UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
OR
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission File Number: 1-10982
Cross Timbers Royalty Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas | 75-6415930 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
c/o The Corporate Trustee:
Simmons Bank
P.O. Box 470727
Fort Worth, Texas 76147
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(855) 588-7839
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
NONE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if change since last report)
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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☐ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☒ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of units of beneficial interest outstanding, as of the latest practicable date:
Outstanding as of May 1, 2018
6,000,000
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2018
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PART I. | ||||||
Item 1. |
4 | |||||
5 | ||||||
Condensed Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 |
6 | |||||
Condensed Statements of Distributable Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 |
7 | |||||
Condensed Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 |
8 | |||||
9 | ||||||
Item 2. |
12 | |||||
Item 3. |
17 | |||||
Item 4. |
17 | |||||
PART II. | ||||||
Item 1A. |
18 | |||||
Item 6. |
18 | |||||
19 |
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST
The following are definitions of significant terms used in this Form 10-Q:
Bbl |
Barrel (of oil) |
Mcf |
Thousand cubic feet (of natural gas) |
MMBtu |
One million British Thermal Units, a common energy measurement |
net proceeds |
Gross proceeds received by XTO Energy from sale of production from the underlying properties, less applicable costs, as defined in the net profits interest conveyances. |
net profits income |
Net proceeds multiplied by the applicable net profits percentage of 75% or 90%, which is paid to the Trust by XTO Energy. Net profits income is referred to as royalty income for income tax purposes. |
net profits interest |
An interest in an oil and gas property measured by net profits from the sale of production, rather than a specific portion of production. The following defined net profits interests were conveyed to the Trust from the underlying properties: |
90% net profits interests interests that entitle the Trust to receive 90% of the net proceeds from the underlying properties that are substantially all royalty or overriding royalty interests in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. |
75% net profits interests interests that entitle the Trust to receive 75% of the net proceeds from the underlying properties that are working interests in Texas and Oklahoma. |
royalty interest (and overriding royalty interest) |
A non-operating interest in an oil and gas property that provides the owner a specified share of production without any production expense or development costs. |
underlying properties |
XTO Energys interest in certain oil and gas properties from which the net profits interests were conveyed. The underlying properties include royalty and overriding royalty interests in producing and nonproducing properties in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, and working interests in producing properties located in Texas and Oklahoma. |
working interest |
An operating interest in an oil and gas property that provides the owner a specified share of production that is subject to all production expense and development costs. |
3
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The condensed financial statements included herein are presented, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Trustee believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Trusts latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of the Trustee, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the assets, liabilities and trust corpus of the Cross Timbers Royalty Trust at March 31, 2018, and the distributable income and changes in trust corpus for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, have been included. Distributable income for such interim periods is not necessarily indicative of the distributable income for the full year. The condensed financial statements as of March 31, 2018, and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 have been subjected to a review by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Trusts independent registered public accounting firm, whose report is included herein.
4
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Unitholders of Cross Timbers Royalty Trust and
Simmons Bank, Trustee:
Results of Review of Financial Statements
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed statement of assets, liabilities and trust corpus of Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (the Trust) as of March 31, 2018, and the related condensed statements of distributable income and of changes in trust corpus for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the interim financial statements). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with the modified cash basis of accounting described in Note 1.
We have previously 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, 2017, and the related statements of distributable income and of changes in trust corpus for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated March 12, 2018, which included a paragraph describing the modified cash basis of accounting, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed statement of assets, liabilities and trust corpus as of December 31, 2017, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the statements of assets, liabilities and trust corpus from which it has been derived.
Basis for Review Results
These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Trusts management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Basis of Accounting
As described in Note 1, these financial statements were prepared on the modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Dallas, TX
May 10, 2018
5
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST
Condensed Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus (Unaudited)
March 31, 2018 |
December 31, 2017 |
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ASSETS |
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Cash and short-term investments |
$ | 1,536,792 | $ | 1,469,830 | ||||
Interest to be received |
1,192 | 960 | ||||||
Net profits interests in oil and gas propertiesnet (Note 1) |
9,120,594 | 9,311,334 | ||||||
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$ | 10,658,578 | $ | 10,782,124 | |||||
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LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS |
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Distribution payable to unitholders |
$ | 537,984 | $ | 470,790 | ||||
Expense reserve (a) |
1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | ||||||
Trust corpus (6,000,000 units of beneficial interest authorized and outstanding) |
9,120,594 | 9,311,334 | ||||||
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$ | 10,658,578 | $ | 10,782,124 | |||||
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(a) | Expense reserve allows Trustee to pay its obligations should it be unable to pay them out of the net profits income. As of March 31, 2018, the reserve currently established by the Trustee is fully funded at $1,000,000. |
The accompanying notes to condensed financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
6
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST
Condensed Statements of Distributable Income (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31 |
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2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Net profits income |
$ | 2,277,499 | $ | 1,624,671 | ||||
Interest income |
3,460 | 987 | ||||||
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Total income |
2,280,959 | 1,625,658 | ||||||
Administration expense |
250,679 | 242,238 | ||||||
Cash reserves withheld for Trust expenses |
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Distributable income |
$ | 2,030,280 | $ | 1,383,420 | ||||
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Distributable income per unit (6,000,000 units) |
$ | 0.338380 | $ | 0.230570 | ||||
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The accompanying notes to condensed financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
7
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST
Condensed Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31 |
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2018 | 2017 | |||||||
Trust corpus, beginning of period |
$ | 9,311,334 | $ | 9,903,800 | ||||
Amortization of net profits interests |
(190,740 | ) | (117,260 | ) | ||||
Distributable income |
2,030,280 | 1,383,420 | ||||||
Distributions declared |
(2,030,280 | ) | (1,383,420 | ) | ||||
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Trust corpus, end of period |
$ | 9,120,594 | $ | 9,786,540 | ||||
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The accompanying notes to condensed financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
8
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. | Basis of Accounting |
The financial statements of Cross Timbers Royalty Trust (the Trust) are prepared on the following basis and are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP):
- | Net profits income recorded for a month is the amount computed and paid by XTO Energy Inc., the owner of the underlying properties, to Simmons Bank, as trustee (the Trustee) for the Trust. XTO Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation. Net profits income consists of net proceeds received by XTO Energy from the underlying properties in the prior month, multiplied by net profit percentages of 90% for the 90% net profits interests, and 75% for the 75% net profits interests. |
- | Costs deducted in the calculation of net proceeds for the 90% net profits interests generally include applicable taxes, transportation, marketing and legal costs. In addition to those costs, the 75% net profits interests include deductions for production expense, development costs, operating charges and other costs. |
- | Net profits income is computed separately for each of five conveyances under which the net profits interests were conveyed to the Trust. If monthly costs exceed revenues for any conveyance, such excess costs must be recovered, with accrued interest, from future net proceeds of that conveyance and cannot reduce net proceeds from the other conveyances. |
- | Interest income and distribution payable to unitholders include interest earned on the previous months investment. |
- | Trust expenses are recorded based on liabilities paid and cash reserves established by the Trustee for liabilities and contingencies. |
- | Distributions to unitholders are recorded when declared by the Trustee. |
The Trusts financial statements differ from those prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP because revenues are recognized when received rather than accrued in the month of production, expenses are recognized when paid rather than when incurred, and certain cash reserves may be established by the Trustee for contingencies which would not be recorded under U.S. GAAP. This comprehensive basis of accounting other than U.S. GAAP corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.
Most accounting pronouncements apply to entities whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, directing such entities to accrue or defer revenues and expenses in a period other than when such revenues were received or expenses were paid. Because the Trusts financial statements are prepared on the modified cash basis, as described above, most accounting pronouncements are not applicable to the Trusts financial statements.
9
Impairment of Net Profits Interest
The Trustee reviews the Trusts net profits interests (NPI) in oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the NPI may not be recoverable. In general, the Trustee does not view temporarily low prices as an indication of impairment. The markets for crude oil and natural gas have a history of significant price volatility and though prices will occasionally drop significantly, industry prices over the long term will continue to be driven by market supply and demand. If events and circumstances indicated the carrying value may not be recoverable, the Trustee would use the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows from the NPI to evaluate the recoverability of the Trust assets. If the undiscounted future net cash flows from the NPI are less than the NPI carrying value, the Trust would recognize an impairment loss for the difference between the NPI carrying value and the estimated fair value of the NPI. The determination as to whether the NPI is impaired requires a significant amount of judgment by the Trustee and is based on the best information available to the Trustee at the time of the evaluation. There was no impairment of the NPI during the quarter ended March 31, 2018.
Net profits interests in oil and gas properties
The initial carrying value of the net profits interests of $61,100,449 represents XTO Energys historical net book value for the interests on February 12, 1991, the creation date of the Trust. Amortization of the net profits interests is calculated on a unit-of-production basis and is charged directly to trust corpus. Accumulated amortization was $51,979,855 as of March 31, 2018 and $51,789,115 as of December 31, 2017.
2. | Income Taxes |
For federal income tax purposes, the Trust constitutes a fixed investment trust that is taxed as a grantor trust. A grantor trust is not subject to tax at the trust level. Accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made in the financial statements. The unitholders are considered to own the Trusts income and principal as though no trust were in existence. The income of the Trust is deemed to have been received or accrued by each unitholder at the time such income is received or accrued by the Trust and not when distributed by the Trust. Impairments recorded for book purposes will not result in a loss for tax purposes for the unitholders until the loss is recognized.
All revenues from the Trust are from sources within Texas, Oklahoma or New Mexico. Because it distributes all of its net income to unitholders, the Trust has not been taxed at the trust level in New Mexico or Oklahoma. While the Trust has not owed tax, the Trustee is required to file an Oklahoma income tax return reflecting the income and deductions of the Trust attributable to properties located in that state, along with a schedule that includes information regarding distributions to unitholders. Oklahoma and New Mexico tax the income of nonresidents from real property located within those states, and the Trust has been advised by counsel that such states will tax nonresidents on income from the net profits interests located in those states. Oklahoma and New Mexico also impose a corporate income tax that may apply to unitholders organized as corporations (subject to certain exceptions for S corporations and limited liability companies, depending on their treatment for federal tax purposes).
Texas imposes a franchise tax at a rate of .75% on gross revenues less certain deductions, as specifically set forth in the Texas franchise tax statutes. Entities subject to tax generally include trusts and most other types of entities that provide limited liability protection, unless otherwise exempt. Trusts that receive at least 90% of their federal gross income from certain passive sources, including royalties from mineral properties and other non-operated mineral interest income, and do not receive more than 10% of their income from operating an active trade or business, generally are exempt from the Texas franchise tax as passive entities. The Trust has been and expects to continue to be exempt from Texas franchise tax as a passive entity.
10
Because the Trust should be exempt from Texas franchise tax at the trust level as a passive entity, each unitholder that is a taxable entity under the Texas franchise tax will generally be required to include its Texas portion of trust revenues in its own Texas franchise tax computation. This revenue is sourced to Texas under provisions of the Texas Administrative Code providing that such income is sourced according to the principal place of business of the Trust, which is Texas.
Each unitholder should consult his or her own tax advisor regarding income tax requirements, if any, applicable to such persons ownership of Trust units.
Unitholders should consult the Trusts latest annual report on Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion of federal and state tax matters.
3. | Contingencies |
Several states have enacted legislation requiring state income tax withholding from payments made to nonresident recipients of oil and gas proceeds. After consultation with its tax counsel, the Trustee believes that it is not required to withhold on payments made to the unitholders. However, regulations are subject to change by the various states, which could change this conclusion. Should amounts be withheld on payments made to the Trust or the unitholders, distributions to the unitholders would be reduced by the required amount, subject to the filing of a claim for refund by the Trust or unitholders for such amount.
4. | Excess Costs |
If monthly costs exceed revenues for any conveyance, such excess costs must be recovered, with accrued interest, from future net proceeds of that conveyance and cannot reduce net proceeds from other conveyances.
The following summarizes excess costs activity, cumulative excess costs balances and accrued interest to be recovered by conveyance:
Underlying | ||||||||||||
TX WI | OK WI | Total | ||||||||||
Cumulative excess costs remaining at 12/31/17 |
$ | 2,009,349 | $ | | $ | 2,009,349 | ||||||
Net excess costs (recovery) for the quarter ended 3/31/18 |
(150,540 | ) | | (150,540 | ) | |||||||
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Cumulative excess costs remaining at 3/31/18 |
1,858,809 | | 1,858,809 | |||||||||
Accrued interest at 3/31/18 |
174,039 | | 174,039 | |||||||||
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Total remaining to be recovered at 3/31/18 |
$ | 2,032,848 | $ | | $ | 2,032,848 | ||||||
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11
NPI | ||||||||||||
TX WI | OK WI | Total | ||||||||||
Cumulative excess costs remaining at 12/31/17 |
$ | 1,507,012 | $ | | $ | 1,507,012 | ||||||
Net excess costs (recovery) for the quarter ended 3/31/18 |
(112,905 | ) | | (112,905 | ) | |||||||
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Cumulative excess costs remaining at 3/31/18 |
1,394,107 | | 1,394,107 | |||||||||
Accrued interest at 3/31/18 |
130,529 | | 130,529 | |||||||||
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Total remaining to be recovered at 3/31/18 |
$ | 1,524,636 | $ | | $ | 1,524,636 | ||||||
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Improved oil prices and lower development costs resulted in the partial recovery of excess costs on properties underlying the Texas working interests for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.
Underlying cumulative excess costs for the Texas working interest conveyance remaining as of March 31, 2018 totaled $2.0 million, including accrued interest of $0.2 million.
5. | XTO Energy Inc. |
In computing net proceeds for the 75% net profits interests, XTO Energy deducts an overhead charge as reimbursement for costs associated with monitoring these interests. This monthly overhead charge at March 31, 2018 was $39,246 ($29,434 NPI) and is subject to annual adjustment based on an oil and gas industry index.
XTO Energy deducts a monthly overhead charge for reimbursement of administrative expenses as operator of the Hewitt Unit, which is one of the properties underlying the Oklahoma 75% net profits interests. As of March 31, 2018, this monthly charge was approximately $29,000 ($22,000 NPI) and is subject to annual adjustment based on an oil and gas industry index. Other than this property, XTO Energy and ExxonMobil do not operate or control any of the underlying properties or related working interests.
Item 2. Trustees Discussion and Analysis.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Trustees discussion and analysis contained in the Trusts 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the condensed financial statements and notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available on the Trusts web site at www.crt-crosstimbers.com.
Distributable Income
For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, net profits income was $2,277,499 compared to $1,624,671 for first quarter 2017. This 40% increase in net profits income is primarily the result of increased oil and gas prices ($0.6 million). See Net Profits Income below.
12
After considering interest income of $3,460 and administration expense of $250,679, distributable income for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 was $2,030,280, or $0.338380 per unit of beneficial interest. Administration expense for the quarter increased $8,441 from the prior year quarter. For first quarter 2017, distributable income was $1,383,420, or $0.230570 per unit. Distributions to unitholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 were:
Record Date |
Payment Date |
Distribution per Unit |
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January 31, 2018 |
February 14, 2018 | $ | 0.107141 | |||
February 28, 2018 |
March 14, 2018 | 0.141575 | ||||
March 29, 2018 |
April 13, 2018 | 0.089664 | ||||
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$ | 0.338380 | |||||
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Net Profits Income
Net profits income is recorded when received by the Trust, which is the month following receipt by XTO Energy and generally two months after oil production and three months after gas production. Net profits income is generally affected by three major factors:
- | oil and gas sales volumes, |
- | oil and gas sales prices, and |
- | costs deducted in the calculation of net profits income. |
Because properties underlying the 90% net profits interests are primarily royalty and overriding royalty interests, the calculation of net profits income from these interests includes deductions for production and property taxes, legal costs, and marketing and transportation charges. In addition to these costs, the calculation of net profits income from the 75% net profits interests includes deductions for production expense, development costs and overhead since the related underlying properties are working interests.
13
The following is a summary of the calculation of net profits income received by the Trust:
Three Months Ended March 31 (a) |
Increase | |||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | (Decrease) | ||||||||||
Sales Volumes |
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Oil (Bbls) (b) |
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Underlying properties |
52,718 | 53,363 | (1 | %) | ||||||||
Average per day |
573 | 580 | (1 | %) | ||||||||
Net profits interests |
19,217 | 13,102 | 47 | % | ||||||||
Gas (Mcf) (b) |
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Underlying properties |
443,182 | 420,434 | 5 | % | ||||||||
Average per day |
4,817 | 4,570 | 5 | % | ||||||||
Net profits interests |
392,287 | 369,910 | 6 | % | ||||||||
Average Sales Prices |
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Oil (per Bbl) |
$ | 54.17 | $ | 45.22 | 20 | % | ||||||
Gas (per Mcf) |
$ | 4.61 | $ | 3.99 | 16 | % | ||||||
Revenues |
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Oil sales |
$ | 2,855,508 | $ | 2,413,076 | 18 | % | ||||||
Gas sales |
2,041,271 | 1,676,280 | 22 | % | ||||||||
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Total Revenues |
4,896,779 | 4,089,356 | 20 | % | ||||||||
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Costs |
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Taxes, transportation and other |
755,666 | 639,648 | 18 | % | ||||||||
Production expense (c) |
1,132,037 | 1,072,142 | 6 | % | ||||||||
Development costs |
266,838 | 299,580 | (11 | %) | ||||||||
Excess costs (d) |
150,540 | 272,796 | (45 | %) | ||||||||
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Total Costs |
2,305,081 | 2,284,166 | 1 | % | ||||||||
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Net Proceeds |
$ | 2,591,698 | $ | 1,805,190 | 44 | % | ||||||
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Net Profits Income |
$ | 2,277,499 | $ | 1,624,671 | 40 | % | ||||||
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(a) | Because of the interval between time of production and receipt of royalty income by the Trust, oil and gas sales for the quarter ended March 31 generally represent oil production for the period November through January and gas production for the period October through December. |
(b) | Oil and gas sales volumes are allocated to the net profits interests by dividing Trust net cash inflows by average sales prices. As oil and gas prices change, the Trusts allocated production volumes are impacted as the quantity of production necessary to cover expenses changes inversely with price. As such, the underlying property production volume changes may not correlate with the Trusts allocated production volumes in any given period. Therefore, comparative discussion of oil and gas sales volumes is based on the underlying properties. |
(c) | Production expense includes an overhead charge which is deducted and retained by the operator. XTO Energy deducts an overhead charge as reimbursement for costs associated with monitoring these interests. See Note 5 to Condensed Financial Statements. |
(d) | See Note 4 to Condensed Financial Statements. |
14
The following are explanations of significant variances on the underlying properties from first quarter 2017 to first quarter 2018:
Sales Volumes
Oil
Oil sales volumes decreased 1% from first quarter 2017 to first quarter 2018 primarily because of natural production decline and the timing of cash receipts.
Gas
Gas sales volumes increased 5% from first quarter 2017 to first quarter 2018 primarily because of the timing of cash receipts in first quarter 2018.
The estimated rate of natural production decline on the underlying oil and gas properties is approximately 6% to 8% a year.
Sales Prices
Oil
The average oil price increased 20% to $54.17 per Bbl for the first quarter. The first quarter 2018 oil price is primarily related to production from November 2017 through January 2018, when the average NYMEX price was $59.50 per Bbl.
Gas
Gas prices for the first quarter increased 16% to $4.61 per Mcf primarily due to the impact of increased liquids revenues. The first quarter 2018 gas price is primarily related to production from October through December 2017, when the average NYMEX price was $2.93 per MMBtu.
Costs
Taxes, Transportation and Other
Taxes, transportation and other costs increased 18% for the first quarter primarily because of increased other deductions, production taxes related to higher oil and gas revenues, partially offset by decreased property taxes.
Production Expense
Production expense increased 6% for the first quarter primarily because of increased secondary recovery, power and fuel, overhead, and chemical costs, partially offset by decreased repairs and maintenance, and miscellaneous non-operated costs.
Development Costs
Development costs related to properties underlying the 75% net profits interests decreased 11% for the first quarter primarily because of decreased activity and costs related to Texas oil properties, partially offset by increased activity and costs related to Oklahoma oil properties.
15
Excess Costs
If monthly costs exceed revenues for any conveyance, such excess costs must be recovered, with accrued interest, from future net proceeds of that conveyance and cannot reduce net proceeds from any other conveyance. Underlying cumulative excess costs for the Texas working interest conveyance remaining as of March 31, 2018 totaled $2.0 million, including accrued interest of $0.2 million. For further information on excess costs, see Note 4 to Condensed Financial Statements.
Contingencies
For information on contingencies, see Note 3 to Condensed Financial Statements.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this report relating to future plans, predictions, events or regulatory decisions are forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q including, without limitation, statements regarding the net profits interests, underlying properties, development activities, annual or monthly development, production and other costs and expenses, oil and gas prices and differentials to NYMEX prices, distributions to unitholders, and industry and market conditions, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in Part I, Item 1A of the Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which is incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. XTO Energy and the Trustee assume no duty to update these statements as of any future date.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
There have been no material changes in the Trusts market risks from the information disclosed in Part II, Item 7A of the Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trustee carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Trusts disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Trustee concluded that the Trusts disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to the Trustee to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In its evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures, the Trustee has relied, to the extent considered reasonable, on information provided by XTO Energy. There has not been any change in the Trusts internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trusts internal control over financial reporting.
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There have been no material changes in the risk factors disclosed under Part I, Item 1A of the Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
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Pursuant to the requirements 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.
CROSS TIMBERS ROYALTY TRUST By SIMMONS BANK, TRUSTEE | ||||||
By | /S/ LEE ANN ANDERSON | |||||
Lee Ann Anderson | ||||||
Senior Vice President | ||||||
EXXON MOBIL CORPORATION | ||||||
Date: May 10, 2018 | By | /S/ DAVID LEVY | ||||
David Levy | ||||||
Vice President - Upstream Business Services |
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