ECA Marcellus Trust I Announces Quarterly Distribution

Rhea-AI Summary

ECA Marcellus Trust I (OTC Pink: ECTM) announced a distribution of $0.031 per unit for the quarter ending March 31, 2021, to be paid on or before May 26, 2021. This is part of the Trust's strategy to gradually build a cash reserve of approximately $1,800,000 by withholding either $90,000 or 10% of quarterly funds. The Trust's ability to distribute funds is dependent on natural gas prices and production, which are currently affected by volatility. The pandemic's impact may continue to influence natural gas prices and, subsequently, future distributions.

Positive

• Quarterly distribution of $0.031 per unit reflects ongoing cash generation.
• Establishment of a $1,800,000 cash reserve may provide financial stability.

Negative

• Dependence on volatile natural gas prices could lead to reduced distributions.
• Potential for no distributions if commodity prices remain low due to ongoing economic effects of COVID-19.

ECA MARCELLUS TRUST I (OTC Pink: ECTM) announced today that the Trust’s distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 will be $0.031 per unit, which is expected to be distributed on or before May 26, 2021 to holders of record as of the close of business on May 21, 2021.

As previously disclosed, commencing with the distribution to unitholders paid in the first quarter of 2019, the Trustee has withheld, and in the future intends to withhold, the greater of $90,000 or 10% of the funds otherwise available for distribution each quarter to gradually build a cash reserve of approximately $1,800,000. This cash is reserved to pay or provide for the payment of future known, anticipated or contingent expenses or liabilities of the Trust. The Trustee may increase or decrease the targeted amount at any time, and may increase or decrease the rate at which it is withholding funds to build the cash reserve at any time, without advance notice to the unitholders. Cash held in reserve will be invested as required by the trust agreement. Any cash reserved in excess of the amount necessary to pay or provide for the payment of future known, anticipated or contingent expenses or liabilities of the Trust eventually will be distributed to unitholders, together with interest earned on the funds. The Trustee has elected to withhold approximately $90,000 from funds otherwise available for distribution this quarter.

The Trust was formed to own royalty interests in natural gas properties now held by Greylock Energy LLC, and certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries (“Greylock”) in the Marcellus Shale formation in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The Trust is entitled to receive certain amounts of the proceeds attributable to Greylock’s interest in the sale of production from the properties. As described in the Trust's filings, the amount of the quarterly distributions is expected to fluctuate from quarter to quarter, depending on the proceeds received by the Trust as a result of production and natural gas prices and the amount of the Trust's administrative expenses, among other factors. The amount of proceeds received or expected to be received by the Trust (and its ability to pay distributions) has been and will continue to be directly affected by the volatility in commodity prices, which declined during 2020 primarily attributable to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and could remain low for an extended period of time. Continued low natural gas prices will reduce proceeds to which the Trust is entitled, which will reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders and in certain periods could result in no distributions to unitholders.

Pursuant to IRC Section 1446, withholding tax on income effectively connected to a United States trade or business allocated to non-U.S. persons (“ECI”) should be made at the highest marginal rate. Under Section 1441, withholding tax on fixed, determinable, annual, periodic income from United States sources allocated to non-U.S. persons should be made at a 30% rate unless the rate is reduced by treaty. This release is intended to be a qualified notice to nominees and brokers as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b) by ECA Marcellus Trust I, and while specific relief is not specified for Section 1441 income, this disclosure is intended to suffice. For distributions made to non-U.S. persons, nominees and brokers should withhold at the highest marginal rate.

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions. These forward-looking statements include the amount and date of any anticipated distribution to unit holders. The anticipated distribution is based, in part, on the amount of cash received or expected to be received by the Trust from Greylock with respect to the relevant quarterly period. Any differences in actual cash receipts by the Trust could affect this distributable amount. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include expenses of the Trust and reserves for anticipated future expenses and the effect, impact, potential duration or other implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statements made in this press release are qualified by the cautionary statements made in this press release. Neither Greylock nor the Trustee intends, and neither assumes any obligation, to update any of the statements included in this press release. An investment in Common Units issued by ECA Marcellus Trust I is subject to the risks described in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and all of its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Trust's annual, quarterly and other filed reports are or will be available over the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.

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FAQ

What is the distribution amount for ECTM for Q1 2021?

The distribution amount for ECTM for Q1 2021 is $0.031 per unit.

When will the ECTM distribution be paid?

The ECTM distribution is expected to be paid on or before May 26, 2021.

What is ECTM's strategy for cash reserves?

ECTM plans to withhold $90,000 or 10% of quarterly funds to build a cash reserve of approximately $1,800,000.

How do natural gas prices affect ECTM's distributions?

Natural gas prices significantly influence the proceeds ECTM receives, which affects its ability to make distributions.

What risks does ECTM face in its current operations?

ECTM faces risks from the volatility in natural gas prices and potential declines in distribution due to economic conditions, particularly those stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.