Hugoton Royalty Trust Declares No September Cash Distribution

Rhea-AI Summary

Simmons Bank, Trustee of Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCQB:HGTXU), announced no cash distribution for September 2020 due to excess cost positions across its net profits interests. Current month gas sales were 904,000 Mcf at an average price of $1.86 per Mcf, down from 991,000 Mcf at $1.81 in the prior month. Excess costs total $118,000 in Kansas, $37,000 in Oklahoma, and $200,000 in Wyoming, with cumulative totals of $3.183 million, $25.04 million, and $4.347 million respectively. Ongoing arbitration over a $24.3 million production cost issue may further delay distributions.

Positive

• Underlying gas sales volume for the current month is 904,000 Mcf, indicating ongoing production activity.
• Average gas price increased to $1.86 per Mcf, reflecting a slight improvement in market conditions.

Negative

• No cash distribution declared for September 2020 due to excess costs.
• Excess costs in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming total $28.57 million, raising concerns over future distributions.
• The pending arbitration regarding a $24.3 million production cost could lead to further financial strain on the Trust.

DALLAS, Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Simmons Bank, as Trustee of the Hugoton Royalty Trust (OTCQB:HGTXU) (the "Trust"), today declared there would not be a cash distribution to the holders of its units of beneficial interest for September 2020 due to the excess cost positions on all three of the Trust's conveyances of net profits interests. The following table shows underlying gas sales and average prices attributable to the net overriding royalty for both the current month and prior month. Underlying gas sales volumes attributable to the current month were primarily produced in July.

		Underlying Gas Sales
		Volumes (Mcf) (a)				Average Gas
		Total		Daily		Price per Mcf
Current Month		904,000		29,000		$1.86
Prior Month		991,000		33,000		$1.81
(a)   Sales volumes are recorded in the month the Trust receives the related net profits income.  Because of this, sales volumes may fluctuate from month to month based on the timing of cash receipts.

XTO Energy has advised the Trustee that it has included oil sales volumes of approximately 12,000 barrels from the new horizontal wells drilled in Major County, Oklahoma and has deducted development costs of $14,000, production expense of $1,093,000 and overhead of $1,012,000 in determining the royalty calculation for the Trust for the current month.

Excess Costs
XTO Energy has advised the Trustee that excess costs were $118,000 on properties underlying the Kansas net profits interests. Underlying cumulative excess costs remaining on the Kansas net profits interests total $3,183,000, including accrued interest of $300,000.

XTO Energy has advised the Trustee that excess costs were $37,000 on properties underlying the Oklahoma net profits interests. Underlying cumulative excess costs remaining on the Oklahoma net profits interests total $25,040,000, including accrued interest of $1,452,000.

XTO Energy has advised the Trustee that excess costs were $200,000 on properties underlying the Wyoming net profits interests. Underlying cumulative excess costs remaining on the Wyoming net profits interests total $4,347,000, including accrued interest of $127,000.

Arbitration
As previously disclosed, XTO Energy advised the Trustee that it reached a settlement with the plaintiffs in the Chieftain class action royalty case. On July 27, 2018 the final plan of allocation was approved by the court. Based on the final plan of allocation XTO Energy has advised the Trustee that it believes approximately $24.3 million in additional production costs should be allocated to the Trust. On May 2, 2018, the Trustee submitted a demand for arbitration seeking a declaratory judgment that the Chieftain settlement is not a production cost and that XTO Energy is prohibited from charging the settlement as a production cost under the conveyance or otherwise reducing the Trust's payments now or in the future as a result of the Chieftain litigation. The hearing on the claims related to the Chieftain settlement is currently scheduled to begin October 12, 2020. Other Trustee claims related to disputed amounts on the computation of the Trust's net proceeds for 2014 through 2016 were bifurcated from the initial arbitration and will be heard at a later date, which is still to be determined.

If the Trustee prevails on the claims related to the $24.3 million in alleged additional production costs in connection with the Chieftain settlement, there will be no adjustment to the Trust's share of net proceeds. If XTO Energy prevails as to those same claims, there will be an adjustment of approximately $24.3 million to the Trust's share of net proceeds. The Oklahoma conveyance is already currently subject to excess costs that will need to be recovered prior to any distribution to unitholders. Therefore, an adjustment of approximately $24.3 million to the Trust's share of net proceeds would result in additional excess costs under the Oklahoma conveyance that would likely result in no distributions under the Oklahoma conveyance for several additional years while these additional excess costs are recovered.

For more information on the Trust, please visit our web site at www.hgt-hugoton.com.

Statements made in this press release regarding future events or conditions are forward looking statements.  Actual future results, including development costs and future net profits, could differ materially due to changes in natural gas prices and other economic conditions affecting the gas industry and other factors described in Part I, Item 1A of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

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SOURCE Hugoton Royalty Trust

FAQ

Why is there no cash distribution for Hugoton Royalty Trust in September 2020?

There is no cash distribution for September 2020 due to excess cost positions across the Trust's net profits interests.

What were the gas sales volumes for Hugoton Royalty Trust in September 2020?

In September 2020, the gas sales volume was 904,000 Mcf, down from 991,000 Mcf in the prior month.

What are the excess costs reported for Hugoton Royalty Trust?

The reported excess costs are $118,000 in Kansas, $37,000 in Oklahoma, and $200,000 in Wyoming, with cumulative totals reaching over $28 million.

What is the status of the arbitration related to the Chieftain settlement for HGTXU?

The arbitration hearing regarding the Chieftain settlement is scheduled for October 12, 2020, with potential significant financial implications for the Trust.

How does the average gas price for Hugoton Royalty Trust compare month-over-month?

The average gas price increased from $1.81 per Mcf in the prior month to $1.86 per Mcf in the current month.