UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Form 10-Q
x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
OR
o Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission File Number: 1-8424
SABINE ROYALTY TRUST
Texas | 75-6297143 | |
(State or other jurisdiction | (I.R.S. Employer | |
of incorporation or | Identification No.) | |
organization |
Trust Division
Bank of America, N.A.
Bank of America Plaza
901 Main Street
17th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75202
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(214) 209-2400
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer x Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
Number of units of beneficial interest outstanding at May 3, 2007: 14,579,345
SABINE ROYALTY TRUST
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
The condensed financial statements included herein have been prepared by Bank of America, N.A. (as successor to NationsBank, N.A.), as Trustee (the Trustee) of Sabine Royalty Trust (the Trust), 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. The condensed financial statements of the Trust presented herein are unaudited except for the balances as of December 31, 2006, and, therefore are subject to year-end adjustments. It is suggested that these condensed financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Trusts latest annual report on Form 10-K. The December 31, 2006 balance sheet is derived from the audited balance sheet as of that date. In the opinion of the Trustee, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the assets, liabilities and trust corpus of the Trust as of March 31, 2007, the distributable income and the changes in trust corpus for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, have been included. The 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, 2007 and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, included herein, have been reviewed by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing herein.
2
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Unit Holders of Sabine Royalty Trust and
Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
We have reviewed the accompanying condensed statement of assets, liabilities and trust corpus of Sabine Royalty Trust as of March 31, 2007, and the related condensed statements of distributable income and changes in trust corpus for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006. These condensed financial statements are the responsibility of the Trustee.
We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data and of making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), 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.
As described in Note 2 to the condensed financial statements, these condensed financial statements have been prepared on a modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed financial statements for them to be in conformity with the basis of accounting described in Note 2.
We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the statement of assets, liabilities and trust corpus of Sabine Royalty Trust as of December 31, 2006, and the related statements of distributable income and changes in trust corpus for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 13, 2007, 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, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the statement of assets, liabilities and trust corpus from which it has been derived.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Dallas, Texas
May 8, 2007
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SABINE ROYALTY TRUST
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS,
LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS (UNAUDITED)
March 31, 2007 | December 31, | |||||||||||
Notes |
(Unaudited) |
2006 |
||||||||||
Assets |
||||||||||||
Cash and short-term investments |
$ | 4,851,765 | $ | 4,444,789 | ||||||||
Royalty interests in oil
and gas properties
(less accumulated
amortization of $21,495,312 and $21,469,964 at
March 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006) |
899,873 | 925,221 | ||||||||||
TOTAL |
$ | 5,751,638 | $ | 5,370,010 | ||||||||
Liabilities and Trust Corpus |
||||||||||||
Trust expenses payable |
$ | 176,171 | $ | 138,815 | ||||||||
Other payables |
4 | 143,720 | 232,786 | |||||||||
319,891 | 371,601 | |||||||||||
Contingencies |
6 | |||||||||||
Trust corpus - 14,579,345
units of beneficial
interest authorized, issued
and outstanding |
5,431,747 | 4,998,409 | ||||||||||
TOTAL |
$ | 5,751,638 | $ | 5,370,010 | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
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SABINE ROYALTY TRUST
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
March 31, |
||||||||||||
Notes |
2007 |
2006 |
||||||||||
Royalty income |
$ | 12,802,428 | $ | 17,935,425 | ||||||||
Interest income |
71,324 | 82,334 | ||||||||||
Total |
12,873,752 | 18,017,759 | ||||||||||
General and administrative
expenses |
(560,158 | ) | (594,168 | ) | ||||||||
Distributable income |
$ | 12,313,594 | $ | 17,423,591 | ||||||||
Distributable income
per unit (14,579,345 units) |
1,3,5 | $ | .84 | $ | 1.20 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
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SABINE ROYALTY TRUST
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS (UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||
March 31, |
||||||||||||
Note |
2007 |
2006 |
||||||||||
Trust corpus, beginning
of period |
$ | 4,998,409 | $ | 7,046,252 | ||||||||
Amortization of royalty
interests |
(25,348 | ) | (29,645 | ) | ||||||||
Distributable income |
12,313,594 | 17,423,591 | ||||||||||
Distributions |
3 | (11,854,908 | ) | (16,488,074 | ) | |||||||
Trust corpus, end
of period |
$ | 5,431,747 | $ | 7,952,124 | ||||||||
Distributions per unit
(14,579,345 units) |
3 | $ | .81 | $ | 1.13 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
6
SABINE ROYALTY TRUST
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
1. TRUST ORGANIZATION AND PROVISIONS
Sabine Royalty Trust (the Trust) was established by the Sabine Corporation Royalty Trust Agreement (the Trust Agreement), made and entered into effective as of December 31, 1982, to receive a distribution from Sabine Corporation (Sabine) of royalty and mineral interests, including landowners royalties, overriding royalty interests, minerals (other than executive rights, bonuses and delay rentals), production payments and any other similar, nonparticipatory interests, in certain producing and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties located in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas (the Royalties).
Certificates evidencing units of beneficial interest (the Units) in the Trust were mailed on December 31, 1982 to Sabines shareholders of record on December 23, 1982, on the basis of one Unit for each share of Sabines outstanding common stock. In May 1988, Sabine was acquired by Pacific Enterprises (Pacific), a California corporation. Through a series of mergers, Sabine was merged into Pacific Enterprises Oil Company (USA) (Pacific (USA)), a California corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific, effective January 1, 1990. This acquisition and the subsequent mergers had no effect on the Units. Pacific (USA), as successor to Sabine, has assumed by operation of law all of Sabines rights and obligations with respect to the Trust. The Units are listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
In connection with the transfer of the Royalties to the Trust upon its formation, Sabine had reserved to itself all executive rights, including rights to execute leases and to receive bonuses and delay rentals. In January 1993, Pacific (USA) completed the sale of substantially all its producing oil and gas assets to a third party. The sale did not include executive rights relating to the Royalties, and Pacific (USA)s ownership of such rights was not affected by the sale.
Bank of America, N.A. (the Trustee), acts as trustee of the Trust. The terms of the Trust Agreement provide, among other things, that:
| The Trust shall not engage in any business or commercial activity of any kind or acquire assets other than those initially transferred to the Trust. | |||
| The Trustee may not sell all or any part of its assets unless approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Units in which case the sale must be for cash and the proceeds, after satisfying all existing liabilities, promptly distributed to Unit holders. | |||
| The Trustee may establish a cash reserve for the payment of any liability that is contingent or uncertain in amount or that otherwise is not currently due or payable. | |||
| The Trustee will use reasonable efforts to cause the Trust and the Unit holders to recognize income and expenses on monthly record dates. | |||
| The Trustee is authorized to borrow funds to pay liabilities of the Trust provided that such borrowings are repaid in full before any further distributions are made to Unit holders. | |||
| The Trustee will make monthly cash distributions to Unit holders of record on the monthly record date (see Note 3). |
7
Because of the passive nature of the Trust and the restrictions and limitations on the powers and activities of the Trustee contained in the Trust Agreement, the Trustee does not consider any of the officers and employees of the Trustee to be officers or executive officers of the Trust as such terms are defined under applicable rules and regulations adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
The proceeds of production from the Royalties are receivable from hundreds of separate payors. In order to facilitate creation of the Trust and to avoid the administrative expense and inconvenience of daily reporting to Unit holders, the conveyances by Sabine of the Royalties located in five of the six states provided for the execution of an escrow agreement by Sabine and the initial trustee of the Trust, in its capacities as trustee of the Trust and as escrow agent. The conveyances by Sabine of the Royalties located in Louisiana provided for the execution of a substantially identical escrow agreement by Sabine and a Louisiana bank in the capacities of escrow agent and of trustee under the name of Sabine Louisiana Royalty Trust. Sabine Louisiana Royalty Trust, the sole beneficiary of which is the Trust, was established in order to avoid uncertainty under Louisiana law as to the legality of the Trustees holding record title to the Royalties located in Louisiana. The Trust now only has one escrow agent, which is the Trustee, and a single escrow agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of the escrow agreement and the conveyances of the properties by Sabine, the proceeds of production from the Royalties for each calendar month, and interest thereon, are collected by the Trustee, as escrow agent, and are paid to and received by the Trust only on the next monthly record date. The Trustee, as escrow agent, has agreed to endeavor to assure that it incurs and pays expenses and fees for each calendar month only on the next monthly record date. The Trust Agreement also provides that the Trustee is to endeavor to assure that income of the Trust will be accrued and received and expenses of the Trust will be incurred and paid only on each monthly record date. Assuming that the escrow agreement is recognized for Federal income tax purposes and that the Trustee is able to control the timing of income and expenses, as stated above, cash and accrual basis Unit holders should be treated as realizing income only on each monthly record date. The Trustee is treating the escrow agreement as effective for tax purposes. However, for financial reporting purposes, royalty and interest income are recorded in the calendar month in which the amounts are received by either the escrow agent or the Trust.
Distributable income as determined for financial reporting purposes for a given quarter will not usually equal the sum of distributions made during that quarter. Distributable income for a given quarter will approximate the sum of the distributions made during the last two months of such quarter and the first month of the next quarter.
8
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements of the Trust are prepared on the following basis and are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP):
| Royalty income, net of severance and ad valorem tax, and interest income are recognized in the month in which amounts are received by the Trust (see Note 1). | |||
| Trust expenses, consisting principally of routine general and administrative costs, include payments made during the accounting period. Expenses are accrued to the extent of amounts that become payable on the next monthly record date following the end of an accounting period. Reserves for liabilities that are contingent or uncertain in amount may also be established if considered necessary. | |||
| Royalties that are producing properties are amortized using the unit-of-production method. This amortization is shown as a reduction of Trust corpus. | |||
| Distributions to Unit holders are recognized when declared by the Trustee (see Note 3). |
The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America because of the following:
| Royalty income is recognized in the month received rather than in the month of production. | |||
| Expenses other than those expected to be paid on the following monthly record date are not accrued. | |||
| Amortization of the Royalties is shown as a reduction to Trust corpus and not as a charge to operating results. | |||
| Reserves may be established for contingencies that would not be recorded under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. |
This comprehensive basis of accounting other than 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.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with the basis of accounting described above requires the Trustee to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses as of and for the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from such estimates.
Impairment
The Trustee routinely reviews the Trusts royalty interests in oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If an impairment event occurs and it is determined that the carrying value of the Trusts royalty interests may not be recoverable, an impairment will be recognized as measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the royalty interests exceeds the fair value of these assets, which would likely be measured by discounting projected cash flows.
9
New Accounting Standards
In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 Accounting for Derivative Instruments and No. 140 Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This statement resolves issues address in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Trust has no financial instruments and accordingly, the adoption of this new Standard did not impact the financial statements of the Trust.
In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets an amendment of FASB Statements No. 140 Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This statement requires an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability each time it undertakes an obligation to service a financial asset by entering into a servicing contract in certain situations. This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The adoption of this statement did not have an effect on the Trusts financial statements.
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The adoption of this statement did not have an effect on the Trusts financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Trustee does not believe that the adoption of this statement will have a material effect on the Trusts financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Trustee does not believe that the adoption of this statement will have a material effect on the Trusts financial statements.
Distributable Income per Unit
Basic distributable income per Unit is computed by dividing distributable income by the weighted average Units outstanding. Distributable income per Unit assuming dilution is computed by dividing distributable income by the weighted average number of Units and equivalent Units outstanding. The Trust had no equivalent Units outstanding for any period presented. Therefore, basic distributable income per Unit and distributable income per Unit assuming dilution are the same.
Federal Tax Considerations
The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that the Trust is classified as a grantor trust for Federal income tax purposes and therefore is not subject to taxation at the trust level. The Unit holders are considered, for Federal income tax purposes, to own the Trusts income and principal as though no trust were in existence. Accordingly, no provision for Federal income tax expense has been made in these financial statements. The income of the Trust will be deemed to have been received or accrued by each Unit holder at the time such income is received or accrued by the Trust (on the applicable monthly record date) if the escrow arrangement discussed in Note 1 to these financial statements is respected by the Internal Revenue Service. In the absence of the escrow arrangement, Unit holders would be deemed to receive or accrue income from production from the royalty properties (and interest income) on a daily basis, in accordance with their method of accounting, as the proceeds from production and interest thereon were received or accrued by the Trust. The Trustee is treating the escrow arrangement as effective for tax purposes and furnishes tax information to Unit holders on that basis.
The Trustee assumes that some Trust Units are held by a middleman, as such term is broadly defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations (and 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. Bank of America, N.A., 901 Main Street, 17th Floor, Dallas, Texas, 75202, telephone number (214) 209-2400, 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.
10
Each Unit holder should consult his tax advisor regarding Trust tax compliance matters.
3. DISTRIBUTION TO UNIT HOLDERS
The amount to be distributed to Unit holders (Monthly Income Amount) is determined on a monthly basis. The Monthly Income Amount is an amount equal to the sum of cash received by the Trust during a monthly period (the period commencing on the day after a monthly record date and continuing through and including the next succeeding monthly record date) attributable to the Royalties, any reduction in cash reserves and any other cash receipts of the Trust, including interest, reduced by the sum of liabilities paid and any increase in cash reserves. Unit holders of record as of the monthly record date (the 15th day of each calendar month except in limited circumstances) are entitled to have distributed to them the calculated Monthly Income Amount for such month on or before 10 business days after the monthly record date. The Monthly Income Amount per Unit is declared by the Trust no later than 10 days prior to the monthly record date.
The cash received by the Trust from purchasers of the Trusts oil and gas production consists of gross sales of production less applicable severance taxes.
4. PAYABLES
Other payables consist primarily of royalty receipts suspended pending verification of ownership interest or title.
The Trustee believes that these other payables represent an ordinary operating condition of the Trust and that such payables will be paid or released in the normal course of business.
11
5. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent to March 31, 2007, the Trust declared the following distributions:
Monthly | ||||||||
Record | Payment | Distribution | ||||||
Date |
Date |
per Unit |
||||||
April 16 |
April 30 | $ | .31552 | |||||
May 15 |
May 29 | $ | .34042 |
6. CONTINGENCIES
Contingencies related to the royalty properties that are unfavorably resolved would generally be reflected by the Trust as reductions to future royalty income payments to the Trust with corresponding reductions to cash distributions to Unit holders. The Trustee is aware of no such items as of May 4, 2007.
Item 2. Trustees Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Trust makes monthly distributions to the holders of Units of the excess of the preceding months revenues received over expenses incurred. Upon receipt, royalty income is invested in short-term investments until its subsequent distribution. In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trusts only long-term assets consist of royalty interests in producing and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties. Although the Trust is permitted to borrow funds if necessary to continue its operations, borrowings are not anticipated in the foreseeable future.
Results of Operations
Distributable income consists of royalty income plus interest income less general and administrative expenses of the Trust. Distributable income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $12,313,594 or $0.84 per Unit. Royalty income amounted to $12,802,428 while interest income was $71,324. General and administrative expenses totaled $560,158.
Distributions during the period were $.28375, $.29173, and $.31552 per Unit payable to Unit holders of record on January 16, February 15, and March 15, 2007, respectively.
12
Royalty income for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 decreased approximately $5,133,000, or 29%, compared with the first quarter of 2006 due to decreases in the prices of oil and gas as well as decreases in the production of both oil and natural gas. Compared to the preceding quarter ended December 31, 2006, royalty income decreased approximately $1,214,000, or 9%, due to decreases in the price of oil as well as decreases in the production of both gas and oil. These decreases were tempered by an increase in the price of gas.
The following tables illustrate average prices received for the periods discussed above and the related oil and gas production volumes:
Quarter Ended |
||||||||||||
March 31, | March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2006 | ||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Oil (Bbls) |
109,535 | 127,689 | 129,154 | |||||||||
Gas (Mcfs) |
1,304,582 | 1,353,052 | 1,432,391 | |||||||||
Average Price |
||||||||||||
Oil (per Bbl) |
$ | 49.90 | $ | 52.46 | $ | 52.48 | ||||||
Gas (per Mcf) |
$ | 6.58 | $ | 9.50 | $ | 5.95 |
Gas revenues received for the three months ended March 31, 2007, related primarily to production for October 2006 through December 2006. The average price of gas as reported by the Henry Hub for the same time period was $6.00 per Mcf. The average price of gas for the Henry Hub was $6.36 per Mcf for January 2007 through March 2007. Oil revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007 related primarily to production for November 2006 through January 2007. The average price of oil as reported by Nymex for that time period was $58.77 per barrel. The average price of oil was $58.50 per barrel for January 2007 through March 2007. As of April 23, 2007, the average price of gas for the Henry Hub was $6.64 per Mcf and the average price of oil reported by Nymex was $63.38 per barrel. It is difficult to accurately estimate future prices of oil and gas, and any assumptions concerning future prices may prove to be incorrect.
Interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 decreased approximately $11,000 compared with the first quarter of 2006. Compared to the preceding quarter ended December 31, 2006, interest income decreased approximately $15,600. Changes in interest income are the result of changes in interest rates and funds available for investment.
General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 decreased by approximately $34,000 compared to the same quarter of 2006 primarily due to decreases in the timing of auditing, transfer agent fees, and printing fees of approximately $21,700, $19,900, and $23,100, respectively. A decrease in legal fees of $15,100 related to the 2006 proxy solicitation made up the balance of the decrease. Offsetting the decreases was an increase in the escrow agent/trustee fees of $47,400. Compared to the previous quarter ended December 31, 2006, general and administrative expenses increased approximately $100,700. This increase was primarily due to the timing of annual payments in the first quarter such as the annual New York Stock Exchange listing fee of $38,000, and the printing and mailing of the year-end tax materials of $48,600. Making up the balance of the increase in expenses was an increase in the escrow agent/trustee fees of approximately $38,300. Offsetting the increases somewhat were decreases in the timing of payments of transfer agent fees and payments to tax services of approximately $11,500 and $11,800, respectively.
13
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Trusts financial statements reflect the selection and application of accounting policies that require the Trust to make significant estimates and assumptions. The following are some of the more critical judgement areas in the application of accounting policies that currently affect the Trusts financial condition and results of operations.
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements of the Trust are prepared on the following basis and are not intended to present financial position and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America:
| Royalty income, net of severance and ad valorem taxes, and interest income are recognized in the month in which amounts are received by the Trust. | |||
| Trust expenses, consisting principally of routine general and administrative costs, include payments made during the accounting period. Expenses are accrued to the extent of amounts that become payable on the next monthly record date following the end of the accounting period. Reserves for liabilities that are contingent or uncertain in amount may also be established if considered necessary. | |||
| Royalties that are producing properties are amortized using the unit-of-production method. This amortization is shown as a reduction of Trust corpus. | |||
| Distributions to Unit holders are recognized when declared by the Trustee. |
14
The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America because of the following:
| Royalty income is recognized in the month received rather than in the month of production. | |||
| Expenses other than those expected to be paid on the following monthly record date are not accrued. | |||
| Amortization of the Royalties is shown as a reduction to Trust corpus and not as a charge to operating results. | |||
| Reserves may be established for contingencies that would not be recorded under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. |
This comprehensive basis of accounting other than 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.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues from royalty interests are recognized in the period in which amounts are received by the Trust. Royalty income received by the Trust in a given calendar year will generally reflect the proceeds, on an entitlements basis, from natural gas produced for the twelve-month period ended September 30th in that calendar year.
Reserve Disclosure
Independent petroleum engineers estimate the net proved reserves attributable to the royalty interests. In accordance with Statement of Financial Standards No. 69, Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing Activities, estimates of future net revenues from proved reserves have been prepared using year-end contractual gas prices and related costs. Numerous uncertainties are inherent in estimating volumes and the value of proved reserves and in projecting future production rates and the timing of development of non-producing reserves. Such reserve estimates are subject to change as additional information becomes available. The reserves actually recovered and the timing of production may be substantially different from the reserve estimates. Other than those filed with the SEC, our estimated reserves have not been filed with or included in any reports to any Federal agency.
Contingencies
Contingencies related to the royalty properties that are unfavorably resolved would generally be reflected by the Trust as reductions to future royalty income payments to the Trust with corresponding reductions to cash distributions to Unit holders. The Trustee is aware of no such items as of May 4, 2007.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with the basis of accounting described above requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses as of and for the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from such estimates.
Impairment
The Trustee routinely reviews the Trusts royalty interests in oil and gas properties for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If an impairment event occurs and it is determined that the carrying value of the Trusts royalty interests may not be recoverable, an impairment will be recognized as measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the royalty interests exceeds the fair value of these assets, which would likely be measured by discounting projected cash flows.
15
New Accounting Standards
In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 Accounting for Derivative Instruments and No. 140 Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This statement resolves issues address in Statement 133 Implementation Issue No. D1, Application of Statement 133 to Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Trust has no financial instruments and accordingly, the adoption of this new Standard did not impact the financial statements of the Trust.
In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets an amendment of FASB Statements No. 140 Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This statement requires an entity to recognize a servicing asset or servicing liability each time it undertakes an obligation to service a financial asset by entering into a servicing contract in certain situation. This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The adoption of this statement did not have an effect on the Trusts financial statements.
In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48 ), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The adoption of this statement did not have an effect on the Trusts financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Trustee does not believe that the adoption of this statement will have a material effect on the Trusts financial statements.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This statement is effective as of the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The Trustee does not believe that the adoption of this statement will have a material effect on the Trusts financial statements.
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State Tax Considerations
In May 2006, the State of Texas passed legislation to implement a new margin tax at a rate of 1% to be imposed on revenues less certain costs, as specifically set forth in the new legislation. The effective date of the new legislation is January 1, 2008, but the tax generally will be imposed on revenues generated in 2007 and thereafter. Entities subject to tax generally include trusts unless otherwise exempt, and most other types of entities. Trusts that meet certain statutory requirements are generally exempt from the margin tax as passive entities. Although the income of the Trust is passive as it consists primarily of royalty income from the sale of crude oil and natural gas, there is no clear authority that the Trust satisfies all the margin tax statutory requirements for the exemption for passive entities to apply. Therefore, pending additional legislative action or the issuance of applicable administrative rules promulgated by the Texas Comptroller, it is uncertain whether the Trust would be exempt from the margin tax as a passive entity or subject to the margin tax at the Trust level. Approximately 65% of the Trusts royalty income is generated in Texas.
If the Trust is exempt from the margin tax at the Trust level as a passive entity, each Unit holder that is a taxable entity would generally include its share of the Trusts revenue in its margin tax computation. If, however, the margin tax is imposed on the Trust at the Trust level, each Unit holder would generally exclude its share of the Trusts net income from its margin tax calculation.
Each Unit holder is urged to consult his own tax advisor regarding the requirements for filing state tax returns.
Forward Looking Statements
This Report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report are forward-looking statements. Although the Trustee believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and the Trustee can give no assurance that they will prove correct. There are many factors, none of which is within the Trustees control, that may cause such expectations not to be realized, including, among other things, factors identified in the Trusts most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K affecting oil and gas prices and the recoverability of reserves, general economic conditions, actions and policies of petroleum-producing nations and other changes in the domestic and international energy markets.
The Trust has an Internet website and has made available its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act at http://www.sbr-sabineroyalty.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such information is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
The Trust invests in no derivative financial instruments, and has no foreign operations or long-term debt instruments. Other than the Trusts ability to periodically borrow money as necessary to pay expenses, liabilities and obligations of the Trust that cannot be paid out of cash held by the Trust, the Trust is prohibited from engaging in borrowing transactions. The amount of any such borrowings is unlikely to be material to the Trust. The Trust periodically holds short-term investments acquired with funds held by the Trust pending distribution to Unit holders and funds held in reserve for the payment of Trust expenses and liabilities. Because of the short-term nature of these borrowings and investments and certain limitations upon the types of such investments which may be held by the Trust, the Trustee believes that the Trust is not subject to 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.
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 design and operation 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 timely alerting the Trustee to material information relating to the Trust required to be included in the Trusts periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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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PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
Not applicable.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
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, 2006. |
Items 2-5 not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
and Description |
(31) Trustee Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
(32) Trustee Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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SIGNATURES
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.
SABINE ROYALTY TRUST |
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By: | Bank of America, N.A. Trustee |
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By: | /s/ Ron E. Hooper | |||
Ron E. Hooper | ||||
Senior Vice President and Trust Administrator | ||||
Date: May 9, 2007
(The Trust has no directors or executive officers.)
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