenish the reserve maintained by the Trustee for liabilities and contingencies. There was a $29,518 net increase in cash reserves. After deducting administrative expenses of $1,523,906 and the cash reserve increase, Distributable Income for 2013 was $36,492,592 ($0.782955 per Unit).

The increase in Distributable Income from 2013 to 2014 was primarily attributable to higher natural gas pricing and lower capital expenditures in 2014. Interest earnings in 2014 were higher as compared to 2013,

 

18


primarily due to additional interest received in 2014 on late payments of Gross Proceeds used in the calculation of the Royalty. Administrative expenses were higher in 2014, as compared to 2013 primarily as a result of differences in timing in the receipt and payment of certain of these expenses as well as the cost of the 2014 Litigation.

In 2012, Royalty Income was $34,485,777, interest income was $570,291, and administrative expenses were $1,574,381, resulting in Distributable Income of $33,481,687 ($0.718358 per Unit). The increase in Distributable Income from 2012 to 2013 was primarily attributable to slightly higher natural gas production and pricing. Interest earnings in 2013 were lower as compared to 2012, primarily due to additional interest received in 2012 on late payments of Gross Proceeds used in the calculation of the Royalty. Administrative expenses were lower in 2013, as compared to 2012 primarily as a result of differences in timing in the receipt and payment of these expenses.

The Trustee has been informed that the New Mexico Oil and Gas Proceeds and Pass-Through Entity Withholding Tax Act (the “Withholding Tax Act”) requires remitters who pay certain oil and gas proceeds from production on New Mexico wells to withhold income taxes from such proceeds in the case of certain nonresident recipients. The Trustee, on advice of New Mexico counsel, has observed that “net profits interests,” such as the Royalty, and other types of interests, the extent of which cannot be determined with respect to a specific share of the oil and gas production, as well as amounts deducted from payments that are for expenses related to oil and gas production, are excluded from the withholding requirements of the Withholding Tax Act. Unit Holders are reminded to consult with their tax advisors regarding the applicability of New Mexico income tax to distributions received from the Trust by a Unit Holder.

On February 21, 2014 Burlington informed the Trustee it had discovered a failure by Burlington to properly allocate approximately $4.3 million of severance taxes to the calculation of the Royalty during a period commencing in 2007 until the error was corrected in 2012, which resulted in what it characterized as an overpayment to the Trust in the amount of approximately $3.25 million. Burlington recouped the overpayment in installments of $361,215 starting in March 2014 and continuing in equal installments through November 2014. Burlington elected not to charge interest against the overpayment.

Operating Expenses

Monthly operating expenses of the Underlying Properties, exclusive of property taxes, in 2014 averaged approximately $2,881,281, as compared to the $3,151,720 average in 2013.

Operating expenses averaged lower in 2014 primarily because of reduced maintenance and repair labor.

Settlements

As part of the September 4, 1996, settlement of the litigation filed by the Trustee on June 4, 1992 against Burlington and Southland, the Trustee and Burlington established a formal protocol pursuant to which compliance auditors retained by the Trustee gained improved access to Burlington’s books and records as applicable to the Underlying Properties. The audit process was initiated in 1996 and, since inception, has resulted in audit exceptions being granted by and payments or credits received from Burlington totaling approximately $42.3 million, including approximately $5.5 million in the past three years.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenses of $6.5 million were included in calculating Royalty Income paid to the Trust in calendar year 2014, and included expenditures for the drilling of five gross (3.2 net) conventional wells. All five of such conventional wells were commenced in the fourth quarter. Two gross (1.13 net) were completed, and three gross (2.1 net) were still in progress as of December 31, 2014. Burlington reports that a sixth conventional well was

 

19


spudded December 31, 2014 which, by Burlington’s convention, will be accounted for as attributable to its capital budget for 2015. All of the wells commenced in 2014 were development wells. There were no dry exploratory or development wells drilled in 2014.

Approximately $1.8 million of capital expenditures covered 103 projects budgeted for prior years, including continued work on 49 new wells commenced in the years prior to 2014, all operated by Burlington, and 54 maintenance and facilities projects. The approximately $4.7 million balance for 2014 expenditures was attributable to five operated new drill projects, and 41 projects for the maintenance and improvement of production facilities.

The capital expenses reported by Burlington for 2014 included amounts attributable to the capital budgets for prior years because capital expenditures are deducted in calculating Royalty Income in the month they accrue, and projects within a given year’s budget often extend into subsequent years. Further, Burlington’s accounting period for capital expenditures runs through November 30 of each calendar year, such that capital expenditures incurred in December of each year are actually accounted for as part of the following year’s capital expenditures. In addition, with respect to wells not operated by Burlington, Burlington’s share of capital expenditures may not actually be paid by it until the year or years after those expenses were incurred by the operator.

Results of the 4th Quarters of 2014 and 2013

For the three months ended December 31, 2014, Distributable Income was $12,378,306 ($0.265578 per Unit), which was less than the $14,103,324 ($0.302589 per Unit) of income distributed during the same period in 2013. The decrease in Distributable Income resulted primarily from lower average gas prices and increased capital costs and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Royalty Income of the Trust for the fourth quarter is based on actual gas and oil production during August through October of each year. Gas and oil sales for the quarters ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

     2014      2013  

Underlying Properties

     

Gas — Mcf

     7,632,393         7,200,239   

Mcf per Day

     82,961         78,263   

Average Price (per Mcf)

   $ 3.97       $ 4.29   

Oil — Bbls

     15,001         13,705   

Bbls per Day

     163         149   

Average Price (per Bbl)

   $ 75.95       $ 91.41   

Attributable to the Royalty

     

Gas — Mcf

     3,570,408         3,512,812   

Oil — Bbls

     7,058         6,826   

The average price of gas decreased in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the same period of 2013. The price per barrel of oil during the fourth quarter of 2014 was $15.46 lower than the price during the fourth quarter of 2013.

For the months of April 2013 to October 2013, Burlington caused production volumes to be overstated by a total of 1,314,555 Mcf (1,608,598 MMBtu) due to a workpaper formulation error. The November distribution reflects a volume adjustment to correct the overstated production volumes. Burlington indicated this was a volume-only adjustment which did not impact the distribution amount. However, it did affect the volumes reported and therefore, the calculation of the average price per Mcf and MMBtu. Following the downward adjustment, the gas production volumes reported in November 2013 totaled 1,345,023 Mcf (1,300,953 MMBtu).

 

20


Capital costs for the fourth quarter of 2014 totaled $2,156,385 compared to $550,851 during the same period of 2013. Capital costs were dramatically lower in the fourth quarter of 2013 due to Burlington’s temporary suspension of its drilling program in the San Juan Basin announced by Burlington in March 2013. Capital costs increased in the fourth quarter of 2014 when Burlington commenced drilling five new wells. Lease operating expenses and property taxes for the fourth quarter of 2014 averaged $2,706,428 per month compared to $3,070,964 per month in the fourth quarter of 2013. Operating expenses were approximately $364,536 per month lower in the fourth quarter of 2014 than for the fourth quarter of 2013 primarily because of reduced maintenance and repair labor. Based on 46,608,796 Units outstanding, the per-Unit distributions during the fourth quarters of 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

     2014      2013  

October

   $ .101222       $ .096936   

November

     .082288         .109868   

December

     .082068         .095785   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Quarter Total

   $ 0.265578       $ 0.302589   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Trust invests in no derivative financial instruments, and has no foreign operations or long-term debt instruments. The Trust is a passive entity and is prohibited from engaging in any business or commercial activity of any kind whatsoever, including borrowing transactions, other than the Trust’s ability to borrow money periodically as necessary to pay expenses, liabilities and obligations of the Trust that cannot be paid out of cash held by the Trust. The amount of any such borrowings is unlikely to be material to the Trust. The Trust periodically holds short-term investments acquired with funds held by the Trust pending distribution to Unit Holders and funds held in reserve for the payment of Trust expenses and liabilities. Because of the short-term nature of these borrowings and investments and certain limitations upon the types of such investments which may be held by the Trust, the Trustee believes that the Trust is not subject to material interest rate risk. The Trust does not engage in transactions in foreign currencies which could expose the Trust or Unit Holders to any foreign currency related market risk. The Trust does not market the gas, oil and/or natural gas liquids from the Underlying Properties. Burlington is responsible for such marketing.

 

21


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Trust Corpus

December 31, 2014 and 2013

 

      2014      2013  

ASSETS

     

Cash and Short-Term Investments

   $ 4,011,340       $ 4,650,682   

Net Overriding Royalty Interests in Producing Oil and Gas Properties — Net

     9,362,757         10,968,996   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 13,374,097       $ 15,619,678   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
LIABILITIES & TRUST CORPUS      

Distribution Payable to Unit holders

   $ 3,825,098       $ 4,464,440   

Cash Reserves

     186,242         186,242   

Trust Corpus — 46,608,796 Units of Beneficial Interest Authorized and Outstanding

     9,362,757         10,968,996   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 13,374,097       $ 15,619,678   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statements of Distributable Income

For each of the years ended December 31

 

     2014      2013      2012  

Royalty Income

   $ 61,507,662       $ 38,042,603       $ 34,485,777   

Interest Income

     75,835         3,413         570,291   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Revenue

     61,583,497         38,046,016         35,056,068   

Expenditures — General and Administrative

     1,710,382         1,523,906         1,574,381   

Increase in Cash Reserves

     -0-         29,518         -0-   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable Income

   $ 59,873,115       $ 36,492,592       $ 33,481,687   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributable Income per Unit (46,608,796 Units)

   $ 1.284587       $ 0.782955       $ 0.718358   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statements of Changes In Trust Corpus

For each of the years ended December 31

 

     2014      2013      2012  

Trust Corpus, Beginning of Period

   $ 10,968,996       $ 12,163,460       $ 13,145,058   

Amortization of Net Overriding Royalty Interest

     (1,606,239      (1,194,464      (981,598

Distributable Income

     59,873,115         36,492,592         33,481,687   

Distributions Declared

     (59,873,115      (36,492,592      (33,481,687
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Trust Corpus, End of Period

   $ 9,362,757       $ 10,968,996       $ 12,163,460   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

These Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements included herein.

 

22


Notes to Financial Statements

1.    Trust Organization and Provisions

The San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (the “Trust”) was established as of November 1, 1980. Southland Royalty Company (“Southland”) conveyed to the Trust a 75% net overriding royalty interest (the “Royalty”) which burdens certain of Southland’s oil and gas leasehold interests (the “Underlying Properties”) in properties located in the San Juan Basin in northwestern New Mexico. Through an acquisition completed March 24, 2006, Compass Bank succeeded TexasBank as “Trustee” (herein so called) of the Trust. On September 7, 2007, Compass Bancshares, Inc. was acquired by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (“BBVA”) and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of BBVA.

On November 3, 1980, units of beneficial interest (“Units”) in the Trust were distributed to the Trustee for the benefit of Southland shareholders of record as of November 3, 1980, who received one Unit in the Trust for each share of Southland common stock held. The Units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Holders of Units are referred to herein as “Unit Holders.”

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 sell up to one percent (1%) of the value (based on prior year engineering reports) of the Royalty in any 12 month period, but otherwise may not sell all or any part of the Royalty unless approved by holders of 75% of all Units outstanding. In either 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 2).

2.    Net Overriding Royalty Interest and Distribution to Unit Holders

The amounts to be distributed to Unit Holders (“Monthly Distribution Amounts”) are determined on a monthly basis by the Trustee. The Monthly Distribution Amount is an amount equal to the sum of cash received by the Trustee during a calendar month attributable to the Royalty, 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 and such negative 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 proceeds received by the owner of the Underlying Properties 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%.

The initial carrying value of the Royalty ($133,275,528) represented Southland’s historical net book value at the date of the transfer of the Trust. Accumulated amortization as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 aggregated $123,912,771 and $122,306,532 respectively.

 

23


Notes to Financial Statements — (Continued)

 

3.    Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Trust are prepared on the following basis:

 

   

The net proceeds attributable to the Royalty (the “Royalty Income”) recorded for a month is the amount computed and paid by the owner of the Underlying Properties, Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP (“Burlington”), the present owner of the Underlying Properties, to the Trustee for the Trust. Royalty Income consists of the proceeds received by Burlington 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%. The calculation of net proceeds by Burlington for any month includes adjustments to proceeds and costs for prior months and impacts the Royalty Income paid to the Trust and the distribution to Unit Holders for that month.

 

   

Trust expenses recorded are based on liabilities paid and cash reserves established from Royalty Income for liabilities and contingencies.

 

   

Distributions to Unit Holders are recorded when declared by the Trustee.

 

   

The conveyance which transferred the Royalty to the Trust provides that any excess of production costs applicable to the Underlying Properties over gross proceeds from such properties must be recovered from future net proceeds before Royalty Income is again paid to the Trust.

The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) because revenues are not accrued in the month of production; certain cash reserves may be established for contingencies which would not be accrued in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP; expenses are recorded when paid instead of when incurred; and amortization of the Royalty calculated on a unit-of-production basis is charged directly to trust corpus instead of as an expense. The basis of accounting used by the Trust is widely used by royalty trusts for financial reporting purposes.

4.    Federal Income Taxes

For federal income tax purposes, the Trust constitutes a fixed investment trust which 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 Trust’s 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 rather than when distributed by the Trust.

The Trust is a widely held fixed investment trust (“WHFIT”) classified as a non-mortgage widely held fixed investment trust (“NMWHFIT”) for federal income tax purposes. The Trustee is the representative of the Trust that will provide tax information in accordance with the applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT and a NMWHFIT.

The Royalty constitutes an “economic interest” in oil and gas properties for federal income tax purposes. Unit Holders must report their share of the production revenues of the Trust as ordinary income from oil and gas royalties and are entitled to claim depletion with respect to such income. The Royalty is treated as a single property for depletion purposes. The Trust has on file technical advice memoranda confirming such tax treatment.

Sales of gas production from certain coal seam wells drilled prior to January 1, 1993, qualified for federal income tax credits under Section 29 (now Section 45K) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), through 2002 but not thereafter. Accordingly, under present law, the Trust’s production and sale of gas from coal seam wells does not qualify for tax credit under Section 45K of the Code (the “Section 45 Tax

 

24


Notes to Financial Statements — (Continued)

 

Credit”). Congress has at various times since 2002 considered energy legislation, including provisions to reinstate the Section 45 Tax Credit in various ways and to various extents, but no legislation that would qualify the Trust’s current production for such credit has been enacted. No prediction can be made as to what future tax legislation affecting Section 45K of the Code may be proposed or enacted or, if enacted, its impact, if any, on the Trust and the Unit Holders.

The classification of the Trust’s income for purposes of the passive loss rules may be important to a Unit Holder. As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, royalty income such as that derived through the Trust will generally be treated as portfolio income that may not be offset or reduced by passive losses.

Tax positions taken by the Trust related to the Trust’s pass-through status and state tax positions have been reviewed, and the Trustee is of the opinion that material positions taken would more likely than not be sustained by examination. In accordance with the Trust’s basis of accounting discussed in Note 3, the Trust would only recognize the impact of tax positions that were not upheld at the time of payment. As of December 31, 2014, the Trust’s tax years 2011 and thereafter remain subject to examination.

5.    Certain Contracts

Gas produced from the Underlying Properties is processed at one of the following five plants: Chaco, Val Verde, Milagro, Ignacio, and Kutz, all located in the San Juan Basin. All of such gas other than that processed at Kutz is being sold to Chevron USA, Inc. (“Chevron”) under a contract with Burlington dated April 1, 2011 which provides for the delivery of gas through March 31, 2015 and from year to year thereafter. Neither Burlington nor Chevron exercised their right to terminate the Chevron contract and therefore, its term has been extended through March 31, 2016, and thereafter until terminated by either party upon six months notice to the other.

Gas produced from the Underlying Properties and processed at Kutz was being sold under three separate contracts with EDF Trading North America, LLC (“EDF”), Shell Energy North America (US), LP (“Shell”) and New Mexico Gas Company, Inc. (“NMGC”). The NMGC contract for the sale of certain winter-only supplies of the Kutz gas is for a five-year term expiring March 31, 2017. The contracts effective as of April 1, 2014 with EDF and Shell are set to expire March 31, 2015. Burlington has circulated another round of requests for proposal for the purchase of those volumes through March 31, 2016.

All four of the current contracts provide for (i) the delivery of such gas at various delivery points through their respective termination dates; and (ii) the sale of such gas at prices which fluctuate in accordance with the published indices for gas sold in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico.

Burlington contracts with Williams Four Corners, LLC (“WFC”) and Enterprise Field Services, LLC (“EFS”) for the gathering and processing of virtually all of the gas produced from the Underlying Properties. Four new contracts were entered into with WFC, each of which is effective for a term of 15 years, which commenced April 1, 2010. Burlington has signed a similar agreement with EFS which was effective November 1, 2011 for a term of 15 years. Burlington has disclosed to the Trust a summary of that agreement which the Trust has reviewed with its consultants, subject to conditions of confidentiality.

Confidentiality agreements with gatherers and purchasers of gas produced from the Underlying Properties prohibit public disclosure of certain terms and conditions of gas sales contracts with those entities, including specific pricing terms and gas receipt points. Such disclosure could compromise the ability to compete effectively in the marketplace for the sale of gas produced from the Underlying Properties.

6.    Significant Customers

Information as to significant purchasers of oil and gas production attributable to the Trust’s economic interests is included in Note 5 above.

 

25


Notes to Financial Statements — (Continued)

 

7.    Settlements and Litigation

On July 31, 2014, the Trustee filed a lawsuit (the “2014 Litigation”) against Burlington in the 1st Judicial District Court for the County of Santa Fe, State of New Mexico. The case is styled Compass Bank, in its Capacity as Trustee of the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust v. Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP and BROG GP LLC, No. D-101-CV-2014-01765. The Trust asserts claims for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and seeks a declaratory judgment arising out of a number of unresolved revenue and expense audit exceptions asserted by the Trust’s auditors. More particularly, the claims involve Burlington’s failure to properly account for and pay net overriding royalty interests to the Trust with respect to oil and gas production from numerous properties in the San Juan Basin of northwestern New Mexico. Based on information currently available to the Trust and its auditors, the Trust seeks monetary relief (including actual and punitive damages, costs, expenses, interest and attorney fees) in excess of $12,000,000, along with specific performance of certain contractual obligations, declaratory relief and a judgment for other relief to which it may show itself to be justly entitled. Burlington has filed an answer, the parties have commenced discovery, and there is a mediation scheduled for April 2015.

On February 21, 2014, Burlington informed the Trustee it had discovered a failure by Burlington to properly allocate approximately $4.3 million of severance taxes to the calculation of the Royalty during a period commencing in 2007 until the error was corrected in 2012, which resulted in what it characterized as an overpayment to the Trust in the amount of approximately $3.25 million. Burlington recouped the overpayment in installments of $361,215 commencing in March 2014 and continuing in equal installments through November 2014. Burlington elected not to charge interest against the overpayment.

On March 14, 2008, Burlington notified the Trust that the distribution for March would be reduced by $4,921,578. Burlington described this amount as the Trust’s portion of what Burlington had paid to settle claims for the underpayment of royalties in the case styled United States of America ex rel. Harrold E. (“Gene”) Wright v. AGIP Petroleum Co. et al., Civil Action No. 5:03CV264 (formerly 9:98-CV-30) (E.D. Tex.). The Trust has objected to Burlington’s unilateral decision to deduct any amount of the settlement paid by Burlington from the distributions payable to the Trust and formally complained of that action as part of the 2014 Litigation. The Trust argues that no part of the settlement should have been allocated to the Trust because the claim which gave rise to the settlement was presented to Burlington for payment prior to the effective date of a mutual release of all claims entered into by Burlington and the Trust in 1996. In the alternative, the Trust contends that even if Burlington’s allocation of part of the Wright settlement was not barred by the mutual release, the amount allocated to the Trust by Burlington was improper and excessive.

Burlington has informed the Trust that pursuant to an Order to Perform issued by the Minerals Management Service (“MMS”) dated June 10, 1998 (the “MMS Order”), the Jicarilla Apache Nation (the “Jicarilla”) alleged that in valuing production for royalty purposes one must perform (i) a major portion analysis, which calculates value on the highest price paid or offered for a major portion of the gas produced from the field where the leased lands are situated; and (ii) a dual accounting calculation, which computes royalties on the greater of (a) the value of gas prior to processing or (b) the combined value of processed residue gas and plant products plus the value of any condensate recovered downstream without processing. The MMS Order alleged that Burlington’s dual accounting calculations on Native American leases were based on less than major portion prices. In 2000, Burlington and the Jicarilla entered into a settlement agreement resolving the issues associated with the dual accounting calculation. The major portion calculation issue remains outstanding. Burlington takes the position that a judgment or settlement could entitle Burlington to reimbursement from the Trust for past periods.

In 2007 Burlington obtained an Administrative Order from the Department of the Interior (the “DOI”) rejecting that portion of the MMS Order requiring Burlington to calculate and pay additional royalties based on the major portion price derived by the MMS. The Jicarilla filed suit solely against the DOI in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in an action entitled 1:07-CV-00803-RJL, Jicarilla Apache Nation v.

 

26


Notes to Financial Statements — (Continued)

 

Department of Interior (the “DOI Case”) seeking a declaration that the Administrative Order is unlawful and of no force and effect, as well as an injunction requiring enforcement of the underlying major portion orders that were rejected by the Assistant Secretary. In 2009, a summary judgment was entered by the district court in the DOI Case upholding the Administrative Order and dismissing the Jicarilla’s claims. The Jicarilla appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. On July 16, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals held that the 2007 Administrative Order dismissing the Jicarilla claims was arbitrary and capricious with respect to January 1984 through February 1988 production periods and by Memorandum Order dated October 7, 2011, remanded the matter to the DOI for further proceedings. While a judgment or settlement in the DOI Case could impact the Royalty Income of the Trust, Burlington has informed the Trust that it does not have sufficient information to estimate a range of loss for the Trust because the DOI has not provided a major portion calculation for the January 1984 to February 1988 time period as required by the July 16, 2010 Court of Appeals ruling described above. Burlington indicates that the situation will not be alleviated until the DOI provides Burlington with a new Order to Perform or similar notice, but that it cannot predict when or if the DOI will provide such information or notice. The Trust’s consultants will continue to monitor development in this matter and analyze the appropriateness of the allocation, if any, by Burlington of any portion of any settlement or judgment in calculating the Royalty.

8.    Proved Oil and Gas Reserves (Unaudited)

Proved oil and gas reserve information is included in Item 2 of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

9.    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, 2014 (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

 

2014

   Royalty
Income
     Distributable
Income
     Distributable
Income and
Distribution
Per Unit
 

First Quarter

   $ 14,526       $ 14,090       $ .302300   

Second Quarter

     18,125         17,712         .380019   

Third Quarter

     16,076         15,693         .336690   

Fourth Quarter

     12,781         12,378         .265578   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 61,508       $ 59,873       $ 1.284587   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

2013

   Royalty
Income
     Distributable
Income
     Distributable
Income and
Distribution
Per Unit
 

First Quarter

   $ 3,672       $ 3,396       $ .072868   

Second Quarter

     6,238         5,537         .118790   

Third Quarter

     13,744         13,456         .288708   

Fourth Quarter

     14,389         14,103         .302589   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 38,043       $ 36,492       $ 0.782955   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

10.    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.

 

27


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Compass Bank, Trustee

San Juan Basin Royalty Trust

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets, liabilities and trust corpus of the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statements of distributable income and changes in trust corpus for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014. 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 conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Trustee, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As described in Note 3 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.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the assets, liabilities and trust corpus of the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the distributable income and changes in trust corpus for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, on the basis of accounting described in Note 3 to the financial statements.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), San Juan Basin Royalty Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 Framework) and our report dated March 2, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

/s/    Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P.
Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P.

Fort Worth, Texas

March 2, 2015

 

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Within the two most recent fiscal years, there have been no changes in and disagreements with the Trust’s independent accountants.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Trust maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Trust’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Due to the pass-through nature of the Trust, Burlington is the primary source of the information disclosed in this Form 10-K and the other periodic reports filed by the Trust with the SEC. Consequently, the Trust’s ability to timely disclose relevant information in its periodic reports is dependent upon Burlington’s delivery of such information. Accordingly, the Trust maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that Burlington accurately and timely accumulates and delivers such relevant information to the Trustee and those who participate in the preparation of the Trust’s periodic reports to allow for the preparation of such periodic reports and any decisions regarding disclosure.

The Conveyance transferring the Royalty to the Trust obligates Burlington to provide the Trust with certain information, including information concerning calculations of net proceeds owed to the Trust. Pursuant to the settlement of litigation in 1996 between the Trust and Burlington, Burlington agreed to newer, more formal financial reporting and audit procedures as compared to those provided in the Conveyance.

In order to help ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information required to be disclosed in the Trust’s periodic reports, the Trust employs independent public accountants, compliance auditors, marketing consultants, attorneys and petroleum engineers. These outside professionals advise the Trustee in its review and compilation of this information for inclusion in this Form 10-K and the other periodic reports provided by the Trust to the SEC.

The Trustee has evaluated the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2014 and has concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective, at the “reasonable assurance” level (as such term is used in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act), to ensure that material information related to the Trust is gathered on a timely basis to be included in the Trust’s periodic reports. The Trustee has also concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trustee in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the timeframes specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. In reaching its conclusions, the Trustee has considered the Trust’s dependence on Burlington to deliver timely and accurate information to the Trust. Additionally, during the quarter ended December 31, 2014 there were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. The Trustee has reviewed neither the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures nor the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting in concert with management, a board of directors or an independent audit committee. The Trust does not have, nor does the Indenture provide for, officers, a board of directors or an independent audit committee.

Trustee’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Compass Bank, in its capacity as trustee (the “Trustee”) of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (the “Trust”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Trust’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Trustee to provide

 

29


reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with a modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As of December 31, 2014, the Trustee assessed the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting established in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 Framework). Based on the assessment, the Trustee determined that the Trust maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on those criteria.

Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements of the Trust included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014. The report, which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, is included in this Item under the heading “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.”

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Compass Bank, Trustee

San Juan Basin Royalty Trust

We have audited San Juan Basin Royalty Trust’s (the “Trust”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 Framework) (the “COSO criteria”). Compass Bank (the “Trustee”) is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the Trustee’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting in Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial accounting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A trust’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with the Trust’s modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A trust’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the trust; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with its modified cash basis of accounting, and that receipts and expenditures of the trust are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the trustee; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the trust’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Trust maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on the COSO criteria.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the statements of assets, liabilities and trust corpus as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and the related statements of distributable income and changes in trust corpus of the San Juan Basin Royalty Trust for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2014, and our report dated March 2, 2015 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

/s/    Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P.
Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P.

Fort Worth, Texas

March 2, 2015

 

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

All information required to be disclosed by the Trust in a Current Report on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2014, has previously been reported on a Form 8-K.

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The Trust has no directors, executive officers or employees; the Trust is managed by a corporate trustee. Accordingly, the Trust does not have an audit committee, audit committee financial expert or a code of ethics applicable to executive officers. The Trustee, however, has adopted a policy regarding standards of conduct and conflicts of interest applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Trustee. The Trustee is a corporate trustee which may be removed, with or without cause, at a meeting of the Unit Holders, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all the Units then outstanding.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

The Trust has no directors or officers. Accordingly, only holders of more than 10% of the Trust’s Units are required to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership of Units and reports of changes in such ownership. Based solely on a review of these reports, the Trust believes that the applicable reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 were complied with for all transactions which occurred in 2014.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Trust has no directors, executive officers or employees. Accordingly, the Trust does not have a compensation committee or maintain any equity compensation plans, and there are no Units reserved for issuance under any such plans. During the past three years the Trustee received total remuneration as follows:

 

Name of Individual

or Entity

   Year      Capacities in
Which Served
     Cash
Compensation (1)
 

Compass Bank

     2014         Trustee       $ 310,150   

Compass Bank

     2013         Trustee       $ 259,959   

Compass Bank

     2012         Trustee       $ 256,563   

 

(1) 

Under the Indenture, the Trustee is entitled to an administrative fee for its administrative services and the preparation of quarterly and annual statements of: (i) 1/20 of 1% of the first $100 million of the annual gross revenue of the Trust, and 1/30 of 1% of the annual gross revenue of the Trust in excess of $100 million and (ii) the Trustee’s standard hourly rates for time in excess of 300 hours annually. As of January 1, 2003, the administrative fee due under items (i) and (ii) above will not be less than $36,000 per year (as adjusted annually to reflect the increase (if any) in the Producers Price Index as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics).

 

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS

The Trust has no directors, executive officers or employees. Accordingly, the Trust does not maintain any equity compensation plans and there are no Units reserved for issuance under any such plans.

(a) Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners. The following table sets forth as of February 24, 2015 information with respect to the Unit Holders who were known to the Trustee to be the beneficial owners of more than 5 percent of the outstanding Units.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Number of  Units
Beneficially Owned
     Percent of
Class
 

First Eagle Investment Management, LLC

     5,686,703         12.20

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105(1)

     

Seymour Schulich

     3,600,000         7.29

20 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 1900

Toronto ON, Canada M4R 1K8(2)

     

Beck, Mack & Oliver LLC

     2,987,404         6.41

360 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10017(3)

     

 

(1) This information was provided to the SEC and to the Trustee in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 30, 2015, on behalf of First Eagle Investment Management, LLC.

 

(2) This information was provided to the SEC and to the Trustee in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 7, 2015, on behalf of Seymour Schulich.

 

(3) This information was provided to the SEC and to the Trustee in a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 26, 2015, on behalf of Beck, Mack & Oliver LLC.

(b) Security Ownership of Trustee. As of February 23, 2014, Compass Bank beneficially owned 27,512 Units, or less than one percent of the outstanding Units. Compass Bank has sole voting power over 5,500 of these Units and no voting power over the remaining 22,012. Compass Bank has sole power to dispose of 5,500 of such Units.

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The Trust has no directors or executive officers and is not empowered to carry on any business activity. Accordingly, there are no relationships or related transactions to which the Trust was a party that are required to be disclosed. See Item 11 for the remuneration received by the Trustee during the year ended December 31, 2014 and Item 12 for information concerning Units owned by the Trustee.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The following table presents fees for professional audit services rendered by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., the Trust’s principal accountants, for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 and fees billed for other services rendered to the Trust by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P. during those periods.

 

     2014      2013  

Audit Fees

   $ 87,160       $ 86,000   

Audit-Related Fees

     -0-         -0-   

Tax Fees

     4,040         4,450   

All Other Fees

     -0-         -0-   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 91,200       $ 90,450   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

33


Audit Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, review of the interim financial statements included in the Trust’s quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P. in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

Audit-Related Fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Trust’s financial statements. This category includes fees related to audit and attest services not required by statute or regulations and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.

Tax Fees consist of fees for professional services billed for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal and state tax compliance, return preparation, preparation of the B-schedules and tax booklet.

All Other Fees consist of fees billed for products and services other than the services reported above.

The Trust has no directors or executive officers. Accordingly, the Trust does not have an audit committee and there are no audit committee pre-approval policies or procedures relating to services provided by the Trust’s independent accountants. Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee engages and approves all services rendered by the Trust’s independent accountants.

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The following documents are filed as a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

Financial Statements

Included in Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus

Statements of Distributable Income

Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus

Notes to Financial Statements

 

34


Financial Statement Schedules

Financial statement schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the required information is given in the financial statements or notes thereto.

Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

4(a)  

   San Juan Basin Amended and Restated Royalty Trust Indenture, dated December 12, 2007 (the original Royalty Trust Indenture, dated November 1, 1980 having been entered into between Southland Royalty Company and The Fort Worth National Bank, as Trustee, which was amended and restated effective September 30, 2002), heretofore filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 14, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference.*

4(b)  

   Net Overriding Royalty Conveyance from Southland Royalty Company to The Fort Worth National Bank, as Trustee, dated November 3, 1980 (without Schedules), heretofore filed as Exhibit 4(b) to the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference.*

4(c)  

   Assignment of Net Overriding Interest (San Juan Basin Royalty Trust), dated September 30, 2002, between Bank One, N.A. and TexasBank, heretofore filed as Exhibit 4(c) to the Trust’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, is incorporated herein by reference.*

10  

   Indemnification Agreement, dated May 13, 2003, with effectiveness as of July 30, 2002, by and between Lee Ann Anderson and San Juan Basin Royalty Trust, heretofore filed as Exhibit 10(a) to the Trust’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.*

13(a)  

   Registrant’s Annual Report to Unit Holders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.**

13(b)  

   Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference.*

23  

   Consent of Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., reservoir engineer.**

31  

   Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a), dated March 2, 2015, by Lee Ann Anderson, Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of Compass Bank, the Trustee of the Trust.**

32  

   Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b), dated March 2, 2015, by Lee Ann Anderson, Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of Compass Bank on behalf of Compass Bank, the Trustee of the Trust.***

99.1

   Independent Petroleum Engineers’ Report prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., dated March 2, 2015.**

 

*

A copy of this Exhibit is available to any Unit Holder (free of charge) upon written request to the Trustee, Compass Bank, 300 W. 7th St., Suite B, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.

 

** Filed herewith.

 

*** Furnished herewith.

 

35


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.

 

SAN JUAN BASIN ROYALTY TRUST
By:   COMPASS BANK, AS TRUSTEE OF THE
  SAN JUAN BASIN ROYALTY TRUST
  By:   /s/    Lee Ann Anderson
            Lee Ann Anderson
    Vice President and Senior Trust Officer

Date: March 2, 2015

(The Trust has no directors or executive officers)

 

36


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

4(a)  

   San Juan Basin Amended and Restated Royalty Trust Indenture, dated December 12, 2007 (the original Royalty Trust Indenture, dated November 1, 1980 having been entered into between Southland Royalty Company and The Fort Worth National Bank, as Trustee, which was amended and restated effective September 30, 2002), heretofore filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 14, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference.*

4(b)  

   Net Overriding Royalty Conveyance from Southland Royalty Company to The Fort Worth National Bank, as Trustee, dated November 3, 1980 (without Schedules), heretofore filed as Exhibit 4(b) to the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference.*

4(c)  

   Assignment of Net Overriding Interest (San Juan Basin Royalty Trust), dated September 30, 2002, between Bank One, N.A. and TexasBank, heretofore filed as Exhibit 4(c) to the Trust’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, is incorporated herein by reference.*

10  

   Indemnification Agreement, dated May 13, 2003, with effectiveness as of July 30, 2002, by and between Lee Ann Anderson and San Juan Basin Royalty Trust, heretofore filed as Exhibit 10(a) to the Trust’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference.*

13(a)  

   Registrant’s Annual Report to Unit Holders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.**

13(b)  

   Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference.*

23  

   Consent of Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., reservoir engineer.**

31  

   Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a), dated March 2, 2015, by Lee Ann Anderson, Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of Compass Bank, the Trustee of the Trust.**

32  

   Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b), dated March 2, 2015, by Lee Ann Anderson, Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of Compass Bank, on behalf of Compass Bank, the Trustee of the Trust.***

99.1

   Independent Petroleum Engineers’ Report prepared by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc., dated March 2, 2015.**

 

*

A copy of this Exhibit is available to any Unit Holder (free of charge) upon written request to the Trustee, Compass Bank, 300 W. 7th St., Suite B, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.

 

** Filed herewith.

 

*** Furnished herewith.

 

37