UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended  April 30, 2020  or

[  ]   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   1-8245  

NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

      Delaware               22-2084119     

State or Other Jurisdiction of       I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

Incorporation or Organization    

  5 N. Lincoln Street, Keene, N.H.          03431         

Address of Principal Executive Offices         Zip Code

   (732) 741-4008  

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 ___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes   X    No ___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer          Accelerated filer   X

Non-accelerated filer            Smaller reporting company   X

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act     

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ___   No   X  

9,190,590 Units of Beneficial Interest Outstanding as of April 30, 2020

 

PART I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS (NOTE 1)APRIL 30, 2020 AND OCTOBER 31, 2019(Unaudited)

	2020	2019
ASSETS
Current assets -- Cash and cash equivalents	$1,174,791	$1,590,893
Producing gas and oil royalty rights, net of amortization   (Notes 1 and 2)	1	1
Total Assets	$1,174,792	$1,590,894
LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS
Current liabilities -- Distributions to be paid to unit owners, paid May 2020 and November 2019	$1,010,965	$1,470,494
Trust corpus (Notes 1 and 2)	1	1
Undistributed earnings	163,826	120,399
Total Liabilities and Trust Corpus	$1,174,792	$1,590,894

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

STATEMENTS OF REVENUE COLLECTED AND EXPENSES PAID (NOTE 1)FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2020 AND 2019 (Unaudited)

	2020	2019
Gas, sulfur and oil royalties received	$1,275,824	$2,235,350
Interest income	578	5,200
Trust Income	$1,276,402	$2,240,550
Non-related party expenses	(225,143)	(222,900)
Related party expenses (Note 3)	(9,357)	(15,897)
Trust Expenses	(234,500)	(238,797)
Net Income	$1,041,902	$2,001,753
Net income per unit	$0.11	$0.22
Distributions per unit paid or to be paid to unit owners	$0.11	$0.22

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

STATEMENTS OF REVENUE COLLECTED AND EXPENSES PAID (NOTE 1)FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2020 AND 2019 (Unaudited)

	2020	2019
Gas, sulfur and oil royalties received	$2,301,789	$4,538,350
Interest income	2,473	7,586
Trust Income	$2,304,262	$4,545,936
Non-related party expenses	(481,004)	(461,345)
Related party expenses (Note 3)	(33,619)	(45,053)
Trust Expenses	(514,623)	(506,398)
Net Income	$1,789,639	$4,039,538
Net income per unit	$0.19	$0.44
Distributions per unit paid or to be paid to unit owners	$0.19	$0.44

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

STATEMENTS OF UNDISTRIBUTED EARNINGS (NOTE 1)FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2020 AND 2019(Unaudited)

	2020	2019
Balance, beginning of period	$120,399	$78,618
Net income	1,789,639	4,039,538
	1,910,038	4,118,156
Less:
Current year distributions paid or to be paid to unit owners	1,746,212	4,043,860
Balance, end of period	$163,826	$74,296

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (NOTE 1)FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 30, 2020 AND 2019(Unaudited)

	2020	2019
Sources of Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Gas, sulfur and oil royalties received	$2,301,789	$4,538,350
Interest income	2,473	7,586
	2,304,262	4,545,936
Uses of Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Payment of Trust expenses	514,623	506,398
Distributions paid	2,205,741	3,400,519
	2,720,364	3,906,917
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   during the period	(416,102)	639,019
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,590,893	1,457,207
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$1,174,791	$2,096,226

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(1) Summary of significant accounting policies:

Basis of accounting -

The accompanying financial statements of North European Oil Royalty Trust (the "Trust") are prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Financial statement balances and financial results are presented on a modified cash basis of accounting, which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP basis"). In the opinion of management, all adjustments that are considered necessary for a fair presentation of these financial statements, including adjustments of a normal, recurring nature, have been included.

On a modified cash basis, revenue is earned when cash is received and expenses are incurred when cash is paid. GAAP basis financial statements disclose revenue as earned and expenses as incurred, without regard to receipts or payments. The modified cash basis of accounting is utilized to permit the accrual for distributions to be paid to unit owners (those distributions approved by the Trustees for the Trust). The Trust's distributable income represents royalty income received by the Trust during the period plus interest income less any expenses incurred by the Trust, all on a cash basis. In the opinion of the Trustees, the use of the modified cash basis of accounting provides a more meaningful presentation to unit owners of the results of operations of the Trust.

The results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements that were included in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2019 (the "2019 Form 10-K"). The Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus included herein contain information from the Trust's 2019 Form 10-K.

Producing gas and oil royalty rights -

The rights to certain gas and oil royalties in Germany were transferred to the Trust at their net book value by North European Oil Company (the "Company") (see Note 2). The net book value of the royalty rights has been reduced to one dollar ($1) in view of the fact that the remaining net book value of royalty rights is de minimis relative to annual royalties received and distributed by the Trust and does not bear any meaningful relationship to the fair value of such rights or the actual amount of proved producing reserves.

Federal and state income taxes -

The Trust, as a grantor trust, is exempt from federal income taxes under a private letter ruling issued by the Internal Revenue Service. The Trust has no state income tax obligations.

Cash and cash equivalents -

Cash and cash equivalents are defined as amounts deposited in bank accounts and amounts invested in certificates of deposit and U. S. Treasury bills with original maturities generally of three months or less from the date of purchase. The investment options available to the Trust are limited in accordance with specific provisions of the Trust Agreement. As of April 30, 2020, the uninsured amount held in the Trust's U.S. bank accounts was $913,906. In addition, the Trust held Euros 9,957, the equivalent of $10,886, in its German bank account at April 30, 2020.

Net income per unit -

Net income per unit is based upon the number of units outstanding at the end of the period. As of both April 30, 2020 and 2019, there were 9,190,590 units of beneficial interest outstanding.

New accounting pronouncements -

The Trust is not aware of any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards that would be expected to have a significant impact on the Trust's financial position or results of operations.

(2) Formation of the Trust:

The Trust was formed on September 10, 1975. As of September 30, 1975, the Company was liquidated and the remaining assets and liabilities of the Company, including its royalty rights, were transferred to the Trust. The Trust, on behalf of the owners of beneficial interest in the Trust, holds overriding royalty rights covering gas and oil production in certain concessions or leases in the Federal Republic of Germany. These rights are held under contracts with local German exploration and development subsidiaries of ExxonMobil Corporation and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies. Under these contracts, the Trust receives various percentage royalties on the proceeds of the sales of certain products from the areas involved. At the present time, royalties are received for sales of gas well gas, oil well gas, crude oil, condensate and sulfur.

(3) Related party transactions:

John R. Van Kirk, the Managing Director of the Trust, is reimbursed by the Trust for office expenses at cost. For such office space and office services, the Trust reimbursed the Managing Director $2,562 and $9,020 in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively. For such office space and office services, the Trust reimbursed the Managing Director $2,562 and $17,638 in the first six months of fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Lawrence A. Kobrin, a Trustee of the Trust, is a Senior Counsel at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, which serves as counsel to the Trust. For the second quarter of fiscal 2020 and 2019, the Trust paid Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP $6,795 and $6,877 for legal services, respectively. For the first six months of fiscal 2020 and 2019, the Trust paid Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP $31,057 and $27,415 for legal services, respectively

(4) Employee benefit plan:

The Trust has established a savings incentive match plan for employees (SIMPLE IRA) that is available to both employees of the Trust, one of whom is the Managing Director. The Trustees have authorized the Trust to make contributions to the accounts of the employees, on a matching basis, of up to 3% of cash compensation paid to each employee effective for the 2020 and 2019 calendar years.

 

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Executive Summary

The Trust is a passive fixed investment trust which holds overriding royalty rights, receives income under those rights from certain operating companies, pays its expenses and distributes the remaining net funds to its unit owners. As mandated by the Trust Agreement, distributions of income are made on a quarterly basis. These distributions, as determined by the Trustees, constitute substantially all of the funds on hand after provision is made for Trust expenses then anticipated.

The Trust does not engage in any business or extractive operations of any kind in the areas over which it holds royalty rights and is precluded from engaging in such activities by the Trust Agreement. There are no requirements, therefore, for capital resources with which to make capital expenditures or investments in order to continue the receipt of royalty revenues by the Trust.

The properties of the Trust, which the Trust and Trustees hold pursuant to the Trust Agreement on behalf of the unit owners, are overriding royalty rights on sales of gas, sulfur and oil under certain concessions or leases in the Federal Republic of Germany. The actual leases or concessions are held either by Mobil Erdgas-Erdol GmbH ("Mobil Erdgas"), a German operating subsidiary of the ExxonMobil Corporation ("ExxonMobil"), or by Oldenburgische Erdolgesellschaft ("OEG"). The Oldenburg concession is the primary area from which the natural gas, sulfur and oil are extracted and currently provides 100% of all the royalties received by the Trust. The Oldenburg concession, approximately 1,386,000 acres, covers virtually the entire former Grand Duchy of Oldenburg and is located in the German federal state of Lower Saxony.

In 2002, Mobil Erdgas and BEB Erdgas und Erdol GmbH ("BEB"), a joint venture of ExxonMobil and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, formed a company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH ("EMPG"), to carry out all exploration, drilling and production activities. All sales activities are still handled by the operating companies, either Mobil Erdgas or BEB.

The operating companies pay monthly royalties to the Trust based on their sales of natural gas, sulfur and oil. Of these three products, natural gas provided approximately 92% of the cumulative royalty income received in fiscal 2020. The amount of royalties paid to the Trust is primarily based on four factors: the amount of gas sold, the price of that gas, the area from which the gas is sold, and the exchange rate.

On or about the 25th of the months of January, April, July and October, the operating companies determine the amount of royalties that were payable to the Trust based on applicable sales during the relevant period. This amount is paid out to the Trust in three monthly installments as royalty payments (payable on or about the 15th of each month) during its upcoming fiscal quarter. In addition, the operating companies review the actual amount of royalties that were paid to the Trust for that period and calculate the difference between the amounts paid and the amounts payable. Any additional amounts payable by the operating companies would be paid immediately and any overpayment would be deducted from the payment for the first month of the following fiscal quarter. In September of each year, the operating companies make the final determination of any necessary underpayment or overpayment of royalties for the prior calendar year. The Trust's independent accountants based in Germany review the royalty calculations on a biennial basis.

There are two types of natural gas found within the Oldenburg concession, sweet gas and sour gas. Sweet gas has little or no contaminants and needs no treatment before it can be sold. Sour gas, in comparison, must be processed at the Grossenkneten desulfurization plant before it can be sold. The desulfurization process removes hydrogen sulfide and other contaminants. The hydrogen sulfide in gaseous form is converted to sulfur in a solid form and sold separately. With full operation of the plant, raw gas input capacity stands at approximately 400 million cubic feet ("MMcf") per day. As needed, EMPG conducts maintenance on the plant generally during the summer months when demand is lower. EMPG has advised the Trust's consultant in Germany that EMPG plans to conduct maintenance at the Grossenkneten desulfurization plant during the summer of 2020.

Under one set of rights covering the western part of the Oldenburg concession (approximately 662,000 acres), the Trust receives a royalty payment of 4% on gross receipts from sales by Mobil Erdgas of gas well gas, oil well gas, crude oil and condensate (the "Mobil Agreement"). Under the Mobil Agreement, there is no deduction of costs prior to the calculation of royalties from gas well gas and oil well gas, which together accounted for approximately 99% of the cumulative royalty income received under this agreement in fiscal 2020. Historically, the Trust has received significantly greater royalty payments under the Mobil Agreement, as compared to the OEG Agreement described below, due to the higher royalty rate specified by that agreement.

The Trust is also entitled under the Mobil Sulfur Agreement to receive a 2% royalty on gross receipts of sales of sulfur obtained as a by-product of sour gas produced from the western part of Oldenburg. The payment of the sulfur royalty is conditioned upon sales of sulfur by Mobil Erdgas at a selling price above an agreed upon base price. This base price is adjusted annually by an inflation index. In the first six months of fiscal 2020, the Trust received $70,378 in sulfur royalties under the Mobil Sulfur Agreement. In the first six months of fiscal 2019, the Trust received $107,524 in sulfur royalties under the Mobil Sulfur Agreement.

Under another set of rights covering the entire Oldenburg concession and pursuant to the agreement with OEG, the Trust receives royalties at the rate of 0.6667% on gross receipts from sales by BEB of gas well gas, oil well gas, crude oil, condensate and sulfur (removed during the processing of sour gas) less a certain allowed deduction of costs (the "OEG Agreement"). Under the OEG Agreement, 50% of the field handling and treatment costs, as reported for state royalty purposes, are deducted from the gross sales receipts prior to the calculation of the royalty to be paid to the Trust.

On August 26, 2016, the Mobil and OEG Agreements were amended establishing a new base for the determination of gas prices upon which the Trust's royalties are calculated. This new base is set as the state assessment base for natural gas used by the operating companies in their calculation of royalties payable to the State of Lower Saxony. This change reflects a shift from the use of gas ex-field prices ("contractual prices") to the prices calculated for the German Border Import gas Price ("GBIP"). The average GBIP used under the Mobil and OEG Royalty Agreements has been and will continue to be increased by 1% and 3%, respectively, for the royalty calculations.

The change to the GBIP was intended to be revenue neutral for the Trust in comparison to the previous pricing methodology. Additionally, this change was intended to reduce the scope and cost of the accounting examination, eliminate ongoing disputes with OEG and Mobil regarding sales to related parties, and reduce prior year adjustments to the normally scheduled year-end reconciliation. The pricing basis has eliminated certain costs (transportation and plant gas storage) that were previously deductible prior to the royalty calculation under the OEG Agreement.

For unit owners, changes in the currency exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and the Euro have an immediate impact. This impact occurs at the time the royalties, which are paid to the Trust in Euros, are converted into U.S. Dollars at the applicable exchange rate and promptly transferred from Germany to the Trust's bank account in the United States. In relation to the U.S. Dollar, a stronger Euro would yield more U.S. Dollars and a weaker Euro would yield less U.S. Dollars.

The Trust continues to engage a consultant in Germany who provides general information to the Trust on the German and European economies and energy markets. The consultant receives reports from EMPG with respect to current and planned drilling and exploration efforts. However, EMPG and the operating companies continue to limit the information flow to that which is required by German law, and the Trust is not able to confirm the accuracy of any of the information supplied by EMPG or the operating companies.

Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion"), a Canadian based international oil and gas producer, entered into a Farm-In Agreement (the "Farm-In Agreement") with Mobil Erdgas and BEB effective as of January 1, 2016. The Farm-In Agreement does not impact the Trust's royalty interests. The Farm-In Agreement committed Vermilion to financial participation at a 50% level in 11 exploratory wells over the five years ending 2020. Vermilion's participation in the development of any well and the sale of that gas, sulfur or oil would be subject to the relevant royalty contract.

Given the current circumstances with regard to energy prices and the world-wide economic impact of the coronavirus, as well as the limited amount of time remaining under the Farm-In Agreement, the Trust views it as being unlikely that Vermilion will commence any drilling projects within the Oldenburg concession prior to the expiration of the Farm-In Agreement at the end of 2020. The Trust's consultant in Germany has notified the Trust that Vermilion failed in its attempt to get a "license to operate" in the Bedekaspel region and was denied a permit to drill in the area of Dorfmark, another project in Lower Saxony. While both of these areas are outside the Oldenburg concession, Vermilion's inability to pursue execution of drilling projects and later development of these areas may be indicative of its overall prospects in Germany.

 

Results: Second Quarter of Fiscal 2020 versus Second Quarter of Fiscal 2019

Total royalty income received during the second quarter of fiscal 2020 was derived from sales of gas, sulfur and oil from the Trust's overriding royalty areas in Germany during the first calendar quarter of 2020. A distribution of 11 cents per unit was paid on May 27, 2020 to owners of record as of May 15, 2020. Comparisons of total royalty income received and net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 and 2019 are shown below.

	2nd Fiscal Quarter Ended 4/30/2020	2nd Fiscal Quarter Ended 4/30/2019	Percentage Change
Total Royalty Income	$1,275.824	$2,235,350	-42.93%
Net Income	$1,041,902	$2,001,753	-47.95%
Distribution per Unit	$0.11	$0.22	-50.00%

The decrease in total royalty income for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 in comparison to the second quarter of fiscal 2019 resulted from the combination of lower gas prices, lower gas sales and lower average exchange rates under both the Mobil and OEG Agreements as shown in the table below.

Total royalty income also reflects the inclusion of various positive and negative adjustments that the operators made during the quarter, including corrections from prior periods, as well as the inclusion of Mobil sulfur royalties. During the second quarter of fiscal 2020, total royalty income was reduced by prior period adjustments totaling $137,944. There were no prior period adjustments for the second quarter of fiscal 2019. The Trust received separate sulfur royalty payments under the Mobil Agreement of $31,105 and $52,728 during the second quarters of fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The table below is intended to illustrate trends based on actual gas sales in each quarter. Gas royalties shown in the table below are determined based on the actual physical gas sales that occurred during the first calendar quarter of 2020 and the average German Border Import gas Price for the period of November 2019 through January 2020. No adjustments for prior periods are reflected in the gas royalties

Quarterly Gas Data Providing Basis for Fiscal Quarter Royalties

Mobil Agreement	1st Calendar Quarter Ended 3/31/2020	1st Calendar Quarter Ended 3/31/2019	Percentage Change
Gas Sales (Bcf) 1	4.624	5.195	-10.99%
Gas Prices2 (Ecents/Kwh)3	1.6349	2.1250	-23.06%
Average Exchange Rate4	1.0943	1.1267	-2.88%
Gas Royalties	$946,174	$1,428,786	-33.78%
Gas Prices ($/Mcf)5	$5.12	$6.88	-25.58%
OEG Agreement
Gas Sales (Bcf)	15.266	16.851	-9.41%
Gas Prices (Ecents/Kwh)	1.6672	2.1670	-23.06%
Average Exchange Rate	1.0955	1.1267	-2.77%
Gas Royalties Payable	$393,001	$634,454	-38.06%
Gas Prices ($/Mcf)	$5.10	$6.82	-25.22%

Footnotes
1. Billion cubic feet
2. Gas prices derived from November-January period
3. Euro cents per kilowatt hour
4. Based on average Euro/dollar exchange rates of cumulative royalty transfers
5. Dollars per thousand cubic feet

Excluding the effects of differences in prices and average exchange rates, the combination of royalty rates on gas sold from western Oldenburg results in an effective royalty rate approximately seven times higher than the royalty rate on gas sold from eastern Oldenburg. This is of particular significance to the Trust since gas sold from western Oldenburg provides the bulk of royalties paid to the Trust. For the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2020, gas sales from western Oldenburg accounted for only 30.29% of all gas sales from the Oldenburg concession. However, royalties on these gas sales provided approximately 80.82%, or $969,695 out of $1,199,764, in Oldenburg royalties attributable to gas.

Trust expenses for the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased 1.80%, or $4,297, to $234,500 from $238,797 in the second quarter of fiscal 2019. This decrease in expenses reflects the reduction in Trustees fees as specified in the Trust Agreement and reduced office expenses related to the conversion to a virtual office. Trust interest income received in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased to $578 in comparison to $5,200 received in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 due to lower interest rates and lower net income.

The current Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus of the Trust at April 30, 2020, compared to that at fiscal year-end (October 31, 2019), shows a decrease in assets due to lower royalty receipts during the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

 

Results: First Six Months of Fiscal 2020 versus First Six Months of Fiscal 2019

Total royalty income during the first six months of fiscal 2020 was primarily derived from sales of gas, sulfur and oil from the Trust's overriding royalty areas in Germany during the fourth calendar quarter of 2019 and the first calendar quarter of 2020. Comparisons of total royalty income received and net income for the first six months of fiscal 2020 and 2019 are shown below.

	Six Months Ended 4/30/2020	Six Months Ended 4/30/2019	Percentage Change
Total Royalty Income	$2,301,789	$4,538,350	-49.28%
Net Income	$1,789,639	$4,039,538	-55.70%
Distribution per Unit	$0.19	$0.44	-56.82%

The decrease in total royalty income for the first six months of fiscal 2020 in comparison to the first six months of fiscal 2019 resulted from lower gas prices, lower gas sales and lower average exchange rates under both the Mobil and OEG Agreements as shown in the table below.

Total royalty income also reflects the inclusion of various positive and negative adjustments that the operators made during the quarter, including corrections from prior periods, as well as the inclusion of Mobil sulfur royalties. During the first six months of fiscal 2020, total royalty income was reduced by prior period adjustments totaling $388,634. There were no prior period adjustments during the first six months of fiscal 2019. The Trust received separate sulfur royalty payments under the Mobil Agreement of $70,378 and $107,524 during the first six months of fiscal 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The table below is intended to illustrate trends based on actual gas sales in each quarter. Gas royalties shown in the table below are determined based on the actual physical gas sales that occurred during the fourth calendar quarter of 2019 and the first calendar quarter of 2020 and the average German Border Import gas Price for the period of August 2019 through January 2020. No adjustments for prior periods are reflected in the gas royalties.

Gas Data Providing Basis for Six-Month Fiscal Period Royalties

Mobil Agreement	Six Months Ended 3/31/2020	Six Months Ended 3/31/2019	Percentage Change
Gas Sales (Bcf)	9.507	10.730	-11.40%
Gas Prices(Ecents/Kwh)	1.4908	2.0905	-28.69%
Average Exchange Rate	1.1019	1.1309	-2.56%
Gas Royalties	$1,790,082	$2,913,421	-38.56%
Gas Prices ($/Mcf)	$4.71	$6.79	-30.63%
OEG Agreement
Gas Sales (Bcf)	31.292	34.387	- 9.00%
Gas Prices (Ecents/Kwh)	1.5211	2.1323	-28.66%
Average Exchange Rate	1.1028	1.1310	-2.49%
Gas Royalties	$725,243	$1,283,634	-43.50%
Gas Prices ($/Mcf)	$4.68	$6.74	-30.56%

For the six months ended 3/31/2020, gas sales from western Oldenburg accounted for only 30.38% of all gas sales from the Oldenburg concession. However, royalties on these gas sales provided approximately 80.60%, or $1,713,531 out of $2,125,845, of all royalties attributable to gas sales from the Oldenburg concession.

Trust expenses for the first six months of fiscal 2020 increased 1.62%, or $8,225, to $514,623 from $506,398 for the first six months of fiscal 2019. This increase in expenses reflects the payment of German accounting costs covering the royalty examination for 2017-18. Trust interest income received during the first six months of fiscal 2020 decreased to $2,473 in comparison to $7,586 received in the first six months of fiscal 2019 due to lower net income and lower interest rates.

Report on Drilling and Geophysical Work

---

This report on Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements address future expectations and events or conditions concerning the Trust. Many of these statements are based on information provided to the Trust by the operating companies or by consultants using public information sources. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements. These include:

- risks and uncertainties concerning levels of gas production and gas sale prices,   general economic conditions and currency exchange rates;

- the ability or willingness of the operating companies to perform under their   contractual obligations with the Trust; and

- potential disputes with the operating companies and the resolution thereof.

All such factors are difficult to predict, contain uncertainties that may materially affect actual results, and are generally beyond the control of the Trust. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for the Trust to predict all such factors or to assess the impact of each such factor on the Trust. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Trust does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The Trust is a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

The Trust maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust is recorded, processed, summarized, accumulated and communicated to its management, which consists of the Managing Director, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

The Managing Director has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures as of April 30, 2020 based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the standards promulgated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on that evaluation, the Managing Director concluded that the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of April 30, 2020.

There have been no changes in the Trust's internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation described above that occurred during the second quarter of fiscal 2020 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Trust's internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II -- OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

The Trust is not a party to any pending legal proceedings.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds..

Not applicable.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits.