PERMIAN BASIN ROYALTY TRUST ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY CASH DISTRIBUTION AND EXCESS COST POSITION ON WADDELL RANCH PROPERTIES

Rhea-AI Summary

Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) has announced a cash distribution of $0.017144 per unit, payable March 14, 2025, to unitholders of record on February 28, 2025. The distribution decreased from the previous month due to lower oil volumes and natural gas pricing in Texas Royalty Properties.

The distribution excludes proceeds from Waddell Ranch properties due to production costs exceeding gross proceeds. Notably, Blackbeard, the Waddell Ranch operator, has refused to provide monthly NPI proceeds information. The Texas Royalty Properties produced 15,307 barrels of oil at $68.37/bbl and 9,971 Mcf of gas at $8.38/Mcf.

The Trust is currently engaged in litigation against Blackbeard, seeking over $25 million in damages related to disputed overhead charges and expenses. The trial is scheduled for November 17, 2025.

Positive

• Texas Royalty Properties generated Net Profit of $990,605 for February
• Oil price increased slightly to $68.37 per barrel from $67.69 in previous month

Negative

• Monthly distribution decreased due to lower oil volumes and natural gas pricing
• Waddell Ranch properties continue to operate at a loss with excess cost position
• Blackbeard's refusal to provide monthly NPI information affects transparency
• Ongoing litigation with $25 million in disputed charges creates uncertainty

Insights

Oil & Gas Royalty Trust Analyst

The February distribution announcement reveals deepening operational and legal challenges for Permian Basin Royalty Trust. The declared distribution of $0.017144 per unit reflects only proceeds from Texas Royalty Properties, as Waddell Ranch properties remain in an excess cost position - a situation where production costs exceed gross proceeds.

The Texas Royalty Properties' performance shows concerning trends. Oil production decreased from 14,914 to 13,469 barrels month-over-month, while gas pricing declined from $9.56 to $8.38 per Mcf. Despite a slight improvement in oil pricing to $68.37 per barrel, the overall revenue contribution from these properties resulted in a net profit of $990,605, of which $941,074 was distributed to the Trust.

The most significant development is the escalation of the legal dispute with Blackbeard Operating. The Trust has increased its damage claims from $15 million to $25 million, citing improper expense deductions, incorrect overhead charges, and duplicate service charges. Blackbeard's shift from monthly to quarterly reporting of Waddell Ranch operations creates additional uncertainty for unitholders, as it reduces transparency and complicates distribution calculations.

The Trust's administrative expenses of $141,988 further reduced the distributable amount. With the trial date set for November 2025, unitholders face an extended period of uncertainty regarding both the outcome of the litigation and the potential recovery of significant claimed damages. The excess cost position at Waddell Ranch properties continues to suppress distributions, as these costs must be fully recovered before any proceeds from these properties can be distributed to unitholders.

DALLAS, Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Argent Trust Company, as Trustee of the Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) ("Permian" or the "Trust") today declared a cash distribution to the holders of its units of beneficial interest of $0.017144 per unit, payable on March 14, 2025, to unit holders of record on February 28, 2025. The distribution does not include proceeds from the Waddell Ranch properties, as total production costs ("Production Costs") exceeded gross proceeds ("Gross Proceeds") for the month of January, resulting in a continuing excess cost position for the Waddell Ranch properties. More information regarding the Waddell Ranch properties is described below.

This month's distribution slightly decreased from the previous month due primarily to the Texas Royalty Properties having lower oil volumes, along with lower natural gas pricing. Partially offset by higher gas volumes as well as slightly higher oil pricing for the month reported.  

WADDELL RANCH

Notwithstanding requests from the Trustee to Blackbeard, the operator of the Waddell Ranch properties, and the fact that prior to May 2024, Blackbeard has provided this information on a monthly basis since Argent Trust Company has become Trustee of the Trust, Blackbeard has refused to provide the Trustee information necessary to calculate the net profits interest ("NPI") proceeds for February 2025 as of the announcement date for this month's distribution. As a result of Blackbeard's failure to provide this information by the NYSE notification date for the distribution, in accordance with the Trust indenture, if NPI proceeds are received from the Waddell Ranch properties on or prior to the record date, they will be included in the March distribution.

As noted above, no proceeds were received by the Trustee in January 2025 to be included in the February distribution.  All excess costs, including any accrued interest, will need to be recovered by future proceeds from the Waddell Ranch properties before any proceeds are distributed to the Trust. Due to the fact that Blackbeard is providing production, pricing and cost information quarterly instead of monthly, the Trustee will be providing that information in the quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K for the foreseeable future (to the extent timely received from Blackbeard).

TEXAS ROYALTY PROPERTIES

Production for the underlying Texas Royalty Properties was 15,307 barrels of oil and 9,971 Mcf of gas. The production for the Trust's allocated portion of the Texas Royalty Properties was 13,469 barrels of oil and 8,774 Mcf of gas. The average price for oil was $68.37 per bbl and for gas was $8.38, which includes significant NGL pricing, per Mcf. This would mainly reflect production and pricing in November for oil and October for gas. These allocated volumes were impacted by the pricing of both oil and gas. This production and pricing for the underlying properties resulted in revenues for the Texas Royalty Properties of $1,130,112. Deducted from these revenues were taxes and expenses of $139,507, resulting in a Net Profit of $990,605 for February. With the Trust's NPI of 95% of the Underlying Properties, this would result in a net contribution by the Texas Royalty Properties of $941,074 to this month's distribution.

	Underlying Properties		Net to Trust Sales
	Volumes		Volumes		Average Price
	Oil (bbls)	Gas (Mcf)	Oil (bbls)	Gas (Mcf) (1)	Oil (per bbl)	Gas (per Mcf) (2)
Current Month
Waddell Ranch	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)
Texas Royalties	15,307	9,971	13,469	8,774	$68.37	$8.38
Prior Month
Waddell Ranch	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)	(3)
Texas Royalties	16,839	9,283	14,914	8,213	$67.69	$9.56
(1) These volumes are net to the Trust, after allocation of expenses to Trust's net profit interest, including any prior period adjustments.
(2) This pricing includes sales of gas liquid products.
(3) Information is not being made available monthly but may be provided within 30 days next following the close of each calendar quarter. To the extent the Trustee receives such information timely following the quarter, information will be included in the Trust's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the applicable quarter (or the annual report on Form 10-K with respect to the fourth quarter).

 

General and Administrative Expenses deducted for the month, net of interest earned were $141,988 resulting in a distribution of $799,086 to 46,608,796 units outstanding, or $0.017144 per unit.

The worldwide market conditions continue to affect the pricing for domestic production. It is difficult to predict what effect these conditions will have on future distributions.

TRUST LITIGATION

On May 8, 2024, the Trustee announced that it had initiated a lawsuit by filing a petition in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas against Blackbeard Operating, LLC ("Blackbeard"), the operator of properties in the Waddell Ranch, in Crane County, Texas, in which the Trust holds a 75% net overriding royalty. On June 10, 2024, Blackbeard filed its original answer and counterclaim to the lawsuit. The trial date in the District Court of Tarrant County is scheduled for November 17, 2025, 8:30 a.m., Central Time. Discovery is ongoing, including on-site audits of the Waddell Ranch properties, engagement of and analyses by expert witnesses, and review of documents provided by Blackbeard.

Under the original petition, the Trustee sought to recover more than $15 million in damages to the Trust resulting from overhead costs and other expenses the Trustee alleges were impermissibly deducted from royalty payments to the Trust. The Trustee routinely engages in audits of the revenues and expenses with respect to the Trust's royalty payments. In connection with its audit for the period from 2020-2022 the Trustee identified exceptions to certain expenses deducted from the Trust's royalty payments, including among other things, incorrect overhead charges, application of overhead charges to non-producing wells, duplicate charges for services, materials and utilities as well as other expenses the Trustee alleges are ineligible charges. The Trustee's petition was amended in September 2024 to add additional claims relating to the 2023 audit and production volumes, seeking damages of more than $25 million. Attempts to resolve the disputed charges outside of court have been unsuccessful to date. Included in Blackbeard's original answer and counterclaim are requests for declaratory judgment by the court that it may deduct certain disputed overhead charges from Trust royalty payments and that it may limit information it provides to the Trust to quarterly statements of the net proceeds computation and inspection of books and records during normal business hours.

The 2023 Annual Report with Form 10-K, which includes the December 31, 2023, Reserve Summary, is posted on Permian's website. Permian's cash distribution history, current and prior year financial reports, tax information booklets, and a link to filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all can be found on Permian's website at http://www.pbt-permian.com/. Additionally, printed reports can be requested and are mailed free of charge.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any statements in this press release about future events or conditions, and other statements containing the words "estimates," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," "may," "intends," and similar expressions, other than historical facts, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Factors or risks that could cause the Trust's actual results to differ materially from the results the Trustee anticipates include, but are not limited to the factors described in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Trustee's views as of the date hereof. The Trustee anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change. However, while the Trustee may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Trustee's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

Contact: Jana Egeler, Vice President, Argent Trust Company, Trustee, Toll Free – 1.855.588.7839

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SOURCE Permian Basin Royalty Trust

FAQ

What is PBT's February 2025 distribution amount per unit?

PBT announced a cash distribution of $0.017144 per unit, payable on March 14, 2025.

Why did PBT's February 2025 distribution decrease?

The distribution decreased due to lower oil volumes and natural gas pricing in Texas Royalty Properties, partially offset by higher gas volumes and slightly higher oil pricing.

What is the current status of PBT's litigation against Blackbeard?

PBT is seeking over $25 million in damages from Blackbeard related to disputed overhead charges and expenses, with a trial scheduled for November 17, 2025.

What were the production volumes for PBT's Texas Royalty Properties?

The Texas Royalty Properties produced 15,307 barrels of oil and 9,971 Mcf of gas, with the Trust's allocated portion being 13,469 barrels of oil and 8,774 Mcf of gas.

Why are there no proceeds from PBT's Waddell Ranch properties?

No proceeds were received because total production costs exceeded gross proceeds, resulting in a continuing excess cost position for the Waddell Ranch properties.