SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report
February 5, 2008
(Date of earliest event reported)
Torch Energy Royalty Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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1-12474 |
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74-6411424 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(Commission File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19890
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
302/636-6016
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On February 5, 2008, Torch Energy Royalty Trust (the Trust) and Wilmington Trust
Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee of the Trust (the Trustee)
under the Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of October 1, 1993, confirmed the existence of the
Second Amendment to the Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement dated November 30, 2004 entered into
by Robinsons Bend Operating Company, LLC, a Delaware company, successor in interest to Torch
Energy Associates, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership (Producer), and Everlast Energy LLC,
a Delaware company, successor in interest to Velasco Gas Company Ltd., a Texas limited partnership,
(Gatherer) (the Second Amendment). The Second Amendment provides that
Section 3.1 of the Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement entered into as of August 9,
1990, by and between Producers and Gatherers respective predecessors in interest, as amended by
the First Amendment to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement entered into as of October 1, 1993,
by and between such parties (as amended, collectively the Agreement ) should be amended
to read as follows:
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Producer shall pay Gatherer a fee of $0.53 per barrel for gathering, separation
and disposal of water until Trust terminates, at which point Producer shall pay
Gatherer a fee of $1.00 per barrel for gathering, separation and disposal of
water. |
Neither the Trust nor the Trustee is a party to the Agreement or the Second Amendment and the
Trust did not approve or ratify the Second Amendment. No assurance can be given of the effect of
the Second Amendment on the Trust, its assets or the production costs chargeable to the Trust based
on the Agreement. Pursuant to the net overriding royalty conveyance (Torch Energy Royalty
Trust)(Alabama), certain production costs including second category costs as defined in the
conveyance are chargeable to the Trust, provided that the costs and expenses paid by a working
interest owner to an affiliate of the working interest owner and chargeable to the Trust for
performing such operations or services shall not exceed competitive contract charges prevailing in
the area for such operations or services. The Trust believes that the costs associated with the
Agreement are considered second category costs and are subject to the competitive limitation
noted above.
As previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Trust with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2008, at a meeting of Unitholders held on January 29, 2008,
holders of 67.6% of the outstanding units of the Trust voted to terminate the Trust pursuant to the
applicable provisions of the Trust Agreement of the Trust.
Cautionary Statement on Risks Associated with the Trusts Forward-Looking Statements.
This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements, as defined in Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, by the Trust that are subject
to risks and uncertainties. The words believe, expect, anticipate, intend, plan,
estimate, may, should, could, and similar expressions are intended to identify such
statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are to be
interpreted only as of the date on which they are made. The Trust can give no assurances that the
assumptions upon which these statements are based will prove to be correct. The Trust undertakes
no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement except as required by law.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
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99.1
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Second Amendment to Water Gathering and Disposal Agreement, by and among Robinsons Bend
Operating Company, LLC, a Delaware company, successor in interest to Torch Energy Associates,
Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, and Everlast Energy LLC, a Delaware company, successor in
interest to Velasco Gas Company Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, dated November 30, 2004. |