10-Q 1 a2242651z10-q.htm 10-Q
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


ý

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period ended September 30, 2020

o

 

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: 1-7884

MESA ROYALTY TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  76-6284806
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
Trustee
601 Travis Street, Floor 16
Houston, Texas

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

77002
(Zip Code)

1-713-483-6020
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Units of Beneficial Interest   MTR   New York Stock Exchange



         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 ý    No o

         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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes o    No o

         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 o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer ý   Smaller reporting company ý

Emerging growth company o

         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. 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 ý

         As of November 16, 2020—1,863,590 Units of Beneficial Interest were outstanding in Mesa Royalty Trust.

   



DISCLOSURES REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This Form 10-Q includes "forward-looking statements" about Mesa Royalty Trust (the "Trust") and other matters discussed herein that are subject to risks and uncertainties that are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this document, including, without limitation, statements under "Trustee's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," including the Trust's or any Working Interest Owner's (as defined in "Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions") future financial position, status in any insolvency proceeding, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures and decreases in commodity pricing, plans and objectives for future operations, information regarding target distributions, statements regarding reconciliation and adjustment of estimated versus actual revenue and expense amounts, statements pertaining to future development activities and costs, statements regarding the number of development wells to be completed in future periods, and information regarding production and reserve growth, are forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results, which are substantially all outside the Trust's control, may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "potential," "possibly," "could," "may," "can," "foresee," "plan," "goal," "assume," "target," "should," "intend" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Trust in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. The Trustee (as defined herein) relies on the Working Interest Owners for information regarding the Subject Interests (as defined in "Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions"), the Royalty (as defined in "Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions"), and the Working Interest Owners themselves.

        Although the information provided by the Working Interest Owners provides a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements contained herein, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to be correct. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with such expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in Part II, Item 1A of the Trust's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020, in Part II, Item 1A of the Trust's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020, the risk factors discussed herein, and those set forth from time to time in the Trust's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which could affect the future results of the energy industry in general, and the Trust and Working Interest Owners in particular, and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on the Working Interest Owners' businesses and the Trust. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. The Trust undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

1



PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    Financial Statements.


MESA ROYALTY TRUST

STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019   2020   2019  

Royalty income

  $ 49,984   $ 203,160   $ 703,387   $ 1,518,510  

Interest income

    89     7,402     5,731     24,385  

General and administrative expense

    (73,854 )   (42,386 )   (167,149 )   (140,098 )

Income available for distribution prior to cash reserves used for Trust expenses

  $ (23,781 ) $ 168,176   $ 541,969   $ 1,402,797  

Cash reserves used for current Trust expenses

    23,781         23,781      

Distributable income

  $   $ 168,176   $ 565,750   $ 1,402,797  

Distributable income per unit

  $   $ 0.0902   $ 0.3036   $ 0.7527  

Units outstanding

    1,863,590     1,863,590     1,863,590     1,863,590  


STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS

 
  September 30,
2020
  December 31,
2019
 
 
  (Unaudited)
   
 

ASSETS

             

Cash and short-term investments

  $ 974,496   $ 1,233,060  

Net overriding royalty interest in oil and gas properties

    42,498,034     42,498,034  

Accumulated amortization

    (40,958,057 )   (40,890,724 )

Total assets

  $ 2,514,473   $ 2,840,370  

LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS

             

Distributions payable

  $   $ 255,848  

Trust corpus (1,863,590 units of beneficial interest authorized, issued and outstanding)

    2,514,473     2,584,522  

Total liabilities and trust corpus

  $ 2,514,473   $ 2,840,370  

   

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

2



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS

(Unaudited)

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019   2020   2019  

Trust corpus, beginning of period

  $ 2,547,145   $ 2,662,505   $ 2,584,522   $ 2,792,012  

Cash reserves used for current Trust expenses

    (23,781 )       (23,781 )    

Distributable income

        168,176     565,750     1,402,797  

Distributions to unitholders

        (167,046 )   (544,685 )   (1,440,349 )

Amortization of net overriding royalty interest

    (8,891 )   (26,484 )   (67,333 )   (117,309 )

Trust corpus, end of period

  $ 2,514,473   $ 2,637,151   $ 2,514,473   $ 2,637,151  

   

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

3



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions

        The Trust, created under the laws of the State of Texas, maintains its offices at the office of the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., (the "Trustee"), 601 Travis Street, Floor 16, Houston, Texas 77002. The telephone number of the Trust is 713-483-6020. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., is the successor Trustee from JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., which is the successor by mergers to the originally named Trustee, Texas Commerce Bank National Association. The Trust has no employees. Administrative functions of the Trust are performed by the Trustee. The Trustee maintains a website for the Trust that makes available, free of charge, filings by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and other information. Any reports filed with the SEC are accessible through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The Trust's website is http://mtr.q4web.com/home/default.aspx.

        Trust Corpus Description.    The Mesa Royalty Trust (the "Trust") was created on November 1, 1979 and is now governed by the Mesa Royalty Trust Indenture (as amended, the "Trust Indenture"). Through a series of conveyances, assignments, and acquisitions, the Trust currently owns an overriding royalty interest (the "Royalty") equal to 11.44% of 90% of the Net Proceeds (as defined in the Conveyance and described below) attributable to the specified interest in certain producing oil and gas properties located in the:

    Hugoton field of Kansas (the "Hugoton Royalty Properties");

    San Juan Basin field of New Mexico (the "San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties"); and

    San Juan Basin field of Colorado (the "San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties", and together with the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, the "San Juan Basin Royalty Properties", and together with the Hugoton Royalty Properties, the "Royalty Properties").

        Trust Corpus Conveyance History.    On November 1, 1979, Mesa Petroleum Co., predecessor to Mesa Limited Partnership ("MLP"), which was the predecessor to MESA Inc., conveyed to the Trust the Royalty equal to 90% of the Net Proceeds attributable to the specified interests in properties conveyed by the assignor on that date (the "Subject Interests"). The Subject Interests consisted of interests in the Royalty Properties described above. The Royalty is evidenced by counterparts of an Overriding Royalty Conveyance, dated as of November 1, 1979 (the "Conveyance"). In 1985, the Trust Indenture was amended, and the Trust conveyed to an affiliate of Mesa Petroleum Co. 88.5571% of the original Royalty (such transfer, the "1985 Assignment"). The effect of the 1985 Assignment was an overall reduction of approximately 88.56% in the size of the Trust. As a result, the Trust is now entitled to receive 11.44% of 90% of the Net Proceeds attributable to the Royalty Properties each month.

        Hugoton Royalty Properties.    Until August 7, 1997, MESA Inc. operated the Hugoton Royalty Properties through Mesa Operating Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of MESA Inc. On August 7, 1997, MESA Inc. merged with and into Pioneer Natural Resources Company ("Pioneer"), formerly a wholly

4



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions (Continued)

owned subsidiary of MESA Inc., and Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company merged with and into Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. (successor to Mesa Operating Co.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer ("PNR") (collectively, the mergers are referred to herein as the "Merger"). Subsequent to the Merger, the Hugoton Royalty Properties were operated by PNR until December 31, 2014, at which point Linn Energy Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Linn Energy, LLC ("Old Linn") took over as operator. Pursuant to the bankruptcy proceedings and court approved plans of reorganization involving Old Linn, Linn Energy, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "Linn") became the operator of the Hugoton Royalty Properties on February 28, 2017. On April 18, 2018, Linn announced its Board of Directors' decision to separate Linn into two stand-alone public companies. On August 7, 2018 Linn completed the spin-off of Riviera Resources, Inc. ("Riviera") through the pro rata distribution of all of the shares of Riviera's outstanding common stock to Linn's stockholders. In connection with such distribution, Linn ceased to be the operator of the Hugoton Royalty Properties, and starting on August 7, 2018, Riviera operated the Hugoton Royalty Properties. On November 22, 2019, Riviera completed the sale of its interest in its remaining properties located in the Hugoton Basin under the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated August 28, 2019 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and between the Riviera Upstream, LLC, Riviera Operating, LLC and Scout Energy Group V, LP ("Scout"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Riviera divested all of its interest in oil and gas assets and contracts in the Hugoton Royalty Properties. Since November 23, 2019, Scout has operated the Hugoton Royalty Properties.

        San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties.    On April 30, 1991, MLP sold to Conoco, Inc. ("ConocoPhillips") its interests in the San Juan Basin Royalty Properties (the "San Juan Basin Sale"). The Trust's interest in the San Juan Basin Royalty Properties was conveyed from PNR's working interest in 31,328 net producing acres in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado. ConocoPhillips sold the portion of its interests in the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties to MarkWest Energy Partners, Ltd. (effective January 1, 1993) and Red Willow Production Company ("Red Willow") (effective April 1, 1992). On October 26, 1994, MarkWest Energy Partners, Ltd. sold substantially all of its interest in the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties to BP Amoco Company ("BP"), a subsidiary of BP p.l.c. On February 28, 2020, BP completed the sale of all of its interest in the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties to IKAV Energy Inc. ("IKAV"). BP, under a transition services agreement with IKAV, and Red Willow currently operate the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties.

        San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties.    Starting from the date of the San Juan Basin Sale and ending on July 31, 2017, ConocoPhillips operated substantially all of the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, except a small number of properties that had been assigned to XTO Energy, Inc. ("XTO") effective January 1, 2005. On July 31, 2017, ConocoPhillips sold its San Juan Basin assets to Hilcorp San Juan LP ("Hilcorp"), an affiliate of Hilcorp Energy Company. On March 29, 2018, XTO sold to

5



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions (Continued)

Hilcorp its interests in the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties. Hilcorp currently operates all of the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties.

        Following Hilcorp's acquisition of ConocoPhillips' and XTO's interests in the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, there was a transition period to transfer historical information, knowledge and processes from one owner to the other. During this transition period, Hilcorp recorded estimates of revenues and expenses and made payments to the Trust based on historical amounts previously paid by ConocoPhillips, and the Trust recognized such amounts in accordance with its accounting practices. Accordingly, Hilcorp made an estimated payment of $97,150 in Net Proceeds to the Trust from September 2017 to March 2019 based upon the July 2017 production month previously paid by ConocoPhillips. In April 2019, Hilcorp began to generate actual (instead of estimated) Net Proceeds due to the Trust on a monthly basis. Hilcorp has informed the Trust that it will utilize actual revenue and expense amounts and either add or subtract reconciled historical amounts on a month-by-month basis, which will be recognized over time by the Trust in accordance with the Trust's modified cash basis of accounting. In December 2019, Hilcorp made the first payment to the Trust in reconciling historical amounts for one accounting month. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Hilcorp reconciled seven additional historical amounts for the accounting months of October 2017 through April 2018, which resulted in a charge to the Trust of $9,184.

        Until all estimated historical monthly amounts received by the Trust from September 2017 to March 2019 are fully reconciled and adjusted, Net Proceeds from the San Juan—New Mexico Properties will reflect adjustments to actual current production and costs to account for historical monthly reconciliations as they are completed. Because of anticipated future adjustments, the amounts of Net Proceeds reported for the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties during the three months ended September 30, 2020 may not be representative of Net Proceeds that will be received in future quarters.

        Hilcorp has informed the Trust that significant incremental costs of approximately $1.1 million attributable to the Trust were incurred in 2018 with respect to a newly drilled well in the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties. Incremental costs attributable to the Trust will reduce the Trust's future Net Proceeds over a period of time as adjustments are made by Hilcorp after taking into account actual revenues as well as costs for these properties during the applicable time period. The potential impact to Net Proceeds depends upon the results of all of the reconciliation work currently being conducted by Hilcorp and is therefore uncertain. The Trust will undertake a review of the reconciliation calculations by Hilcorp and the amount of Net Proceeds calculated and paid and intends to engage third party consultants when appropriate to assist in the Trust's review.

        Pursuant to the Trust Indenture, the Trust is not required to pay to Hilcorp any amounts that could be owed if the estimated revenue exceeded actual revenue amounts or estimated expenses were less than actual expense amounts in past periods. However, Hilcorp may recover such amounts by withholding a portion or all of the Net Proceeds that would otherwise be payable to the Trust in

6



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions (Continued)

subsequent periods. This could result in a decrease in Net Proceeds paid to the Trust and could result in future material reductions in distributions to the Trust's unitholders.

        Net Proceeds from the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $28,347 and $103,678, respectively, which revenue accounted for approximately 57% and 51%, respectively, of the total Royalty income reported by the Trust during those periods.

        As used in this report, Scout refers to the current operator of the Hugoton Royalty Properties, Hilcorp refers to the current operator of the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, and BP (under a transition services agreement with IKAV) and Red Willow refer to the current co-operators of certain tracts of land included in the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties, unless otherwise indicated. Scout, BP, Red Willow and Hilcorp are each individually referred to herein as "Working Interest Owner" or collectively as the "Working Interest Owners."

        The Royalty Properties are required to be operated by the Working Interest Owners in accordance with reasonable and prudent business judgment and good oil and gas field practices. Each Working Interest Owner has the right to abandon any well or lease if, in its opinion, such well or lease ceases to produce or is not capable of producing oil, gas or other minerals in commercial quantities. Each Working Interest Owner markets the production on terms deemed by it to be the best reasonably obtainable in the circumstances. See "Contracts" under Part I, Item 1 of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Trustee has no power or authority to exercise any control over the operation of the Royalty Properties, the incurrence of costs, or the marketing of production therefrom.

        Trustee and Terms of Trust Indenture.    Effective October 2, 2006, the Trustee succeeded JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Trustee of the Trust. The Trust is a passive entity whose purposes are limited to: (1) converting the Royalty to cash, either by retaining it and collecting the proceeds of production (until production has ceased or the Royalty is otherwise terminated) or by selling or otherwise disposing of the Royalties; and (2) distributing such cash, net of amounts for payments of liabilities to the Trust, to the unitholders. The Trust has no sources of liquidity or capital resources other than the revenues, if any, attributable to the Royalties and interest on cash held by the Trustee as a reserve for liabilities or for distribution. The terms of the Trust Indenture provide, among other things, that:

            (a)   the Trust cannot engage in any business or investment activity or purchase any assets;

            (b)   the Royalty can be sold in part or in total for cash upon required approval by the unitholders;

            (c)   the Trustee can establish cash reserves and borrow funds to pay liabilities of the Trust and can pledge assets of the Trust to secure payment of the borrowings;

7



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions (Continued)

            (d)   the Trustee will make cash distributions to the unitholders in January, April, July and October each year as discussed more fully in "Note 2—Basis of Presentation";

            (e)   the Trust will terminate upon the first to occur of the following events: (i) at such time as the Trust's royalty income for two successive years is less than $250,000 per year or (ii) a vote by the unitholders in favor of termination. Upon termination of the Trust, the Trustee will sell for cash all the assets held in the Trust estate and make a final distribution to unitholders of any funds remaining after all Trust liabilities have been satisfied; and

            (f)    Scout, Hilcorp, and BP (under a transition services agreement with IKAV) will reimburse the Trust for 59.34%, 27.45% and 1.77%, respectively, of general and administrative expenses of the Trust.

        Trustee's Fees.    Pursuant to the Trust Indenture, the Trust pays the Trustee fees for its services each quarter and the Working Interest Owners partially reimburse the Trust for the fees paid in connection with the Trustee's services. The net amount of these reimbursements is included in the general and administrative expenses of the Trust. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee was due $118,750 for its services. The Trust paid $108,288 of this amount to the Trustee, and $10,462 was allocated to offset against interest due to the Trust under the Trust Indenture. The Trustee was due $356,250 for its services for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The Trust paid $324,865 of this amount to the Trustee and $31,385 was allocated to offset against interest due to the Trust under the Trust Indenture. The Trust Indenture requires that cash being held by the Trustee earn interest at 1.5% below the prime rate, which would have yielded the Trust a 3.25% annualized return from January 1, 2020 through March 2, 2020, a 2.75% annualized return from March 3, 2020 through March 14, 2020 and a 1.75% annualized return from March 15, 2020 through September 30, 2020. However, due to the current interest rate environment, the Trustee was unable to obtain an account in which such an interest rate was available. In the event such an interest rate is unavailable in the future, the Trustee intends to allocate certain of its fees due to the Trust to meet the minimum interest rate payable under the Trust Indenture. In future periods the Trustee will continue to allocate a portion of the fees earned for its services to the Trust until all remaining interest due to the Trust is fully offset.

        The Working Interest Owners partially reimburse the Trust each quarter for amounts paid in connection with the Trustee's services. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee's fees were $108,288 and the Working Interest Owners reimbursed a sum of $95,897 to the Trustee, which was the same amount reimbursed for the three months ended September 30, 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee's fees were $324,865 and the Working Interest Owners reimbursed a sum of $287,691 to the Trustee, which was the same amount reimbursed for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

        Discussion of Net Proceeds.    The Conveyance provides for a monthly computation of Net Proceeds. Net Proceeds is defined in the Conveyance as the "Gross Proceeds" received by the Working Interest

8



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions (Continued)

Owners during a particular period, minus certain production and capital costs for such period. "Gross Proceeds" is defined in the Conveyance as the amount received by the Working Interest Owners from the sale of "Subject Minerals", subject to certain adjustments. "Subject Minerals" means all oil, gas and other minerals, whether similar or dissimilar, in and under, and which may be produced, saved and sold from, and which accrue and are attributable to, the Subject Interests from and after November 1, 1979. "Production costs" means, generally, costs incurred on an accrual basis by the Working Interest Owners in operating the Royalty Properties, including capital and non-capital costs. If production and capital costs exceed Gross Proceeds for any month, the excess, plus interest thereon at 120% of the prime rate of Bank of America, is recovered out of future Gross Proceeds prior to the making of further payment to the Trust. The Trust, however, is generally not liable for any operating costs or other costs or liabilities attributable to the Royalty Properties or minerals produced therefrom. The Trust is not obligated to return any Royalty income received in any period.

        The Working Interest Owners are required to maintain books and records sufficient to determine the amounts payable under the Royalty. Additionally, in the event of a controversy between a Working Interest Owner and any purchaser as to the correct sales price for any production, amounts received by such Working Interest Owner and promptly deposited by it with an escrow agent are not considered to have been received by such Working Interest Owner, and, therefore, are not subject to being payable with respect to the Royalty until the controversy is resolved; but all amounts thereafter paid to such Working Interest Owner by the escrow agent will be considered amounts received from the sale of production. Similarly, operating costs include any amounts a Working Interest Owner is required to pay whether as a refund, interest or penalty to any purchaser because the amount initially received by such Working Interest Owner as the sales price was in excess of that permitted by the terms of any applicable contract, statute, regulation, order, decree or other obligation. Within 30 days following the close of each calendar quarter, the Working Interest Owners are required to deliver to the Trustee a statement of the computation of Net Proceeds attributable to such quarter.

        The brief discussions of the Trust Indenture and the Conveyance contained herein are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Trust Indenture and the Conveyance themselves, which are exhibits to the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and are available upon request from the Trustee.

Note 2—Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying unaudited financial information has been prepared by the Trustee in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. The preparation of the financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Trustee believes such information includes all the disclosures necessary to make the information presented not misleading.

9



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 2—Basis of Presentation (Continued)

The information furnished reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of the Trustee, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. The financial information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Trust considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Subsequent events were evaluated through the issuance date of the financial statements.

        In accordance with the Conveyance, the Working Interest Owners are obligated to calculate and pay the Trust each month an amount equal to 11.44% of 90% of the Net Proceeds (as defined in the Conveyance) attributable to the month.

        The financial statements of the Trust are prepared on the following basis:

            (a)   Royalty income recorded for a month is the amount computed and paid by the Working Interest Owners to the Trustee for such month rather than either the value of a portion of the oil and gas produced by the Working Interest Owners for such month or the amount subsequently determined to be the Trust's proportionate share of the net proceeds for such month;

            (b)   Interest income, interest receivable and distributions payable to unitholders include interest to be earned on short-term investments from the financial statement date through the next date of distribution;

            (c)   Trust general and administrative expenses, net of reimbursements, are recorded in the month they are included in the calculation of the monthly distribution amount;

            (d)   Amortization of the Royalty is computed on a unit-of-production basis and is charged directly to trust corpus because such amount does not affect distributable income; and

            (e)   Distributions payable are determined on a monthly basis and are payable to unitholders of record as of the last business day of each month or such later date as the Trustee determines is required to comply with applicable law or stock exchange requirements. However, cash distributions are made quarterly in January, April, July and October, and include interest earned from the monthly record dates to the date of distribution.

        This basis for reporting distributable income is considered to be the most meaningful because distributions to the unitholders for a month are based on net cash receipts for such month. However, these statements differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America because, under such principles, royalty income for a month would be based on net proceeds from production for such month without regard to when calculated or received, general and administrative expenses would be recorded in the month they accrue, and interest income for a month would be calculated only through the end of such month.

10



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 3—Legal Proceedings

        There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Trust is a named party. The Trustee has been advised by the Working Interest Owners that the Trust may be subject to litigation in the ordinary course of business for certain matters that include the Royalty Properties. While each of the Working Interest Owners has advised the Trustee that it does not currently believe any of the pending litigation will have a material adverse effect net to the Trust, in the event such matters were adjudicated or settled in a material amount and charges were made against Royalty income, such charges could have a material impact on future Royalty income.

Note 4—Income Tax Matters

        In a technical advice memorandum dated February 26, 1982, the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") advised the Dallas District Director that the Trust is classifiable as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation. As a grantor trust, the Trust incurs no federal income tax liability and each unitholder is subject to tax on the unitholder's pro rata share of the income and expense of the Trust as if the unitholder were the direct owner of a pro rata share of the Trust's assets. In addition, there is no state tax liability for the period.

        Individuals, estates, and trusts with income above certain thresholds are subject under Section 1411 of the Code to an additional 3.8% tax—also known as the Net Investment Income Tax ("NIIT")—on their net investment income. Grantor trusts such as the Trust are not subject to the NIIT; however, the unitholders may be subject to the tax. For these purposes, investment income would generally include certain income derived from investments, such as the royalty income derived from the units and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units.

        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 non-mortgage widely held fixed investment trust ("WHFIT") for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 601 Travis Street, Floor 16, Houston, Texas 77002, telephone number 713-483-6020, 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.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, the middlemen holding units on behalf of unitholders, and not the Trustee of the Trust, are solely responsible for complying with the information reporting requirements under the Treasury Regulations with respect to such units, including the issuance of IRS Forms 1099 and certain written tax statements. Unitholders whose units are held by middlemen should consult with such middlemen regarding the information that will be reported to them by the middlemen with respect to the units.

        Each unitholder should consult its own tax advisor with respect to its particular circumstances.

11



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 5—Excess Production Costs

 
  As of
September 30,
2020
  As of
December 31,
2019
 

Hugoton Properties

  $ 185,635   $  

San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties—Red Willow

    34,250     29,597  

San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties—Hilcorp

    28,076     5,321  

Total

  $ 247,961   $ 34,918  

        Excess production costs result when costs, charges, and expenses attributable to a working interest property and reported by a Working Interest Owner exceed the revenue received from the sale of oil, gas, and other hydrocarbons produced from such property. The excess production costs may be recovered by the Working Interest Owners before any distribution of Royalty income from the properties will be made to the Trust. Excess production costs may continue to increase, particularly during a low oil and natural gas price environment, which could have the effect of reducing or eliminating future distributions to unitholders.

Note 6—Distributable Income Per Unit

        The Trust's Royalty income from the Royalty Properties and its distributions to unitholders are heavily influenced by commodity prices. Commodity prices may fluctuate widely in response to (i) relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, (ii) market uncertainty and (iii) a variety of additional factors that are beyond the Trustee's control. Recently, there has been a substantial decrease in oil and natural gas prices due in part to significantly decreased demand as a result of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and an oversupply of crude oil. Both factors have put substantial downward pressure on the price of oil and natural gas during 2020, and the Trust cannot guarantee that the above factors will not continue to negatively impact natural gas commodity prices. The continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the measures taken to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, are adversely affecting the business and operations of the Working Interest Owners, which in turn are having an adverse effect on Trust distributions. For each month in the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trust announced in a press release that there would be no distribution paid to unitholders, as costs, charges and expenses attributable to the Trust's Royalty properties exceeded the revenue received from the sale of oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons produced from such properties, as reported by the Working Interest Owners.

        During 2011, the Trustee, acting pursuant to the Trust Indenture, withheld $1.0 million for future unknown contingent liabilities and expenses (such cumulative withholding, the "Contingent Reserve"). The Trustee reserves the right to determine whether or not to release cash reserves in future periods with respect to any reimbursement expenses. At any given time, the Contingent Reserve is included in cash and short-term investments.

12



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 6—Distributable Income Per Unit (Continued)

        For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee increased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $7,238 of Royalty income received from BP in September 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of September 2020, which Royalty income was included in the October 2020 distribution calculation, (2) $83 for interest earned on the Contingent Reserve in the third quarter of 2020 and (3) $300 for an overpayment received from Hilcorp in July 2020. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee decreased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $19,412 as expenses were greater than Royalty income for the quarter and (2) $11,990 for a reimbursement not received from Hilcorp until October 2020 but included in the September 2020 distribution calculation.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee increased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $22,268 of Royalty income received from BP in March 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of March 2020, which Royalty income was included in the April 2020 distribution to unitholders, (2) $23,629 reimbursement not received from Scout until January 2020 but included in the December 2019 distribution to unitholders, (3) $147,893 Royalty income for February and March 2020 included in the March 2020 distribution to unitholders but not received from Scout until April 2020, (4) $583 for interest earned on the Contingent Reserve in the second quarter of 2020, (5) $7,238 of Royalty income received from BP in September 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of September 2020, which Royalty income was included in the October 2020 distribution calculation, (6) $83 for interest earned on the Contingent Reserve in the third quarter of 2020 and (7) $300 for an overpayment received from Hilcorp in July 2020.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee decreased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $844 due to an overpayment received in error from BP in December 2019 that was deducted from BP's January 2020 payment to the Trust, (2) $147,893 Royalty income for February and March 2020 included in the March 2020 distribution to unitholders but not received from Scout until April 2020, (3) $22,268 of Royalty income received from BP in March 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of March 2020, which Royalty income was included in the April 2020 distribution to unitholders, (4) $2,303 which was the difference between the amount to be paid to unitholders in July 2020 and the amount in the Trust's operating account as of June 30, 2020, (5) $19,412, as expenses were greater than Royalty income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and (6) $11,990 for a reimbursement not received from Hilcorp until October 2020 but included in the September 2020 distribution calculation.

13



MESA ROYALTY TRUST

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

(Unaudited)

Note 6—Distributable Income Per Unit (Continued)

        As of September 30, 2020, the value of the Contingent Reserve was $974,496, which is included in cash and short-term investments. The effect on distributable income per unit of adjustments to the Contingent Reserve is as follows:

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019   2020   2019  

Income available for distribution prior to cash reserves used for Trust expenses

  $ (23,781 ) $ 168,176   $ 541,969   $ 1,402,797  

Increase in Contingent Reserve

    (7,621 )   (1,130 )   (201,994 )   (58,357 )

Withdrawal from Contingent Reserve

    31,402         204,710     95,909  

Distributable income available for distribution

  $   $ 167,046   $ 544,685   $ 1,440,349  

Distributable income available for distribution per unit

  $   $ 0.0896   $ 0.2923   $ 0.7729  

Units outstanding

    1,863,590     1,863,590     1,863,590     1,863,590  

14


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

        The following review of Mesa Royalty Trust's (the "Trust") financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto. The discussion of net production attributable to the Hugoton Royalty Properties and San Juan Basin Royalty Properties (as each is defined below) represents production volumes that are to a large extent hypothetical as the Trust does not own and is not entitled to any specific production volumes. Any discussion of "actual" production volumes represents the hydrocarbons that were produced from the properties in which the Trust has an overriding royalty interest and reported by the Working Interest Owners. See Note 7 to the financial statements in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

        The Trust was created on November 1, 1979 and is now governed by the Mesa Royalty Trust Indenture (as amended, the "Trust Indenture"). Through a series of conveyances, assignments, and acquisitions, the Trust currently owns an overriding royalty interest (the "Royalty") equal to 11.44% of 90% of the Net Proceeds (as defined and described in an Overriding Royalty Conveyance dated as of November 1, 1979 (the "Conveyance")) attributable to the specified interest in certain producing oil and gas properties located in the:

    Hugoton field of Kansas (the "Hugoton Royalty Properties");

    San Juan Basin field of New Mexico (the "San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties"); and

    San Juan Basin field of Colorado (the "San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties", and together with the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, the "San Juan Basin Royalty Properties", and together with the Hugoton Royalty Properties, the "Royalty Properties").

        On November 22, 2019, Riviera completed the sale of its interest in its remaining properties located in the Hugoton Basin under the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated August 28, 2019 (the "Purchase Agreement"), by and among Riviera Upstream, LLC, Riviera Operating, LLC and Scout Energy Group V, LP ("Scout"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Riviera divested all of its interest in oil and gas assets and contracts in the Hugoton Royalty Properties. Since November 23, 2019, Scout has operated the Hugoton Royalty Properties.

        On February 28, 2020, BP completed the sale of all of its interest in the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties to IKAV Energy Inc. ("IKAV"). BP, under a transition services agreement with IKAV, and Red Willow currently operate the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties.

        Pursuant to past conveyances, Scout, Hilcorp, BP (under a transition services agreement with IKAV) and Red Willow are the operators of certain portions of the Hugoton Royalty Properties and San Juan Basin Royalty Properties (each of Scout, Hilcorp, BP and Red Willow being a "Working Interest Owner", and together, the "Working Interest Owners"). As used in this report, Scout refers to the current operator of the Hugoton Royalty Properties, Hilcorp refers to the current operator of the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, and BP and Red Willow refer to the current co-operators of certain tracts of land included in the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties, unless otherwise indicated.

        The Trust is a passive entity whose purposes are limited to: (1) converting the Royalties to cash, either by retaining them and collecting the proceeds of production (until production has ceased or the Royalties are otherwise terminated) or by selling or otherwise disposing of the Royalties; and (2) distributing such cash, net of amounts for payments of liabilities to the Trust, to the unitholders.

15


The Trust has no sources of liquidity or capital resources other than the revenues, if any, attributable to the Royalties and interest on cash held by The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. ("the Trustee") as a reserve for liabilities or for distribution. The Trust does not undertake or control any capital projects or make capital expenditures. While the Trust's Royalty income is net of capital expenditures, these capital expenditures are controlled and paid by the Working Interests Owners, and the Trust receives Royalty income net of these expenses. In addition, the Trust does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements or other contingent obligations.

    Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

        This Form 10-Q includes "forward-looking statements" about the Trust and other matters discussed herein that are subject to risks and uncertainties that are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this document, including, without limitation, statements under "Trustee's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," including the Trust's or any Working Interest Owner's future financial position, status in any insolvency proceeding, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, statements regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures and decreases in commodity pricing, plans and objectives for future operations, information regarding target distributions, statements regarding reconciliation and adjustment of estimated versus actual revenue and expense amounts, statements pertaining to future development activities and costs, statements regarding the number of development wells to be completed in future periods, and information regarding production and reserve growth, are forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results, which are substantially all outside the Trust's control, may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by words such as "estimate," "project," "predict," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "potential," "possibly," "could," "may," "can," "foresee," "plan," "goal," "assume," "target," "should," "intend" or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Trust in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. The Trustee relies on the Working Interest Owners for information regarding the Subject Interests (as defined herein in "Note 1—Trust Organization and Provisions"), the Royalty, and the Working Interest Owners themselves.

        Although the information provided by the Working Interest Owners provides a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements contained herein, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to be correct. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with such expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in Part II, Item 1A of the Trust's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020, in Part II, Item 1A of the Trust's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020, the risk factors discussed herein, and those set forth from time to time in the Trust's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which could affect the future results of the energy industry in general, and the Trust and Working Interest Owners in particular, and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on the Working Interest Owners' businesses and the Trust. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. The Trust undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

16



SUMMARY OF ROYALTY INCOME, PRODUCTION AND AVERAGE PRICES
(Unaudited)

        Royalty income is computed after deducting the Trust's proportionate share of capital costs, operating costs and interest on any cost carryforward from the Trust's proportionate share of "Gross Proceeds," as defined in the Conveyance.

        The Trust's Royalty income from the Royalty Properties and its distributions to unitholders are heavily influenced by commodity prices. Commodity prices may fluctuate widely in response to (i) relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, (ii) market uncertainty and (iii) a variety of additional factors that are beyond the Trustee's control. Recently, there has been a substantial decrease in oil and natural gas prices due in part to significantly decreased demand as a result of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic and an oversupply of crude oil. Both factors have put substantial downward pressure on the price of oil and natural gas during 2020, and the Trust cannot guarantee that the above factors will not continue to negatively impact natural gas commodity prices. The recent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the measures taken to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, are adversely affecting the business and operations of the Working Interest Owners, which in turn are having an adverse effect on Trust distributions. For each month in the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trust announced in a press release that there would be no distribution paid to unitholders, as costs, charges and expenses attributable to the Trust's Royalty properties exceeded the revenue received from the sale of oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons produced from such properties, as reported by the Working Interest Owners.

        The following summary illustrates the net effect of the components of the actual Royalty computation for the periods indicated.

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

The Trust's proportionate share of Gross proceeds(1)(5)

  $ 456,408   $ 144,298   $ 22,255   $ 457,944   $ 265,950   $ 41,757  

Less the Trust's proportionate share of:

                                     

Capital costs recovered

    (19,958 )   (304 )   (4,307 )   (9,861 )   (13,386 )   (3,037 )

Operating costs

    (435,021 )   (138,255 )   (19,808 )   (335,122 )   (183,553 )   (26,160 )

Net proceeds(2)

  $ 1,429   $ 5,739   $ (1,860 ) $ 112,961   $ 69,011   $ 12,560  

Royalty income(2)

  $ 36,002   $ 1,773   $ 12,209   $ 120,988   $ 69,580   $ 12,592  

Average sales price

  $ 0.69   $ 8.49   $ 39.41   $ 1.00   $ 14.95   $ 48.00  

Average production costs(3)

  $ 8.67   $ 663.35   $ 77.85   $ 2.86   $ 42.31   $ 111.30  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid(4)

    52,492     209     310     120,758     4,655     262  

17



 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

The Trust's proportionate share of Gross proceeds(1)(5)

  $ 1,702,735   $ 583,063   $ 58,618   $ 2,280,331   $ 856,782   $ 72,801  

Less the Trust's proportionate share of:

                                     

Capital costs recovered

    (39,814 )   (10,473 )   (6,099 )   (19,386 )   (19,609 )   (3,700 )

Operating costs

    (1,365,475 )   (387,705 )   (44,507 )   (1,134,577 )   (485,584 )   (38,798 )

Net proceeds(2)

  $ 297,446   $ 184,885   $ 8,012   $ 1,126,368   $ 351,589   $ 30,303  

Royalty income(2)

  $ 499,092   $ 182,164   $ 22,131   $ 1,137,640   $ 350,536   $ 30,334  

Average sales price

  $ 1.35   $ 11.66   $ 40.86   $ 1.93   $ 17.61   $ 45.00  

Average production costs(3)

  $ 3.80   $ 25.49   $ 93.44   $ 1.96   $ 25.38   $ 63.04  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid(4)

    369,725     15,619     542     588,615     19,907     674  

(1)
Gross Proceeds from natural gas liquids attributable to each of the Hugoton Royalty Properties and San Juan Basin Royalty Properties are reported by the Working Interest Owner net of a volumetric in-kind processing fee retained by Scout and Hilcorp, respectively.

(2)
Royalty income is computed after deducting the Trust's proportionate share of capital costs, operating costs and interest on any cost carryforward from the Trust's proportionate share of Gross Proceeds. As a result of excess production costs incurred in one monthly operating period and then recovered in a subsequent monthly operating period, the Royalty income paid to the Trust may not match the Trust's royalty interest in the Net Proceeds (as defined in the Conveyance). The excess production costs may be recovered by the Working Interest Owners before any distribution of Royalty income will be made to the Trust.

San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties.    Excess production costs in the amount of $16,086 and $2,720 as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, were related to the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties formerly operated by XTO, currently operated by Hilcorp. Excess production costs related to the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties formerly operated by XTO and currently operated by Hilcorp were approximately $4,183 and $1,010, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.

Excess production costs related to the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties formerly operated by XTO and currently operated by Hilcorp were approximately $10,765 and $0, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. The Trust recovered prior period excess production costs of $2,229 related to the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties formerly operated by XTO and currently operated by Hilcorp during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

18


    Excess production costs in the amount of $11,990 and $0 as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were related to the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties formerly operated by Conoco, Inc. ("ConocoPhillips") and currently operated by Hilcorp.

    San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties.    Excess production costs in the amount of $34,250 and $15,436 as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, were related to the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties operated by Red Willow. Excess production costs related to the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties operated by Red Willow were approximately $1,360 and $7,617, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. Excess production costs related to the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties operated by Red Willow were approximately $4,652 and $12,479, respectively, for the nine months September 30, 2020 and 2019.

    No excess production costs were recorded as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 or with respect to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 related to the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties operated by BP. The Trust recovered prior period excess production costs of $2,357 related to the San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties operated by BP during the three months ended September 30, 2020.

    Hugoton Royalty Properties.    Excess production costs in the amount of $185,635 and $0 as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, were related to the Hugoton Royalty Properties operated by Scout. Excess production costs related to the Hugoton Royalty Properties operated by Scout were approximately $29,500 and $0, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019.

    Excess production costs related to the Hugoton Royalty Properties operated by Scout were approximately $185,635 and $0, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.

(3)
Average production costs attributable to the Royalty are calculated as stated capital costs plus operating costs, divided by stated net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid. As noted above in footnote (2), production costs may be incurred in one operating period and then recovered in a subsequent operating period, which may cause Royalty income paid to the Trust not to agree to the Trust's Royalty interest in the Net Proceeds.

(4)
Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty are determined by dividing Royalty income by the average sales price received. Any differences noted are due to rounding.

(5)
Following Hilcorp's acquisition of ConocoPhillips' and XTO's interests in the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, there was a transition period to transfer historical information, knowledge and processes from one owner to the other. During this transition period, Hilcorp recorded estimates of revenues and expenses and made payments to the Trust based on historical amounts previously paid by ConocoPhillips, and the Trust recognized such amounts in accordance with its accounting practices. Accordingly, Hilcorp made an estimated payment of $97,150 in Net Proceeds to the Trust from September 2017 to March 2019 based upon the July 2017 production month previously paid by ConocoPhillips. In April 2019, Hilcorp began to generate actual (instead of estimated) Net Proceeds due to the Trust on a monthly basis. Hilcorp has informed the Trust that it will utilize actual revenue and expense amounts and either add or subtract reconciled historical amounts on a month-by-month basis, which will be recognized over time by the Trust in accordance with the Trust's modified cash basis of accounting. In December 2019, Hilcorp made the first payment to the Trust in reconciling historical amounts for one accounting month. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Hilcorp reconciled seven additional historical amounts for

19


    the accounting months of October 2017 through April 2018, which resulted in a charge to the Trust of $9,184.

    Until all estimated historical monthly amounts received by the Trust from September 2017 to March 2019 are fully reconciled and adjusted, Net Proceeds from the San Juan—New Mexico Properties will reflect adjustments to actual current production and costs to account for historical monthly reconciliations as they are completed. Because of anticipated future adjustments, the amounts of Net Proceeds reported for the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties during the three months ended September 30, 2020 may not be representative of Net Proceeds that will be received in future quarters.

    Hilcorp has informed the Trust that significant incremental costs of approximately $1.1 million attributable to the Trust were incurred in 2018 with respect to a newly drilled well in the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties. Incremental costs attributable to the Trust will reduce the Trust's future Net Proceeds over a period of time as adjustments are made by Hilcorp after considering actual revenues as well as costs for these properties during the applicable time period. The potential impact to Net Proceeds depends upon the results of all of the reconciliation work currently being conducted by Hilcorp and is therefore uncertain. The Trust will undertake a review of the reconciliation calculations by Hilcorp and the amount of Net Proceeds calculated and paid and intends to engage third party consultants when appropriate to assist in the Trust's review.

    Pursuant to the Trust Indenture, the Trust is not required to pay to Hilcorp any amounts that could be owed if the estimated revenue exceeded actual revenue amounts or estimated expenses were less than actual expense amounts in past periods. However, Hilcorp may recover such amounts by withholding a portion or all of the Net Proceeds that would otherwise be payable to the Trust in subsequent periods. This could result in a decrease in Net Proceeds paid to the Trust and could result in future material reductions in distributions to the Trust's unitholders. Net Proceeds from the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $28,348 and $103,678, respectively, which revenue accounted for approximately 57% and 51%, respectively, of the total Royalty income reported by the Trust. Because of anticipated future adjustments, the amounts of Net Proceeds reported for the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties during the three months ended September 30, 2020 may not be representative of Net Proceeds that will be received in future quarters.

Working Interest Owner and Industry Update

        The business of the Working Interest Owners is being adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the containment measures being taken to mitigate its impact. The oil and gas industry has experienced a sharp and rapid decline in the demand for crude oil and natural gas worldwide. The global economy and commodity prices are being severely negatively impacted, as economic activity and demand for energy have declined in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as due to other geopolitical factors. The pandemic continues to have a material adverse effect on the Working Interest Owners' costs, operations, business and financial condition, which is having an adverse effect on Trust distributions. For each month in the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trust announced in a press release that there would be no distribution paid to unitholders, as costs, charges and expenses attributable to the Trust's Royalty properties exceeded the revenue received from the sale of oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons produced from such properties, as reported by the Working Interest Owners. There is no indication of if or when distributions may be announced in future periods.

20


Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

Financial Review

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income

  $ 49,984   $ 203,160  

Interest income

    89     7,402  

General and administrative expense

    (73,854 )   (42,386 )

Cash reserves used for current Trust expenses

    23,781      

Distributable income

  $   $ 168,176  

Distributable income per unit

  $   $ 0.0902  

Units outstanding

    1,863,590     1,863,590  

        Royalty Income.    The Trust's Royalty income was $49,984 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of approximately 75% as compared to $203,160 for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease was primarily a result of lower natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil and condensate prices, decreased net production of natural gas and natural gas liquids, an increase in operating expenses for natural gas and an increase in capital expenditures for natural gas and oil and condensate, offset in part by a decrease in operating expenses for natural gas liquids and oil and condensate and lower capital expenditures for natural gas liquids in the three months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019.

        The Trust's interest income for the quarters ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $89 and $7,402, respectively. In accordance with the Trust Indenture and as explained below, interest on cash on hand was paid at a rate equivalent to a 3.25% annualized return from January 1, 2020 through March 2, 2020, a 2.75% annualized return from March 3, 2020 through March 14, 2020 and a 1.75% annualized return from March 15, 2020 through September 30, 2020.

        General and Administrative Expense.    General and administrative expense was $73,854 and $42,386 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Trustee's fees are included in general and administrative expense. The increase for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to September 30, 2019 was primarily a result of the timing of expenses received and paid by the Trust and a September 2020 reimbursable amount not received from Hilcorp until October 2020.

        For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee was due $118,750 for its services. The Trust paid $108,288 of this amount to the Trustee, and $10,462 was allocated to offset against interest due to the Trust under the Trust Indenture. The Trust Indenture requires that cash being held by the Trustee earn interest at 1.5% below the prime rate, which would have yielded the Trust a 3.25% annualized return from January 1, 2020 through March 2, 2020, a 2.75% annualized return from March 3, 2020 through March 14, 2020 and a 1.75% annualized return from March 15, 2020 through September 30, 2020. However, due to the current interest rate environment, the Trustee was unable to obtain an account in which such an interest rate was available. In the event such an interest rate is unavailable in the future, the Trustee intends to allocate certain of its fees due to the Trust to meet the minimum interest rate payable under the Trust Indenture. In future periods the Trustee will continue to

21


allocate a portion of the fees earned for its services to the Trust until all remaining interest due to the Trust is fully offset.

        Unreimbursed Expenses and the Contingent Reserve.    The Working Interest Owners partially reimburse the Trust each quarter for amounts paid in connection with the Trustee's services. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee's fees were $108,288 and the Working Interest Owners reimbursed a sum of $95,897 to the Trustee, which was the same amount reimbursed for the three months ended September 30, 2019. As of each of the quarters ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, there were $11,990 and $0, respectively, of unreimbursed expenses.

        During 2011, the Trustee, acting pursuant to the Trust Indenture, withheld $1.0 million for future unknown contingent liabilities and expenses (such cumulative withholding, the "Contingent Reserve"). The Trustee reserves the right to determine whether or not to release cash reserves in future periods with respect to any reimbursement expenses. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee increased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $7,238 of Royalty income received from BP in September 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of September 2020, which Royalty income was included in the October 2020 distribution calculation, (2) $83 for interest earned on the Contingent Reserve in the third quarter of 2020 and (3) $300 for an overpayment received from Hilcorp in July 2020. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee decreased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $19,412, as expenses were greater than Royalty income for the quarter and (2) $11,990 for a reimbursement not received from Hilcorp until October 2020 but included in the September 2020 distribution calculation.

        Distributable Income Available for Distribution.    The portion of the Trust's distributable income available for distribution each period includes the Royalty income received from the Working Interest Owners during such period, plus interest income earned to the date of distribution (if any) and increases or withdrawals from the Contingent Reserve (if any). Distributable income available for distribution for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $0, representing $0 per unit, compared to $167,046, representing $0.0896 per unit, for the three months ended September 30, 2019. Based on 1,863,590 units outstanding for the quarters ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, the per unit distributions for each month in such periods were as follows:

 
  2020   2019  

July

  $   $ 0.0283  

August

        0.0270  

September

        0.0343  

  $   $ 0.0896  

Operational Review

Hugoton Royalty Properties

        Natural gas and natural gas liquids production attributable to the Hugoton Royalty Properties accounted for none of the Royalty income of the Trust during the third quarter of 2020.

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income attributable to Hugoton Royalty Properties

  $   $ 69,339  

Operating costs attributable to Hugoton Royalty Properties

  $ 278,709   $ 273,270  

22


        Royalty Income.    Royalty income attributable to the Hugoton Royalty Properties decreased to $0 in the third quarter of 2020 from $69,339 in the third quarter of 2019 as operating expenses exceeded proceeds for the three months ended September 30, 2020, due to decreases in natural gas and natural gas liquids prices, from the Hugoton Royalty Properties in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to the third quarter of 2019.

        Operating Costs and Capital Expenditures.    Operating costs were $278,709 in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of approximately 2% as compared to $273,270 in the third quarter of 2019. Capital expenditures attributable to the Hugoton Royalty Properties were $0 in the third quarter of 2020, as compared to $0 in the third quarter of 2019.

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

Average sales price

  $ 2.40   $ 8.10   $   $ 3.08   $ 19.34   $  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Actual production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for Hugoton Royalty Properties

    85,068     5,522         86,034     4,000      

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for Hugoton Royalty Properties

                17,313     823      

        Average Sales Price.    Average sales prices per thousand cubic feet ("Mcf") of natural gas and barrel ("Bbl") for natural gas liquids for the Hugoton Royalty Properties are directly dependent on the prices Scout realizes for natural gas sold under short-term and multi-month contracts at market clearing prices to multiple purchasers. Overall market prices received for natural gas from Hugoton Royalty Properties were lower for the three months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2019.

San Juan Basin Royalty Properties

        Royalty income from the San Juan Basin Royalty Properties is calculated and paid to the Trust on a state-by-state basis depending upon whether the property is situated in Colorado or New Mexico. A majority of the Royalty income from the San Juan Basin Royalty Properties is attributable to the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties.

23


    San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income attributable to San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

  $ 21,636   $ 30,142  

Operating costs attributable to San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

  $ 25,702   $ 31,304  

        Royalty Income.    Royalty income from the San Juan Basin—Colorado Royalty Properties was $21,636 during the third quarter of 2020, compared to $30,142 during the third quarter of 2019. This decrease in Royalty income was due primarily to decreased net natural gas production volumes, offset in part by higher market prices for natural gas and a decrease in operating costs in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019.

        Operating Costs.    Operating costs on these properties were $25,702 in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of approximately 18% as compared to $31,304 in the third quarter of 2019.

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

Average sales price

  $ 0.51   $   $   $ 0.49   $   $  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Actual production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

    92,914             104,879          

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

    42,311             60,915          

    San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income attributable to San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

  $ 28,348   $ 103,679  

Operating costs attributable to San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

  $ 288,673   $ 240,261  

Capital expenditures attributable to San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

  $ 24,570   $ 26,284  

24


        Royalty Income.    Royalty income from the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties was $28,348 during the third quarter of 2020 as compared with Royalty income of $103,679 during the third quarter of 2019. This decrease in Royalty income was due primarily to a decrease in natural gas liquids and oil and condensate prices, decreased net production volumes for natural gas and natural gas liquids and an increase in operating costs, offset in part by an increase in natural gas prices for the third quarter of 2020 compared to the third quarter of 2019.

        Operating Costs and Capital Expenditures.    Operating costs were $288,673 in the third quarter of 2020, an increase of approximately 20% as compared to $240,261 in the third quarter of 2019, due primarily to including the March through May 2018 reconciliation of historical amounts by Hilcorp in the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Excluding the reconciliation, operating costs were $198,075 in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of approximately 18% as compared to $240,261 in the third quarter of 2019, due primarily to Hilcorp reducing their operating expenses as the oil and gas prices dropped. Capital expenditures on these properties were $24,570 in the third quarter of 2020, a decrease of approximately 7% as compared to $26,284 in the third quarter of 2019.

 
  Three Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

Average sales price

  $ 1.41   $ 8.49   $ 39.41   $ 0.88   $ 14.00   $ 48.00  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Actual production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

    144,399     11,503     572     155,820     13,748     871  

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

    10,181     209     310     42,529     3,832     262  

        Following Hilcorp's acquisition of ConocoPhillips' and XTO's interests in the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties, there was a transition period to transfer historical information, knowledge and processes from one owner to the other. During this transition period, Hilcorp recorded estimates of revenues and expenses and made payments to the Trust based on historical amounts previously paid by ConocoPhillips, and the Trust recognized such amounts in accordance with its accounting practices. Accordingly, Hilcorp made an estimated payment of $97,150 in Net Proceeds to the Trust from September 2017 to March 2019 based upon the July 2017 production month previously paid by ConocoPhillips. In April 2019, Hilcorp began to generate actual (instead of estimated) Net Proceeds due to the Trust on a monthly basis. Hilcorp has informed the Trust that it will utilize actual revenue and expense amounts and either add or subtract reconciled historical amounts on a month-by-month basis, which will be recognized over time by the Trust in accordance with the Trust's modified cash basis of accounting. In December 2019, Hilcorp made the first payment to the Trust in reconciling historical amounts for one accounting month. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Hilcorp reconciled seven additional historical amounts for the accounting months of October 2017 through April 2018, which resulted in a charge to the Trust of $9,184.

25


        Until all estimated historical monthly amounts received by the Trust from September 2017 to March 2019 are fully reconciled and adjusted, Net Proceeds from the San Juan—New Mexico Properties will reflect adjustments to actual current production and costs to account for historical monthly reconciliations as they are completed. Because of anticipated future adjustments, the amounts of Net Proceeds reported for the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties during the three months ended September 30, 2020 may not be representative of Net Proceeds that will be received in future quarters.

        Hilcorp has informed the Trust that significant incremental costs of approximately $1.1 million attributable to the Trust were incurred in 2018 with respect to a newly drilled well in the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties. Incremental costs attributable to the Trust will reduce the Trust's future Net Proceeds over a period of time as adjustments are made by Hilcorp after taking into account actual revenues as well as costs for these properties during the applicable time period. The potential impact to Net Proceeds depends upon the results of all of the reconciliation work currently being conducted by Hilcorp and is therefore uncertain. The Trust will undertake a review of the reconciliation calculations by Hilcorp and the amount of Net Proceeds calculated and paid and intends to engage third party consultants when appropriate to assist in the Trust's review.

        Pursuant to the Trust Indenture, the Trust is not required to pay to Hilcorp any amounts that could be owed if the estimated revenue exceeded actual revenue figures in past periods, plus any additional required costs. However, Hilcorp may recover such amounts by withholding a portion or all of the Net Proceeds that would otherwise be payable to the Trust in subsequent periods. This could result in a decrease in Net Proceeds paid to the Trust and could result in future material reductions in distributions to the Trust's unitholders.

        Net Proceeds from the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were $28,348 and $103,678, respectively, which revenue accounted for approximately 57% and 51%, respectively, of the total Royalty income reported by the Trust during those periods. Because of anticipated future adjustments, the amounts of Net Proceeds reported for the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties during the three months ended September 30, 2020 may not be representative of Net Proceeds that will be received in future quarters.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

Financial Review

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income

  $ 703,387   $ 1,518,510  

Interest income

    5,731     24,385  

General and administrative expense

    (167,149 )   (140,098 )

Cash reserves used for current Trust expenses

    23,781      

Distributable income

  $ 565,750   $ 1,402,797  

Distributable income per unit

  $ 0.3036   $ 0.7527  

Units outstanding

    1,863,590     1,863,590  

26


        Royalty Income.    The Trust's Royalty income was $703,387 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of approximately 54% as compared to $1,518,510 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 primarily as a result of decreased natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil and condensate prices, decreased net production of natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil and condensate, an increase in operating expenses for natural gas and oil and condensate and an increase in capital expenditures for natural gas and oil and condensate, offset in part by a decrease in operating and capital expenses for natural gas liquids in the first nine months of 2020 as compared to the first nine months of 2019. The Trust's interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was $5,731 and $24,385, respectively.

        General and Administrative Expense.    General and administrative expense was $167,149 and $140,098 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Trustee's fees are included in general and administrative expense. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to September 30, 2019 was primarily a result of the timing of expenses received and paid by the Trust and a September 2020 reimbursable amount not received from Hilcorp until October 2020.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee was due $356,250 for its services. The Trust paid $324,865 of this amount to the Trustee, and $31,385 was allocated to offset against interest due to the Trust under the Trust Indenture. The Trust Indenture requires that cash being held by the Trustee earn interest at 1.5% below the prime rate, which would have yielded the Trust a 3.25% annualized return from January 1, 2020 through March 2, 2020, a 2.75% annualized return from March 3, 2020 through March 14, 2020 and a 1.75% annualized return from March 15, 2020 through September 30, 2020. However, due to the current interest rate environment, the Trustee was unable to obtain an account in which such an interest rate was available. In the event such an interest rate is unavailable in the future, the Trustee intends to allocate certain of its fees due to the Trust to meet the minimum interest rate payable under the Trust Indenture. In future periods the Trustee will continue to allocate a portion of the fees earned for its services to the Trust until all remaining interest due to the Trust is fully offset.

        Unreimbursed Expenses and the Contingent Reserve.    The Working Interest Owners partially reimburse the Trust each quarter for amounts paid in connection with the Trustee's services. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee's fees were $324,865 and the Working Interest Owners reimbursed a sum of $287,691 to the Trustee, which was the same amount reimbursed for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. As of each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, there were $11,990 and $0, respectively, of unreimbursed expenses.

        During 2011, the Trustee, acting pursuant to the Trust Indenture, withheld $1.0 million for future unknown contingent liabilities and expenses (such cumulative withholding, the "Contingent Reserve"). The Trustee reserves the right to determine whether or not to release cash reserves in future periods with respect to any reimbursement expenses.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee increased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $22,268 of Royalty income received from BP in March 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of March 2020, which Royalty income was included in the April 2020 distribution to unitholders, (2) $23,629 reimbursement not received from Scout until January 2020 but included in the December 2019 distribution to unitholders, (3) $147,893 Royalty income for February and March 2020 included in the March 2020 distribution to unitholders but not received from

27


Scout until April 2020, (4) $583 for interest earned on the Contingent Reserve in the second quarter of 2020, (5) $7,238 of Royalty income received from BP in September 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of September 2020, which Royalty income was included in the October 2020 distribution calculation, (6) $83 for interest earned on the Contingent Reserve in the third quarter of 2020 and (7) $300 for an overpayment received from Hilcorp in July 2020.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Trustee decreased the Contingent Reserve by (1) $844 due to an overpayment received in error from BP in December 2019 that was deducted from BP's January 2020 payment to the Trust, (2) $147,893 Royalty income for February and March 2020 included in the March 2020 distribution to unitholders but not received from Scout until April 2020, (3) $22,268 of Royalty income received from BP in March 2020 after the distribution to unitholders had been announced for the month of March 2020, which Royalty income was included in the April 2020 distribution to unitholders, (4) $2,303 which was the difference between the amount to be paid to unitholders in July 2020 and the amount in the Trust's operating account as of June 30, 2020, (5) $19,412, as expenses were greater than Royalty income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and (6) $11,990 for a reimbursement not received from Hilcorp until October 2020 but included in the September 2020 distribution calculation.

        Distributable Income Available for Distribution.    The portion of the Trust's distributable income available for distribution each period includes the Royalty income received from the Working Interest Owners during such period, plus interest income earned to the date of distribution (if any) and increases or withdrawals from the Contingent Reserve (if any). Distributable income available for distribution for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $544,685, representing $0.2923 per unit, compared to $1,440,349, representing $0.7729 per unit, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Hugoton Royalty Properties

        Natural gas and natural gas liquids production attributable to the Hugoton Royalty Properties accounted for approximately 35% of the Royalty income of the Trust during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income attributable to Hugoton Royalty Properties

  $ 248,445   $ 415,866  

Operating costs attributable to Hugoton Royalty Properties

  $ 876,499   $ 892,146  

Capital expenditures attributable to Hugoton Royalty Properties

  $   $ 1  

        Royalty Income.    Royalty income attributable to the Hugoton Royalty Properties decreased to $248,445 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from $415,866 for the same period in 2019 primarily due to decreased natural gas and natural gas liquids prices and decreased net natural gas production volumes offset in part by increased net natural gas liquids production volumes and lower operating costs from the Hugoton Royalty Properties in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the first nine months of 2019.

        Operating Costs and Capital Expenditures.    Operating costs on these properties were $876,499 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of approximately 2% as compared to

28


$892,146 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Capital expenditures attributable to the Hugoton Royalty Properties were $0 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as compared to $1 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

Average sales price

  $ 2.70   $ 9.79   $   $ 3.80   $ 23.75   $  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Actual production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for Hugoton Royalty Properties

    289,617     16,026         266,072     12,580      

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for Hugoton Royalty Properties

    69,693     6,145         86,028     3,761      

San Juan Basin Royalty Properties

    San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income attributable to San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

  $ 135,214   $ 395,411  

Operating costs attributable to San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

  $ 89,587   $ 87,970  

        Royalty Income.    Royalty income from the San Juan Basin—Colorado Royalty Properties was $135,214 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $395,411 during the same period in 2019. This decrease in Royalty income was due primarily to decreased natural gas prices, lower net production volumes for natural gas and an increase in operating costs in the first nine months of 2020 compared to the first nine months of 2019.

        Operating Costs.    Operating costs on these properties were $89,587 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of approximately 2% as compared to $87,970 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

29


 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

Average sales price

  $ 0.71   $   $   $ 1.53   $   $  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Actual production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

    309,063             309,979          

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—Colorado Properties

    191,305             258,069          

    San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
  2020   2019  

Royalty income attributable to San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

  $ 319,728   $ 707,233  

Operating costs attributable to San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

  $ 831,601   $ 678,843  

Capital expenditures attributable to San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

  $ 56,386   $ 42,694  

        Royalty Income.    Royalty income from the San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties was $319,728 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to $707,233 during the same period in 2019. This decrease in Royalty income was due primarily to decreased natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil and condensate prices, a decrease in net production volumes for natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil and condensate and higher operating costs and capital expenditures in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019.

        Operating Costs and Capital Expenditures.    Operating costs were $831,601 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of approximately 23% as compared to $678,843 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, due primarily to including the November 2017 through May 2018 reconciliation of historical amounts by Hilcorp in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Excluding the reconciliation, operating costs were $664,281 in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of approximately 2% as compared to $678,843 in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Capital expenditures on these properties were $56,386 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of approximately 32% as compared to $42,694 during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

30


 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 
  2020   2019  
 
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
  Natural
Gas
  Natural
Gas Liquids
  Oil and
Condensate
 

Average sales price

  $ 1.62   $ 12.88   $ 40.86   $ 1.70   $ 16.18   $ 45.00  

 

 
  (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)   (Mcf)   (Bbls)   (Bbls)  

Actual production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

    432,961     32,840     1,442     469,463     37,264     1,618  

Net production volumes attributable to the Royalty paid for San Juan Basin—New Mexico Properties

    108,727     9,474     542     244,517     16,146     674  

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

        None.

Contractual Obligations

        None.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

        Not applicable.

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures.

        Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.    The Trustee maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and regulations. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated by the Working Interest Owners to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee of the Trust, and its employees who participate in the preparation of the Trust's periodic reports as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

        As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trust officer acting on behalf of the Trustee responsible for the administration of the Trust conducted an evaluation of the Trustee's disclosure controls and procedures. The officer acting on behalf of the Trustee concluded that the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

        Due to the contractual arrangements of (i) the Trust Indenture and (ii) the rights of the Trust under the Conveyance regarding information furnished by the Working Interest Owners, the Trustee relies on information provided by the Working Interest Owners, including (i) the status of litigation, (ii) historical operating data, plans for future operating and capital expenditures and reserve information, (iii) information relating to projected production, and (iv) conclusions regarding reserves

31


by their internal reserve engineers or other experts in good faith. See Part I Item 1A. "Risk Factors—Trust unitholders and the Trustee have no control over the operation or development of the Royalty Properties and have little influence over operation or development" and "The Trustee relies upon the Working Interest Owners for information regarding the Royalty Properties" in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for a description of certain risks relating to these arrangements and reliance, including filings such as this filing outside the time periods specified notwithstanding effective disclosure controls and procedures of the Trustee regarding information under its control.

        The officer acting on behalf of the Trustee has not conducted a separate evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures with respect to information furnished by the Working Interest Owners. The Trustee notes that it is conducting an ongoing review of certain information and calculations by the Working Interest Owners, along with an outside joint venture auditor. See "Trustee's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources" under Part II, Item 7 of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 for information concerning controls and procedures with respect to the Royalty.

        Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.    In connection with the evaluation by the Trustee of changes in internal control over financial reporting of the Trust that occurred during the Trust's last fiscal quarter, no change in the Trust's internal control over financial reporting was identified that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trust's internal control over financial reporting. The Trustee notes for purposes of clarification that it has no authority over, has not evaluated and makes no statement concerning the internal control over financial reporting of the Working Interest Owners.

32



PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings.

        There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Trust is a named party. The Trustee has been advised by each of the Working Interest Owners that the Trust may be subject to litigation in the ordinary course of business for certain matters that include the Royalty Properties. While each of the Working Interest Owners has advised the Trustee that it does not currently believe any of the pending litigation will have a material adverse effect net to the Trust, in the event such matters were adjudicated or settled in a material amount and charges were made against Royalty income, such charges could have a material impact on future Royalty income.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors.

        For a discussion of the Trust's potential risks and uncertainties, please see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, in Part II, Item 1A of the Trust's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and in Part II, Item 1A of the Trust's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020. See below for additional risks and uncertainties during the three months ended September 30, 2020.

The impact of the novel coronavirus (the "COVID-19 pandemic") is adversely affecting the business and operations of the Working Interest Owners, which in turn could continue to have an adverse effect on Trust distributions.

        The business of the Working Interest Owners is being adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and measures being taken to mitigate its impact. As the COVID-19 pandemic and government responses continue to evolve, the impact on domestic sales of crude oil and natural gas remains severe. The industry is experiencing a sharp and rapid decline in the demand for crude oil and natural gas worldwide, which has resulted in steep declines in pricing. The global economy and commodity prices are being severely negatively impacted, as economic activity and demand for energy have declined in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as due to other geopolitical factors. The pandemic is having a material adverse effect on the Working Interest Owners' costs, operations, business and financial condition, which is having an adverse effect on Trust distributions. For each month in the three months ended September 30, 2020, the Trust announced in a press release that there would be no distribution paid to unitholders, as costs, charges and expenses attributable to the Trust's Royalty properties exceeded the revenue received from the sale of oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons produced from such properties, as reported by the Working Interest Owners. There is no indication of if or when distributions may be announced in future periods.

        The Working Interest Owners or any transferee may abandon any well or property if it reasonably believes that the well or property can no longer produce in commercially economic quantities. Any such event could result in termination of the Royalty relating to the abandoned well, which in turn could result in a material adverse effect on the Trust's distributions to its unitholders.

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If the Trust's Royalty income experiences a sustained decline, the Trust may be terminated. In addition, Royalty interests may be sold.

        As discussed further in the Trust's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Trust will be terminated and the Trustee must sell all of the Royalty if holders of a majority of the units of beneficial interest of the Trust approve the sale or vote to terminate the Trust, or if the Trust's royalty income for each of two successive years is less than $250,000 per year. Following any such termination and liquidation, the net proceeds of any such sale will be distributed to the unitholders, and the unitholders will receive no further distributions from the Trust. The Trustee may also enter into one or more transactions, subject to required unitholder approval, by which a portion of the Royalty is sold, which could ultimately result in the termination of the Trust if the remaining Royalty does not generate sufficient income to maintain the $250,000 threshold. The sale of the remaining Royalty interests and the termination of the Trust would be taxable events to the Trust unitholders.

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Item 6.    Exhibits.

Exhibit
Number
   
  SEC File or
Registration
Number
  Exhibit
Number
  4(a)   *Mesa Royalty Trust Indenture between Mesa Petroleum Co. and Texas Commerce Bank National Association, as Trustee, dated November 1, 1979   2-65217   1(a)

 

4(b)

 

*Form of Overriding Royalty Conveyance between Mesa Petroleum Co. and Texas Commerce Bank, as Trustee, dated November 1, 1979

 

2-65217

 

1(b)

 

4(c)

 

*First Amendment to the Mesa Royalty Trust Indenture dated as of March 14, 1985 (Exhibit 4(c) to Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 1984 of Mesa Royalty Trust)

 

1-7884

 

4(c)

 

4(d)

 

*Form of Assignment of Overriding Royalty Interest, effective April 1, 1985, from Texas Commerce Bank National Association, as Trustee, to MTR Holding Co. (Exhibit 4(d) to Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 1984 of Mesa Royalty Trust)

 

1-7884

 

4(d)

 

4(e)

 

*Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 25, 1991, by and among Mesa Limited Partnership, Mesa Operating Limited Partnership and ConocoPhillips, as amended on April 30, 1991 (Exhibit 4(e) to Form 10-K for year ended December 31, 1991 of Mesa Royalty Trust)

 

1-7884

 

4(e)

 

31

 

Certification furnished pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

 

 

32

 

Certification furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

 

*
Previously filed in paper format with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated herein by reference.

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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.

    Mesa Royalty Trust

 

 

By:

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust
Company, N.A., as Trustee

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ELAINA RODGERS

Elaina Rodgers
Vice President & Trust Officer

Date: November 16, 2020

        The Registrant, Mesa Royalty Trust, has no principal executive officer, principal financial officer, board of directors or persons performing similar functions. Accordingly, no additional signatures are available and none have been provided.

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DISCLOSURES REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
MESA ROYALTY TRUST STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME (Unaudited)
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS
MESA ROYALTY TRUST STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS (Unaudited)
MESA ROYALTY TRUST NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SUMMARY OF ROYALTY INCOME, PRODUCTION AND AVERAGE PRICES (Unaudited)
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
SIGNATURES