BP PRUDHOE BAY ROYALTY TRUST 10-Q
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 1-10243
BP PRUDHOE BAY ROYALTY TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Delaware
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13-6943724 |
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
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The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, New York, NY
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10286 |
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (212) 815-6908
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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer o
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Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act) Yes o No þ
As of April 9, 2008, 21,400,000 Units of Beneficial Interest were outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus
(Prepared on a modified basis of cash receipts and disbursements)
(In thousands, except unit data)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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(Unaudited) |
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Assets |
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Royalty interest, net (Notes 1, 2 and 3) |
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$ |
5,524 |
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$ |
6,026 |
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Cash and cash equivalents (Note 2) |
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1,011 |
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1,009 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
6,535 |
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$ |
7,035 |
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Liabilities and Trust Corpus |
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Accrued expenses |
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$ |
759 |
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$ |
443 |
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Trust corpus (40,000,000 units of beneficial
interest authorized, 21,400,000 units issued
and outstanding) |
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5,776 |
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6,592 |
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Total liabilities and trust corpus |
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$ |
6,535 |
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$ |
7,035 |
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See accompanying notes to financial statements (unaudited).
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Statements of Cash Earnings and Distributions
(Prepared on a modified basis of cash receipts and disbursements)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except unit data)
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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Royalty revenues |
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$ |
65,348 |
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$ |
43,206 |
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Interest income |
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19 |
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20 |
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Less: Trust administrative expenses |
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(183 |
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(169 |
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Cash earnings |
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$ |
65,184 |
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$ |
43,057 |
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Cash distributions |
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$ |
65,182 |
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$ |
43,059 |
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Cash distributions per unit |
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$ |
3.0459 |
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$ |
2.0121 |
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Units outstanding |
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21,400,000 |
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21,400,000 |
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See accompanying notes to financial statements (unaudited).
2
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus
(Prepared on a modified basis of cash receipts and disbursements)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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Trust corpus at beginning of period |
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$ |
6,592 |
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$ |
8,853 |
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Cash earnings |
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65,184 |
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43,057 |
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(Increase) in accrued expenses |
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(316 |
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(221 |
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Cash distributions |
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(65,182 |
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(43,059 |
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Amortization of royalty interest |
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(502 |
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(502 |
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Trust corpus at end of period |
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$ |
5,776 |
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$ |
8,128 |
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See accompanying notes to financial statements (unaudited).
3
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Prepared on a Modified Basis of Cash Receipts and Disbursements)
March 31, 2008
(1) |
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Formation of the Trust and Organization |
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BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust (the Trust), a grantor trust, was created as a Delaware business
trust pursuant to a Trust Agreement dated February 28, 1989 (the Trust Agreement) among The
Standard Oil Company (Standard Oil), BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. (BP Alaska), The Bank of
New York (the Trustee) and BNYM (Delaware) (successor to The Bank of New York (Delaware)), as
co-trustee. Standard Oil and BP Alaska are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of BP p.l.c.
(BP). |
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On February 28, 1989, Standard Oil conveyed an overriding royalty interest (the Royalty
Interest) to the Trust. The Trust was formed for the sole purpose of owning and administering
the Royalty Interest. The Royalty Interest represents the right to receive a per barrel royalty
(the Per Barrel Royalty) of 16.4246% on the lesser of (a) the first 90,000 barrels of the
average actual daily net production of oil and condensate per quarter or (b) the average actual
daily net production of oil and condensate per quarter from BP Alaskas working interest as of
February 28, 1989 in the Prudhoe Bay Field situated on the North Slope of Alaska (the BP
Working Interests). Trust Unit holders are subject to the risk that production will be
interrupted or discontinued or fall, on average, below 90,000 barrels per day in any quarter. BP
has guaranteed the performance of BP Alaska of its payment obligations with respect to the
Royalty Interest. |
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The trustees of the Trust are The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, and BNYM
(Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation. BNYM (Delaware) serves as co-trustee in order to
satisfy certain requirements of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Bank of New York alone is
able to exercise the rights and powers granted to the Trustee in the Trust Agreement. |
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The Per Barrel Royalty in effect for any day is equal to the price of West Texas Intermediate
crude oil (the WTI Price) for that day less scheduled Chargeable Costs (adjusted for
inflation) and Production Taxes (based on statutory rates then in effect). See Note 5 for
information concerning recent changes in Alaska oil and gas production taxes which have affected
the calculation of the Per Barrel Royalty. |
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The Trust is passive, with the Trustee having only such powers as are necessary for the
collection and distribution of revenues, the payment of Trust liabilities, and the protection of
the Royalty Interest. The Trustee, subject to certain conditions, is obligated to establish
cash
reserves and borrow funds to pay liabilities of the Trust when they become due. The Trustee may
sell Trust properties only (a) as authorized by a vote of the Trust Unit holders, (b) when
necessary to provide for the payment of specific liabilities of the Trust then due (subject to
certain conditions) or (c) upon termination of the Trust. Each Trust Unit issued and
outstanding represents an equal undivided share of beneficial interest in the Trust. Royalty
payments are received by the Trust and distributed to Trust Unit holders, net of Trust |
4
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Prepared on a Modified Basis of Cash Receipts and Disbursements)
March 31, 2008
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expenses,
in the month succeeding the end of each calendar quarter. The Trust will terminate upon the
first to occur of the following events: |
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a. |
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On or prior to December 31, 2010: upon a vote of holders of not less than 70% of the
outstanding Trust Units. |
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b. |
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After December 31, 2010: (i) upon a vote of holders of not less than 60% of the
outstanding Trust Units, or (ii) at such time the net revenues from the Royalty Interest
for two successive years commencing after 2010 are less than $1,000,000 per year (unless
the net revenues during such period are materially and adversely affected by certain force
majeure events). |
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In order to ensure that the Trust has the ability to pay future expenses, the Trust established
a cash reserve account, which the Trustee believes is sufficient to pay approximately one years
current and expected liabilities and expenses of the Trust. |
(2) |
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Basis of Accounting |
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The financial statements of the Trust are prepared on a modified cash basis and reflect the
Trusts assets, liabilities, corpus, earnings, and distributions, as follows: |
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Revenues are recorded when received (generally within 15 days of the end of the
preceding quarter) and distributions to Trust Unit holders are recorded when paid. |
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b. |
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Trust expenses (which include accounting, engineering, legal, and other professional
fees, trustees fees, and out-of-pocket expenses) are recorded on an accrual basis. |
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c. |
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Cash reserves may be established by the Trustee for certain contingencies that would
not be recorded under generally accepted accounting principles. |
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d. |
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Amortization of the Royalty Interest is calculated based on the units of production
method. Such amortization is charged directly to the Trust corpus, and does not affect cash
earnings. The daily rate for amortization per net equivalent barrel of oil for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 was $0.37 and $0.38, respectively. The Trust evaluates
impairment of the Royalty Interest by comparing the undiscounted cash flows expected to be
realized from the Royalty Interest to the carrying value, pursuant to Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment
or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. If the expected future undiscounted cash flows are less
than the carrying value, the Trust recognizes an impairment loss for the difference between
the carrying value and the estimated fair value of the Royalty Interest. |
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While these statements differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the modified cash basis of
reporting revenues and distributions is considered to be the most meaningful because |
5
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Prepared on a Modified Basis of Cash Receipts and Disbursements)
March 31, 2008
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quarterly
distributions to the Trust Unit holders are based on net cash receipts. These modified cash
basis financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of the Trustee, include all
adjustments necessary to present fairly the assets, liabilities and corpus of the Trust as of
March 31, 2008 and 2007, and the modified cash earning and distributions and changes in Trust
corpus for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. The adjustments are of a
normal recurring nature and are, in the opinion of the Trustee, necessary to fairly present the
results of operations. |
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As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, cash equivalents which represent the cash reserve
consist of U.S. Treasury bills with an initial term of less than three months. |
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Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in
Trust corpus resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the
economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these
estimates could cause actual results to differ, and the differences could be material. |
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These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements
and related notes in the Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2007. The cash earnings and distributions for the interim period presented are not
necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. |
(3) |
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Royalty Interest |
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The Royalty Interest is comprised of the following at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 (in
thousands): |
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2008 |
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2007 |
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(Unaudited) |
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Royalty Interest (at inception) |
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$ |
535,000 |
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$ |
535,000 |
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Less: Accumulated amortization |
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(355,958 |
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(355,456 |
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Impairment write-down |
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(173,518 |
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(173,518 |
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Balance, end of period |
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$ |
5,524 |
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$ |
6,026 |
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(4) |
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Income Taxes |
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The Trust files its federal tax return as a grantor trust subject to the provisions of subpart E
of Part I of Subchapter J of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, rather than as an
association taxable as a corporation. The Trust Unit holders are treated as the owners of Trust
income and corpus, and the entire taxable income of the Trust will be reported by the Trust Unit
holders on their respective tax returns. |
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BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Prepared on a Modified Basis of Cash Receipts and Disbursements)
March 31, 2008
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If the Trust were determined to be an association taxable as a corporation, it would be treated
as an entity taxable as a corporation on the taxable income from the Royalty Interest, the Trust
Unit holders would be treated as shareholders, and distributions to Trust Unit holders would not
be deductible in computing the Trusts tax liability as an association. |
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The Trustee assumes that some Trust Units are held by a middleman, as such term is broadly
defined in the U.S. Treasury Regulations (which includes custodians, nominees, certain joint
owners, and brokers holding an interest for a custodian in street name). Therefore, the Trustee
considers the Trust to be a widely held fixed investment trust (WHFIT) for U.S. Federal
income tax purposes. The Bank of New York is the representative of the Trust that will provide
tax information in accordance with applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations governing the
information reporting requirements of the Trust as a WHFIT. For information contact The Bank of
New York, Corporate Trust Trustee Administration, 101 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10286,
telephone number (212) 815-6908. |
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(5) |
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Alaska Oil and Gas Production Tax |
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On August 20, 2006, an amendment to the Alaska oil and gas production tax statutes (the 2006
Tax) became effective. The 2006 Tax replaced an oil production tax levied at the flat rate of
15% of the gross value at the point of production (the wellhead or field value) of taxable
oil produced from a producers leases or properties in the State of Alaska. Under the 2006 Tax,
producers were taxed on the production tax value of taxable oil (gross value at the point of
production for the calendar year less the producers direct costs of exploring for, developing,
or producing oil or gas deposits located within the producers leases or properties in Alaska
for the year) at a rate equal to the sum of 22.5% plus a progressivity rate determined by the
average monthly production tax value of the oil produced. The progressivity portion of the 2006
Tax was equal to 0.25% times the amount by which the simple average for each calendar month of
the daily production tax values per barrel of the oil produced during the month exceeded $40 per
barrel. |
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On December 20, 2007, a further amendment to the Alaska oil and gas production tax statutes (the
2007 Tax) changed the basic tax rate from 22.5% to 25% and increased the progressivity rate.
If the producers average monthly production tax value per barrel is greater than $30 but not
more than $92.50, the new progressivity tax rate is 0.4% times the amount by which the average
monthly production tax value exceeds $30 per barrel. If the producers average monthly
production tax value per barrel is greater than $92.50, the progressivity tax rate is the sum of
25% and the product of 0.1% multiplied by the difference between the average monthly production
tax value per barrel and $92.50, except that the sum may not exceed 50%. |
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The Trustee and BP Alaska entered into a letter agreement in October 2006 and an amendment
thereto in January 2008 (the Letter Agreement) to resolve issues associated with the 2006 Tax
and the 2007 Tax. The Letter Agreement modified the calculation of
Production Taxes in the daily Per Barrel Royalty calculation effective as of August 20, 2006, in
the case of the 2006 Tax, and effective December 20, 2007, in the case of the 2007 Tax. |
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(6) |
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Litigation Contingency |
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Lawsuits on behalf of holders of Units in the Trust are pending against BP, Standard Oil and BP
Alaska in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and in the
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Although the Trust is not a
defendant in these cases, the Trust has incurred, and will continue to incur, legal and
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BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
(Prepared on a Modified Basis of Cash Receipts and Disbursements)
March 31, 2008
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other
expenses in amounts which may be significant as a result of demands for production of documents
made by the plaintiffs on the Trustee and its agents and representatives. |
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(7) |
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Royalty Revenue Adjustments |
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The royalty payments received by the Trust in January 2008 and 2007 with respect to the quarters
ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 were adjusted by BP Alaska to compensate for underpayment of
the royalties due with respect to the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Average net production of crude oil and condensate was less than 90,000 barrels per day during
the third quarter of 2007 and the third quarter of 2006. Royalty payments by BP Alaska with
respect to those quarters were based on estimates by BP Alaska of production levels because
actual data were not available by the dates on which payments were required to be made to the
Trust. Subsequent recalculation by BP Alaska of royalty payments due based on actual production
data for the third quarters of 2007 and 2006 resulted in the payment adjustments shown in the
table below: |
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Payment Received |
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January 2008 |
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January 2007 |
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Royalty payment as calculated |
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$ |
65,284,449 |
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$ |
41,470,000 |
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Adjustment for previous quarters
underpayment, plus accrued interest |
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63,775 |
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1,736,000 |
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Net payment received |
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$ |
65,348,224 |
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$ |
43,206,000 |
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8
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Item 2. |
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Trustees Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations. |
Cautionary Statement
This report contains forward looking statements (that is, statements anticipating future events or
conditions and not statements of historical fact). Words such as anticipate, expect, believe,
intend, plan or project, and should, would, could, potentially, possibly or may,
and other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this report are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties beyond the control of the Trustee. These risks and uncertainties include
such matters as future changes in oil prices, oil production levels, economic activity, domestic
and international political events and developments, legislation and regulation, and certain
changes in expenses of the Trust.
The actual results, performance and prospects of the Trust could differ materially from those
expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Descriptions of some of the risks that could
affect the future performance of the Trust appear in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of the Trusts Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (the 2007 Annual Report) and in
Item 1A of Part II this report. There may be additional risks of which the Trustee is unaware or
which are currently deemed immaterial.
In the light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not rely unduly on any
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking events and outcomes discussed in the 2007 Annual Report
and in this report may not occur or may transpire differently. The Trustee undertakes no obligation
to update forward-looking statements after the date of this report, except as required by law, and
all such forward-looking statements in this report are qualified in their entirety by the preceding
cautionary statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Trust is a passive entity. The Trustees activities are limited to collecting and distributing
the revenues from the Royalty Interest and paying liabilities and expenses of the Trust.
Generally, the Trust has no source of liquidity and no capital resources other than the revenue
attributable to the Royalty Interest that it receives from time to time. See the discussion under
THE ROYALTY INTEREST in Part I, Item 1 of the 2007 Annual Report for a description of the
calculation of the Per Barrel Royalty, and the discussion under THE PRUDHOE BAY UNIT AND FIELD
Reserve Estimates and INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS CONSULTANTS REPORT in Part I, Item 1 of the 2007
Annual Report for information concerning the estimated future net revenues of the Trust. However,
the Trustee has a limited power to borrow, establish a cash reserve, or dispose of all or part of
the Trust Estate, under limited circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. See
the discussion under THE TRUST in Part I, Item 1 of the 2007 Annual Report.
Since 1999, the Trustee has maintained a $1,000,000 cash reserve to provide liquidity to the Trust
during any future periods in which the Trust does not receive a distribution. The Trustee will draw
funds from the cash reserve account during any quarter in which the quarterly distribution received
by the Trust does not exceed the liabilities and expenses of the Trust, and
9
will replenish the reserve from future quarterly distributions, if any. The Trustee anticipates
that it will keep this cash reserve program in place until termination of the Trust.
Amounts set aside for the cash reserve are invested by the Trustee in U.S. government or agency
securities secured by the full faith and credit of the United States. Interest income received by
the Trust from the investment of the reserve fund is added to the distributions received from BP
Alaska and paid to the holders of Units on each Quarterly Record Date.
As discussed under CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS in Part I, Item 1 of the 2007 Annual Report,
amounts received by the Trust as quarterly distributions are income to the holders of the Units,
(as are any earnings on investment of the cash reserve) and must be reported by the holders of the
Units, even if such amounts are used by the Trustee to repay borrowings or replenish the cash
reserve and are not received by the holders of the Units.
Results of Operations
Relatively modest changes in oil prices significantly affect the Trusts revenues and results of
operations. Crude oil prices are subject to significant changes in response to fluctuations in the
domestic and world supply and demand and other market conditions as well as the world political
situation as it affects OPEC and other producing countries. The effect of changing economic
conditions on the demand for and supply of energy throughout the world and future prices of oil
cannot be accurately projected.
Under the terms of the Conveyance of the Royalty Interest to the Trust, the Per Barrel Royalty for
any day is the WTI Price for the day less the sum of (i) Chargeable Costs multiplied by the Cost
Adjustment Factor and (ii) Production Taxes. The narrative under the captions THE TRUST Trust
Property and THE ROYALTY INTEREST in the 2007 Annual Report explains the meanings of the terms
Conveyance, Royalty Interest, Per Barrel Royalty, WTI Price, Chargeable Costs and Cost
Adjustment Factor and should be read in conjunction with this report.
Royalty revenues are generally received on the fifteenth day of the month following the end of the
calendar quarter in which the related Royalty Production occurred (the Quarterly Record Date).
The Trustee, to the extent possible, pays all accrued expenses of the Trust on each Quarterly
Record Date from the royalty payment received. Revenues and Trust expenses presented in the
statement of cash earnings and distributions are recorded on a modified cash basis and, as a
result, royalty revenues and distributions shown in such statements for the quarters ended March
31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, are attributable to BP Alaskas operations during the quarters and
nine-month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
The following tables show the factors which determined the Per Barrel Royalties used to calculate
the payments received by the Trust in January 2008 and 2007 (see Note 1 of Notes to Financial
Statements in Part I, Item 1). The information in the table has been furnished by BP Alaska.
10
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|
|
|
|
Cost |
|
Adjusted |
|
|
|
|
|
Average Per |
|
|
Average |
|
Chargeable |
|
Adjustment |
|
Chargeable |
|
Production |
|
Barrel |
|
|
WTI Price |
|
Costs |
|
Factor |
|
Costs |
|
Taxes |
|
Royalty* |
January 2008 Royalty Payment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th Qtr 2007
|
|
$ |
90.93 |
|
|
$ |
12.75 |
|
|
|
1.618 |
|
|
$ |
20.63 |
|
|
$ |
22.29 |
|
|
$ |
48.01 |
|
January 2007 Royalty Payment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th Qtr 2006
|
|
$ |
60.17 |
|
|
$ |
12.50 |
|
|
|
1.552 |
|
|
$ |
19.39 |
|
|
$ |
9.31 |
|
|
$ |
31.46 |
|
|
|
|
* |
|
The Royalty Production for the quarter ended December 31, 2006 was calculated on the basis of
a preliminary estimate of 87,221 barrels of average daily net production of oil and condensate
from the BP Working Interests; the average daily net production of oil and condensate from the
BP Working Interests exceeded 90,000 barrels per day during the quarter ended December 31,
2007. |
The Quarterly Distributions received by the Trust from BP Alaska in January 2008 and January 2007
were adjusted by BP Alaska to compensate for underpayment of royalties due to the Trust in the
quarters ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. See Note 7 of Notes to Financial
Statements (Unaudited) in Item 1. Because the statements of cash earnings and distributions of the
Trust are prepared on a modified cash basis, royalty revenues for the quarters ended March 31, 2008
and 2007 reflect the amounts of the adjustments with respect to the earlier fiscal periods.
Royalty Production for each day in a calendar quarter is 16.4246% of the first 90,000
barrels of the actual average daily net production of oil and condensate for the quarter from the
BP Working Interests. As long as BP Alaskas average daily net production from the BP Working
Interests exceeds 90,000 barrels, the principal factors affecting the Trusts revenues and
distributions to Unit holders are changes in WTI Prices, scheduled annual increases in Chargeable
Costs, changes in the Consumer Price Index and changes in Production Taxes. BP Alaska has advised
the Trustee that, as a consequence of a program of field wide infrastructure renewal, pipeline
replacement and well mechanical improvements, it anticipates that net production of oil and
condensate from the BP Working Interests will be below 90,000 barrels per day on an annual average
basis beginning in 2007. BP Alaska reported that average daily net production from the BP Working
Interests during the quarter ended March 31, 2008 exceeded 90,000 barrels per day.
In August 2006, Alaska adopted a new oil and gas production tax (the 2006 Tax) which replaced an
oil production tax levied at the flat rate of 15% of the gross value at the point of production of
taxable oil produced from a producers leases or properties in the State of Alaska. Under the 2006
Tax, producers were taxed on the production tax value of taxable oil (gross value at the point of
production for the calendar year less the producers direct costs of exploring for, developing, or
producing oil or gas deposits located within the producers leases or properties in Alaska (Lease
Expenditures) for the year) at a rate equal to the sum of 22.5% plus a progressivity rate
determined by the average monthly production tax value of the oil produced. The progressivity
portion of the 2006 Tax was equal to 0.25% times the amount by which the simple average for each
calendar month of the daily production tax values per barrel of the oil produced during the month exceeded $40 per barrel. In addition, the 2006 Tax
11
increased the
surcharge on oil produced from leases or properties in Alaska from $0.03 to $0.04 per barrel.
On December 20, 2007, a further amendment to the Alaska oil and gas production tax statutes (the
2007 Tax) took effect. The 2007 Tax changes the basic tax rate from 22.5% to 25% and increases
the progressivity rate. If the producers average monthly production tax value per barrel is
greater than $30 but not more than $92.50, the new progressivity tax rate is 0.4% times the amount
by which the average monthly production tax value exceeds $30 per barrel. If the producers average
monthly production tax value per barrel is greater than $92.50, the progressivity tax rate is the
sum of 25% and the product of 0.1% multiplied by the difference between the average monthly
production tax value per barrel and $92.50, except that the sum may not exceed 50%.
In order to resolve uncertainties in the interpretation of the Conveyance resulting from adoption
of the 2006 Tax, in October 2006 the Trustee entered into a letter agreement with BP Alaska (the
2006 Letter Agreement), a copy of which is incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.5 to this
report. The 2006 Letter Agreement sets forth principles agreed to by BP Alaska and the Trustee to
resolve how the amount of tax chargeable against the Royalty Interest was to be determined under
the Conveyance and the extent to which the retroactivity of the tax legislation was to be
recognized for purposes of the Conveyance (the Consensus Principles). In December 2007, BP Alaska
notified the Trustee that the adoption of the 2007 Tax made it necessary to modify the Consensus
Principles to give effect to the new tax rates. After determining that the proposed changes to the
Consensus Principles were consistent with the changes in tax rates effected by the 2007 Tax, on
January 11, 2008 the Trustee executed a letter agreement dated December 21, 2007 with BP Alaska
(the 2008 Letter Agreement) which supplements and amends the 2006 Letter Agreement and which is
incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.6 to this report.
The following paragraphs describe how the Consensus Principles provide for the amount of Production
Taxes (other than the $0.04 per barrel surcharge) to be determined under the 2006 Tax (from August
20, 2006 through December 19, 2007) and under the 2007 Tax (from December 20, 2007 and thereafter):
|
(a) |
|
The production tax value per barrel of oil for each day is determined by
taking the WTI Price for that day and subtracting the product of the amount of
the Chargeable Costs then in effect multiplied by the applicable Cost
Adjustment Factor. |
|
|
(b) |
|
The tax rate for the progressivity portion of the tax equals: |
|
|
|
2006 Tax |
|
2007 Tax |
(i) zero, if the simple
average of the daily
taxable values per barrel
under (a) above for a
calendar month is not
greater than $40 per
barrel; or
|
|
(i) zero, if the simple average of
the daily taxable values per barrel
under (a) above for a calendar month
is not greater than $30 per barrel; |
12
|
|
|
2006 Tax |
|
2007 Tax |
(ii) 0.25% times the amount
by which the simple average
for each calendar month of
the daily production tax
values per barrel of oil
under (a) above, exceeds
$40 per barrel.
|
|
(ii) 0.4% times the amount by which
the simple average of the taxable
values per barrel under (a) above
for a calendar month exceeds $30 per
barrel if that average is not
greater than $92.50 per barrel; or |
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) the sum of 25% plus 0.1% times
the amount by which the simple
average of the taxable values per
barrel under (a) above for a
calendar month exceeds $92.50,
except that such sum may not exceed
50%. |
|
(c) |
|
The amount of Production Tax chargeable against the Royalty Interest equals
the taxable value per barrel under (a) above times the Royalty Production under
the Conveyance, times a rate equal to the sum of the progressivity rate
determined under (b) above plus the following percentage: |
|
|
|
2006 Tax
|
|
2007 Tax |
|
|
|
22.5%
|
|
25% |
BP Alaska estimates Royalty Production from the BP Working Interests for purposes of calculating
quarterly royalty payments to the Trust because complete actual field production data for the
preceding calendar quarter generally is not available by the Quarterly Record Date. To the extent
that average net production from the BP Working Interests is below 90,000 barrels per day in any
quarter, calculation by BP Alaska of actual Royalty Production data may result in revisions of
prior Royalty Production estimates. Revisions by BP Alaska of its Royalty Production calculations
may cause BP Alaska to adjust its quarterly royalty payments to the Trust to compensate for
overpayments or underpayments of royalties with respect to prior quarters. Such adjustments, if
material, may adversely affect certain Unit holders who buy or sell Units between the Quarterly
Record Dates for the Quarterly Distributions affected.
Quarter Ended March 31, 2008 Compared to
Quarter Ended March 31, 2007
As explained above, Trust royalty revenues received during the first quarter of the fiscal year are
based on Royalty Production during the fourth quarter of the preceding fiscal year. Royalty
revenues received by the Trust in the quarter ended March 31, 2008 increased 51.3% from the the
corresponding quarter of 2007, reflecting a 51.1% period-to-period increase in the Average WTI
Price from $60.17 per barrel during the quarter ended December 31, 2006 to $90.93 per barrel during
the quarter ended December 31, 2007. The average Per Barrel Royalty increased by 52.6%, showing the
effect of a 49.5% period-to-period increase in total deductible costs from $28.70 per barrel to
$42.92 per barrel. The increase was due principally to increases in Production Taxes chargeable
with respect to the quarter ended December 31, 2007 as a consequence of both the progressivity
feature of the 2006 Tax and the even higher 2007 Tax rates which became applicable during the
latter part of December 2007.
13
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
The Trust is a passive entity and except for the Trusts ability to borrow money as necessary to
pay liabilities of the Trust that cannot be paid out of cash on hand, the Trust is prohibited from
engaging in borrowing transactions. 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 investments
and limitations on the types of investments which may be held by the Trust, the Trust is not
subject to any 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
or invest in derivative financial instruments. It has no foreign operations and holds no long-term
debt instruments.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Trustee has disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e)
under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by
the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time
periods specified in the SECs rules and forms. These controls and procedures include but are not
limited to controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by
the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and
communicated to the responsible trust officers of the Trustee to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure.
Under the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Conveyance, BP Alaska has significant disclosure and
reporting obligations to the Trust. BP Alaska is required to provide the Trust such information
concerning the Royalty Interest as the Trustee may need and to which BP Alaska has access to permit
the Trust to comply with any reporting or disclosure obligations of the Trust pursuant to
applicable law and the requirements of any stock exchange on which the Units are listed. These
reporting obligations include furnishing the Trust a report by February 28 of each year containing
all information of a nature, of a standard and in a form consistent with the requirements of the
SEC respecting the inclusion of reserve and reserve valuation information in filings under the
Exchange Act and with applicable accounting rules. The report is required to set forth, among other
things, BP Alaskas estimates of future net cash flows from proved reserves attributable to the
Royalty Interest, the discounted present value of such proved reserves, the assumptions utilized in
arriving at the estimates contained in the report, and the estimate of the quantities of proved
reserves (including reductions of proved reserves as a result of modification of BP Alaskas
estimates of proved reserves from prior years) added during the preceding year to the total proved
reserves allocated to the BP Working Interests as of December 31, 1987.
In addition, the Conveyance gives the Trust and its independent accountants certain rights to
inspect the books and records of BP Alaska and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of BP
Alaska relating to the BP Working Interests with representatives of BP Alaska; it also requires BP
Alaska to provide the Trust with such other information as the Trustee may reasonably request from
time to time and to which BP Alaska has access.
14
The Trustees disclosure controls and procedures include ensuring that the Trust receives the
information and reports that BP Alaska is required to furnish to the Trust on a timely basis, that
the appropriate responsible personnel of the Trustee examine such information and reports, and that
information requested from and provided by BP Alaska is included in the reports that the Trust
files or submits under the Exchange Act.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the trust officers of the Trustee responsible
for the administration of the Trust conducted an evaluation of the Trusts disclosure controls and
procedures. Their evaluation considered, among other things, that the Trust Agreement and the
Conveyance impose enforceable legal obligations on BP Alaska, and that BP Alaska has provided the
information required by those agreements and other information requested by the Trustee from time
to time on a timely basis. The officers concluded that the Trusts disclosure controls and
procedures are effective.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has not been any change in the Trusts internal control over financial reporting identified
in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 under the
Exchange Act that occurred during the Trusts last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or
is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trusts internal control over financial reporting.
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures.
Not applicable.
15
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following paragraphs supplement the disclosure which appears in Item 1A of Part I of the
Trusts 2007 Annual Report under the caption Construction of a proposed gas pipeline from the
North Slope of Alaska to the Midwestern United States could accelerate the decline in Royalty
Production from the Prudhoe Bay field:
On April 8, 2008, BP and ConocoPhillips announced that they have combined resources to start a
joint project called Denali The Alaska Gas Pipeline. The companies are not seeking support for
the project from the State of Alaska under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act. The planned project
consists of a gas treatment plant on Alaskas North Slope and a large-diameter pipeline that
travels over 700 miles through Alaska, and then into Canada through the Yukon Territory and British
Columbia to Alberta. The pipeline will move approximately four billion cubic feet of natural gas
per day. If required, the project will also include a large-diameter pipeline from Alberta to the
Lower 48 states.
The companies news release stated that they plan to spend $600 million to reach the first major
project milestone, an open season a process during which the pipeline company seeks customers to
make long-term firm transportation commitments to the project commencing before the end of 2010.
Following a successful open season, the companies intend to obtain Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission and National Energy Board certification and move forward with project construction.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
None.
Item 5. Other Information.
(a) On April 16, 2008 the Trust received a cash distribution of $57,858,669 from BP Alaska
with respect to the quarter ended March 31, 2008. On April 18, 2008, after adding interest income
received from investment of the cash reserve and deducting Trust administrative expenses, the
Trustee distributed $57,137,151 (approximately $2.67 per Unit) to Unit holders of record on April
16, 2008 (Form 8-K, Item 8.01).
16
(b) Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits.
4.1 |
|
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust Agreement dated February 28, 1989 among The Standard Oil
Company, BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., The Bank of New York, Trustee, and F. James
Hutchinson, Co-Trustee. |
|
4.2 |
|
Overriding Royalty Conveyance dated February 27, 1989 between BP Exploration (Alaska)
Inc. and The Standard Oil Company. |
|
4.3 |
|
Trust Conveyance dated February 28, 1989 between The Standard Oil Company and BP
Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust. |
|
4.4 |
|
Support Agreement dated as of February 28, 1989 among The British Petroleum Company
p.l.c., BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., The Standard Oil Company and BP Prudhoe Bay
Royalty Trust. |
|
4.5 |
|
Letter agreement executed October 13, 2006 between BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. and The Bank
of New York, as Trustee. |
|
4.6 |
|
Letter agreement executed January 11, 2008 between BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. and The Bank
of New York, as Trustee. |
|
31 |
|
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification. |
|
32 |
|
Section 1350 Certification. |
17
SIGNATURE
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BP PRUDHOE BAY ROYALTY TRUST |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Remo Reale |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remo Reale
Vice President |
|
|
Date: May 9, 2008
The registrant is a trust and has no officers or persons performing similar functions. No
additional signatures are available and none have been provided.
18
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
Exhibit |
No. |
|
Description |
|
4.1
|
|
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust Agreement dated February 28, 1989 among The Standard Oil
Company, BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., The Bank of New York, Trustee, and F. James Hutchinson,
Co-Trustee. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to the
Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (File No.
1-10243). |
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Overriding Royalty Conveyance dated February 27, 1989 between BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.
and The Standard Oil Company. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered
exhibit to the Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006 (File No. 1-10243). |
|
|
|
4.3
|
|
Trust Conveyance dated February 28, 1989 between The Standard Oil Company and BP Prudhoe Bay
Royalty Trust. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to the
Registrants Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (File No.
1-10243). |
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
Support Agreement dated as of February 28, 1989 among The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.,
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., The Standard Oil Company and BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust.
Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to the Registrants Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (File No. 1-10243). |
|
|
|
4.5
|
|
Letter agreement executed October 13, 2006 between BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. and The Bank
of New York, as Trustee. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to
the Registrants Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 (File
No. 1-10243). |
|
|
|
4.6
|
|
Letter agreement executed January 11, 2008 between BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. and The Bank
of New York, as Trustee. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to
the Registrants Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 11, 2008 (File No. 1-10243). |
|
|
|
31*
|
|
Rule 13a-14(a) certification. |
|
|
|
32*
|
|
Section 1350 certification. |