Attached files

file filename
EX-31 - EX-31 - VOC Energy Trusta13-19730_1ex31.htm
EX-32 - EX-32 - VOC Energy Trusta13-19730_1ex32.htm

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x

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

 

for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013

 

OR

 

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: 001-35160

 


 

VOC ENERGY TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

80-6183103

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

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

 

 

Global Corporate Trust

 

 

919 Congress Avenue

 

 

Austin, Texas

 

78701

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

1-855-802-1094

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post 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, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

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

 

As of November 6, 2013, 17,000,000 Units of Beneficial Interest in VOC Energy Trust were outstanding.

 

 

 



 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements.

 

VOC ENERGY TRUST

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Income from net profits interest

 

$

7,315,573

 

$

10,608,758

 

$

20,218,649

 

$

30,107,703

 

Cash on hand withheld for Trust expenses

 

(225,750

)

(220,083

)

(57,982

)

(144,411

)

General and administrative expenses (1)

 

(119,823

)

(188,675

)

(610,667

)

(553,292

)

Distributable income

 

$

6,970,000

 

$

10,200,000

 

$

19,550,000

 

$

29,410,000

 

Distributions per Trust unit (17,000,000 Trust units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013 and 2012)

 

$

0.41

 

$

0.60

 

$

1.15

 

$

1.73

 

 


(1)         Includes $0 and $39,000 paid to VOC Brazos Energy Partners, LP (“VOC Brazos”) during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $39,780 and $57,750 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Also includes $37,600 and $40,000 paid to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $112,600 and $120,100 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND TRUST CORPUS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,
2013

 

December 31,
2012

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

532,582

 

$

474,600

 

Investment in net profits interest

 

140,591,606

 

140,591,606

 

Accumulated amortization

 

(26,972,033

)

(18,716,420

)

Total assets

 

$

114,152,155

 

$

122,349,786

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUST CORPUS

 

 

 

 

 

Trust corpus, 17,000,000 Trust units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012

 

$

114,152,155

 

$

122,349,786

 

 

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Trust corpus, beginning of period

 

$

116,751,826

 

$

127,684,467

 

$

122,349,786

 

$

133,619,263

 

Income from net profits interest

 

7,315,573

 

10,608,758

 

20,218,649

 

30,107,703

 

Cash distribution

 

(6,970,000

)

(10,200,000

)

(19,550,000

)

(29,410,000

)

Trust expenses

 

(119,823

)

(188,675

)

(610,667

)

(553,292

)

Amortization of net profits interest

 

(2,825,421

)

(2,889,691

)

(8,255,613

)

(8,748,815

)

Trust corpus, end of period

 

$

114,152,155

 

$

125,014,859

 

$

114,152,155

 

$

125,014,859

 

 

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

 

2



 

VOC ENERGY TRUST

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1.         Organization of the Trust

 

VOC Energy Trust (the “Trust”) is a statutory trust formed on November 3, 2010 (capitalized on December 17, 2010), under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act pursuant to a Trust Agreement dated November 3, 2010 (as amended and restated on May 10, 2011, the “Trust Agreement”) among VOC Brazos Energy Partners, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (“VOC Brazos”), as trustor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”).  The Trust was created to acquire and hold a term net profits interest for the benefit of the Trust unitholders.

 

VOC Brazos is a privately-held limited partnership engaged in the production and development of oil and natural gas from properties located in Texas. VOC Kansas Energy Partners, L.L.C., a Kansas limited liability company (“VOC Kansas”), is a privately-held limited liability company engaged in the production and development of oil and natural gas from properties primarily located in Kansas along with a limited number of Texas properties. In connection with the closing of the initial public offering of units of beneficial interest in the Trust (“Trust Units”) in May 2011, VOC Brazos acquired all of the membership interests in VOC Kansas in exchange for newly issued limited partner interests in VOC Brazos pursuant to a Contribution and Exchange Agreement, dated August 30, 2010, as amended, by and between VOC Brazos and VOC Kansas.  This resulted in VOC Kansas becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of VOC Brazos.

 

In connection with the May 2011 closing of the initial public offering and in exchange for 17,000,000 Trust Units, VOC Brazos and VOC Kansas conveyed a term net profits interest representing the right to receive 80% of the net proceeds (calculated as described below in Note 6) from production from the underlying properties (as defined below) (the “net profits interest”). The net profits interest consists of net interests in all of the oil and natural gas properties held by VOC Brazos and VOC Kansas in the states of Kansas and Texas as of the date of the conveyance of the net profits interest to the Trust.  We refer to the properties in which the Trust holds the net profits interest as the “underlying properties.”

 

The net profits interest is passive in nature, and the Trustee has no management control over and no responsibility relating to the operation of the underlying properties. The net profits interest entitles the Trust to receive 80% of the net proceeds attributable to VOC Brazos’ interest from the sale of production from the underlying properties during the term of the Trust. The net profits interest will terminate on the later to occur of (1) December 31, 2030 or (2) the time when 10.6 million barrels of oil equivalent (“MMBoe”) (which is the equivalent of 8.5 MMBoe in respect of the net profits interest) have been produced from the underlying properties and sold, and the Trust will soon thereafter wind up its affairs and terminate.

 

The Trustee can authorize the Trust to borrow money to pay administrative or incidental expenses of the Trust that exceed cash held by the Trust. The Trustee may authorize the Trust to borrow from the Trustee or the Delaware Trustee as a lender provided the terms of the loan are similar to the terms it would grant to a similarly situated commercial customer with whom it did not have a fiduciary relationship. The Trustee may also deposit funds awaiting distribution in an account with itself and make other short-term investments with the funds distributed to the Trust.

 

Note 2.         Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying Condensed Statement of Assets and Trust Corpus as of December 31, 2012, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim condensed financial statements as of September 30, 2013 and for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations.

 

The preparation of financial statements requires the Trust to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues 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. The information furnished reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of the Trustee, necessary for a fair

 

3



 

presentation of the results of the interim period 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, 2012.

 

Note 3.         Trust Accounting Policies

 

The Trust uses the modified cash basis of accounting to report receipts by the Trust of the term net profits interest and payments of expenses incurred. The term net profits interest represents the right to receive revenues (oil and natural gas sales), less direct operating expenses (lease operating expenses and production and property taxes) and an adjustment for lease equipment costs and lease development expenses (which are capitalized in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”)) of the underlying properties plus any payments made or net of payments received in connection with the settlement of certain hedge contracts, times 80%. Actual cash receipts may vary due to timing delays of actual cash receipts from the property operators or purchasers and due to wellhead and pipeline volume balancing agreements or practices. The actual cash distributions of the Trust will be made based on the terms of the conveyance creating the Trust’s net profits interest.  Expenses of the Trust, which include accounting, engineering, legal and other professional fees, Trustee fees, an administrative fee paid to VOC Brazos and out-of-pocket expenses, are recognized when paid. Under U.S. GAAP, revenues and expenses would be recognized on an accrual basis. Amortization of the investment in net profits interest is recorded on a unit-of-production method in the period in which the cash is received with respect to such production. Such amortization does not reduce distributable income, rather it is charged directly to Trust corpus.

 

This comprehensive basis of accounting other than U.S. GAAP corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty trusts by the SEC as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.

 

Investment in the net profits interest was recorded initially at the historical cost of VOC Brazos and is periodically assessed to determine whether its aggregate value has been impaired below its total capitalized cost based on the underlying properties. The Trust will provide a write-down to its investment in the net profits interest if and when total capitalized costs, less accumulated amortization, exceed undiscounted future net revenues attributable to the proved oil and gas reserves of the underlying properties.

 

No new accounting pronouncements have been adopted or issued during the quarter ended September 30, 2013 that would impact the financial statements of the Trust.

 

Note 4.         Commodity Hedges

 

The Trust is exposed to fluctuations in energy prices in the normal course of operations of the underlying properties. The revenues derived from the underlying properties depend substantially on prevailing crude oil prices and, to a lesser extent, natural gas prices. As a result, commodity prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for distribution to the Trust unitholders. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that VOC Brazos can economically produce. VOC Brazos has entered into hedge contracts for the year 2013 and the six months ending June 30, 2014 at weighted average prices ranging from $99.01 to $102.15 per barrel of oil that hedge approximately 45% of expected oil production for such years from the proved developed producing reserves attributable to the underlying properties as of December 31, 2012. VOC Brazos entered into the hedge contracts to reduce the exposure of the revenues from oil production from the underlying properties to fluctuations in crude oil prices and to achieve more predictable cash flow. However, these contracts limit the amount of cash available for distribution if prices increase above the fixed hedge price. The hedge contracts consist of fixed price swap contracts that have been placed with major trading counterparties in whom VOC Brazos believes represent minimal credit risks.  The Trust cannot provide assurance, however, that these trading counterparties will not become credit risks in the future.  Upon expiration in June 2014, unitholder exposure to fluctuations in crude oil prices will increase significantly.

 

Note 5.         Investment in Net Profits Interest

 

The net profits interest was recorded at the historical cost of VOC Brazos on May 10, 2011, the date of the conveyance of the net profits interest to the Trust, and was calculated as follows:

 

Oil and gas properties 

 

$

197,270,173

 

Accumulated depreciation and depletion

 

(17,681,155

)

Hedge liability

 

(1,717,713

)

20-year asset retirement liability

 

(2,131,797

)

Net property to be conveyed

 

175,739,508

 

Times 80% net profits interest to Trust

 

$

140,591,606

 

 

4



 

Note 6.         Income from Net Profits Interest

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs(1)

 

$

9,144,466

 

$

13,760,948

 

$

26,210,811

 

$

37,634,629

 

Times net profits interest over the term of the Trust

 

80

%

80

%

80

%

80

%

Income from net profits interest before reserve adjustments

 

7,315,573

 

11,008,758

 

20,968,649

 

30,107,703

 

Cash reserve(2)

 

 

(400,000

)

(750,000

)

 

Income from net profits interest(3)

 

$

7,315,573

 

$

10,608,758

 

$

20,218,649

 

$

30,107,703

 

 


(1)         Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs reflect VOC Brazos’ activity during the March through May production period for the three months ended September 30 and during the September through May production period for the nine months ended September 30. Pursuant to the terms of the conveyance of the net profits interest, lease equipment and development costs are to be deducted when calculating the distributable income to the Trust.

 

(2)         Pursuant to the terms of the conveyance of the net profits interest, VOC Brazos can reserve up to $1.0 million for future development, maintenance or operating expenditures at any time.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, VOC Brazos increased its cash reserve by $0 and $0.75 million, respectively.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, VOC Brazos increased its cash reserve by $0.4 million and $0, respectively.  The reserve balance was $1.0 million at September 30, 2013 and 2012.

 

(3)         The income from net profits interest is based upon the cash receipts from VOC Brazos for the oil and gas production. The revenues from oil production are typically received by VOC Brazos one month after production; thus, the cash received by the Trust during the three months ended September 30, 2013 substantially represents production by VOC Brazos from March 2013 through May 2013 and the cash received by the Trust during the three months ended September 30, 2012 substantially represents production by VOC Brazos from March 2012 through May 2012.  The cash received by the Trust during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 substantially represents production by VOC Brazos from September 2012 through May 2013 and the cash received by the Trust during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 substantially represents production by VOC Brazos from September 2011 through May 2012.

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, MV Purchasing, LLC, an affiliate of VOC Brazos, purchased a significant portion of the production of the underlying properties.  Sales to MV Purchasing, LLC are under short-term arrangements, ranging from one to six months, using market sensitive pricing.

 

Note 7.         Income Taxes

 

The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust and is not required to pay federal or state income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal or state income taxes has been made.

 

Note 8.         Distributions to Unitholders

 

VOC Brazos makes quarterly payments of the net profits interest to the Trust. The Trustee determines for each quarter the amount available for distribution to the Trust unitholders. This distribution is expected to be made on or before the 45th day following the end of each quarter to the Trust unitholders of record on the 30th day of the month following the end of each quarter (or the next succeeding business day). Such amounts will be equal to the excess, if any, of the cash received by the Trust relating to the preceding quarter, over the expenses of the Trust paid for such quarter, subject to adjustments for changes made by the Trustee during such quarter in any cash reserves established for future expenses of the Trust.

 

The first quarterly distribution during 2013 was $0.26 per Trust unit and was made on February 14, 2013 to Trust unitholders owning Trust units as of January 30, 2013. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.

 

5



 

The second quarterly distribution during 2013 was $0.48 per Trust unit and was made on May 15, 2013 to Trust unitholders owning Trust units as of April 30, 2013. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from January 1, 2013 through March 31, 2013.

 

The third quarterly distribution during 2013 was $0.41 per Trust unit and was made on August 14, 2013 to Trust unitholders owning Trust units as of July 30, 2013. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by VOC Brazos from April 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013.

 

The first quarterly distribution during 2012 was $0.44 per Trust unit and was made on February 14, 2012 to Trust unitholders owning Trust units as of January 30, 2012. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by MV Partners from October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

 

The second quarterly distribution during 2012 was $0.69 per Trust unit and was made on May 15, 2012 to Trust unitholders owning Trust units as of April 30, 2012. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by MV Partners from January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012.

 

The third quarterly distribution during 2012 was $0.60 per Trust unit and was made on August 14, 2012 to Trust unitholders owning Trust units as of July 30, 2012. Such distribution included the net proceeds of production collected by MV Partners from April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012.

 

Note 9.  Advance for Trust Expenses

 

Under the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Trustee is allowed to borrow money to pay Trust expenses. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, there were no borrowings or amounts owed for money borrowed in previous quarters. Under the terms of the Trust Agreement, VOC Brazos has provided a letter of credit in the amount of $1 million to the Trustee to protect the Trust against the risk that it does not have sufficient cash to pay future expenses.

 

Note 10.  Subsequent Event

 

On October 17, 2013, the Trust announced a Trust distribution to unitholders of record on October 30, 2013 of $9.01 million, or $0.53 per unit, which is to be paid on November 14, 2013.

 

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

 

The following discussion of the Trust’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto. The Trust’s purpose is, in general, to hold the net profits interest, to distribute to the Trust unitholders cash that the Trust receives in respect of the net profits interest and the assigned interest in the hedge contracts and to perform certain administrative functions in respect of the net profits interest and the Trust units. The Trust derives substantially all of its income and cash flows from the net profits interest and the hedge contracts.

 

Results of Operations for the Quarters Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

 

The following is a summary of income from net profits interest received by the Trust for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 consisting of the July distribution for each respective year:

 

6



 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Sales volumes:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil (Bbl)

 

198,138

 

201,406

 

Natural gas (Mcf)

 

140,811

 

133,123

 

Total (BOE)

 

221,607

 

223,593

 

Average sales prices:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil (per Bbl)

 

$

92.12

 

$

98.13

 

Natural gas (per Mcf)

 

$

3.99

 

$

3.50

 

Gross proceeds:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil sales

 

$

18,252,179

 

$

19,763,799

 

Natural gas sales

 

561,436

 

465,995

 

Total gross proceeds

 

18,813,615

 

20,229,794

 

Costs:

 

 

 

 

 

Production and development costs:

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating expenses

 

3,590,867

 

3,627,219

 

Production and property taxes

 

1,938,936

 

1,794,055

 

Development expenses

 

4,728,089

 

978,228

 

Total

 

10,257,892

 

6,399,502

 

Settlement of hedge contracts — payments made (received)

 

(588,743

)

69,344

 

Total costs

 

9,669,149

 

6,468,846

 

Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs

 

9,144,466

 

13,760,948

 

Times net profits interest over the term of the Trust

 

80

%

80

%

Income from net profits interest before reserve adjustments

 

7,315,573

 

11,008,758

 

Cash reserve

 

 

(400,000

)

Income from net profits interest

 

$

7,315,573

 

$

10,608,758

 

 

The cash received by the Trust from VOC Brazos during the quarter ended September 30, 2013 substantially represents the production and settlement of hedge contracts by VOC Brazos from March 2013 through May 2013.  The cash received by the Trust from VOC Brazos during the quarter ended September 30, 2012 substantially represents the production by VOC Brazos from March 2012 through May 2012.  The revenues from oil production are typically received by VOC Brazos one month after production.

 

Gross proceeds.  Oil and natural gas sales were $18,813,615, for the three months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $1,416,179 or 7.0% from $20,229,794 for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  Revenues are a function of oil and natural gas sales prices and volumes sold.  The decrease in gross proceeds was due to lower market prices for oil and a decrease in oil sales volumes during the third quarter of 2013, which was partially offset by an increase in natural gas sales volumes and a slightly higher market price for natural gas. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the average price for oil decreased 6.1% to $92.12 per Bbl and the average price for natural gas increased 14% to $3.99 per Mcf. Oil sales volumes were 198,138 Bbls for the three months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of 3,268 Bbls or 1.6% from 201,406 Bbls, while natural gas sales volumes were 140,811 Mcf, an increase of 7,688 Mcf or 5.8% from 133,123 Mcf.

 

Costs.  Lease operating expenses were $3,590,867 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $36,352 or 1.0% from $3,627,219 for the three months ended September 30, 2012. Production and property taxes were $1,938,936 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $144,881 or 8.1% from $1,794,055 for the same period in 2012.  Such increase is primarily due to increases in ad valorem taxes partially offset by decreases in production taxes due to decreases in volumes sold.  Ad valorem taxes are paid and included in production and property taxes and generally impact the January and July distributions to the Trust each year.  Development expenses were $4,728,089 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $3,749,861 or 383.3% from $978,228 for the same period in 2012. The increase was primarily due to costs incurred from the drilling and completion of one horizontal well and the drilling costs of a second horizontal well, compared to the drilling costs of one horizontal well in the previous period, as well as increases in well completion costs and the costs of oilfield goods and services.

 

Settlement of hedge contracts.  Cash settlements relating to hedge contracts resulted in gains of $588,743 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $658,087 from the $69,344 loss for the three months ended September 30, 2012. The increase was due primarily to lower market prices for oil, offset by lower hedge volumes and lower hedge strike prices.

 

7



 

Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs.  The excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs from the underlying properties was $9,144,466 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $4,616,482 or 33.5% from $13,760,948 for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  The Trust’s 80% net profits interest of these totals were $7,315,573 and $11,008,758, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, VOC Brazos increased its cash reserve by $0 and $400,000, respectively, for future development, maintenance or operating expenditures, which resulted in income from the net profits interest of $7,315,573 and $10,608,758 for such periods, respectively.  These amounts were further reduced by a Trust holdback for future expenses of $345,573 and $408,758 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Trustee paid general and administrative expenses of $119,823 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $68,852 from $188,675 for the three months ended September 30, 2012.  These factors resulted in distributable income for the three months ended September 30, 2013 of $6,970,000, a decrease of $3,230,000 from $10,200,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012

 

The following is a summary of income from net profits interest received by the Trust for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 consisting of the January, April and July distributions for each respective year:

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Sales volumes:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil (Bbl)

 

575,328

 

606,939

 

Natural gas (Mcf)

 

433,125

 

420,035

 

Total (BOE)

 

647,516

 

676,945

 

Average sales prices:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil (per Bbl)

 

$

89.83

 

$

93.71

 

Natural gas (per Mcf)

 

$

3.88

 

$

4.17

 

Gross proceeds:

 

 

 

 

 

Oil sales

 

$

51,683,510

 

$

56,873,295

 

Natural gas sales

 

1,680,741

 

1,751,678

 

Total gross proceeds

 

53,364,251

 

58,624,973

 

Costs:

 

 

 

 

 

Production and development costs:

 

 

 

 

 

Lease operating expenses

 

10,530,239

 

10,329,598

 

Production and property taxes

 

5,030,094

 

4,679,185

 

Development expenses

 

14,037,245

 

7,172,156

 

Total

 

29,597,578

 

22,180,939

 

Settlement of hedge contracts — payments received

 

(2,444,138

)

(1,190,595

)

Total costs

 

27,153,440

 

20,990,344

 

Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs

 

26,210,811

 

37,634,629

 

Times net profits interest over the term of the Trust

 

80

%

80

%

Income from net profits interest before reserve adjustments

 

20,968,649

 

30,107,703

 

Cash reserve

 

(750,000

)

 

Income from net profits interest

 

$

20,218,649

 

$

30,107,703

 

 

The cash received by the Trust from VOC Brazos during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 substantially represents the production and settlement of hedge contracts by VOC Brazos from September 2012 through May 2013.  The cash received by the Trust from VOC Brazos during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 substantially represents the production by VOC Brazos from September 2011 through May 2012.  The revenues from oil production are typically received by VOC Brazos one month after production.

 

Gross proceeds.  Oil and natural gas sales were $53,364,251 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $5,260,722 or 9.0% from $58,624,973 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  Revenues are a function of oil and natural gas sales prices and volumes sold.  The decrease in gross proceeds was due to lower market prices for oil and a decrease in oil sales volumes during the first nine months of 2013, which was partially offset by an increase in natural gas sales volumes and a slight decrease in the market price for natural gas. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013,

 

8



 

the average price for oil decreased 4.1% to $89.83 per Bbl and the average price for natural gas decreased 7% to $3.88 per Mcf. Oil sales volumes were 575,328 Bbls for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of 31,611 Bbls or 5.2% from 606,939 Bbls, while natural gas sales volumes were 433,125 Mcf, an increase of 13,090 Mcf or 3.1% from 420,035 Mcf.

 

Costs.  Lease operating expenses were $10,530,239 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $200,641 or 1.9% from $10,329,598 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The increase was primarily due to increases in the costs of oilfield goods and services. Production and property taxes were $5,030,094 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $350,909 or 7.5% from $4,679,185 for the same period in 2012. Such increase is primarily due to increases in ad valorem taxes partially offset by decreases in production taxes due to decreases in volumes sold.  Ad valorem taxes are paid and included in production and property taxes and generally impact the January and July distributions to the Trust each year. Development expenses were $14,037,245 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $6,865,089 or 95.7% from $7,172,156 for the same period in 2012. The increase was primarily due to the timing of when the costs were incurred associated with three operated horizontal wells and one non-operated horizontal well drilled in 2013 compared to the costs associated with three operated horizontal wells drilled in the previous period, the costs associated with a horizontal well that was abandoned due to mechanical issues with the wellbore, as well as increases in completion costs and the costs of oilfield goods and services.

 

Settlement of hedge contracts.  Cash settlements relating to hedge contracts resulted in gains of $2,444,138 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $1,253,543 from $1,190,595 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The increase was due primarily to lower market prices for oil, offset by lower hedge volumes and slightly lower hedge strike prices.

 

Excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs.  The excess of revenues over direct operating expenses and lease equipment and development costs from the underlying properties was $26,210,811 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, a decrease of $11,423,818 or 30.4% from $37,634,629 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  The Trust’s 80% net profits interest of these totals were $20,968,649 and $30,107,703, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, VOC Brazos increased its cash reserve by net amounts of $750,000 and $0, respectively, for future development, maintenance or operating expenditures, which resulted in income from the net profits interest of $20,218,649 and $30,107,703 for such periods, respectively.  These amounts were further reduced by a Trust holdback for future expenses of $668,649 and $697,703 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Trustee paid general and administrative expenses of $610,667 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $57,375 from $553,292 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.  These factors resulted in distributable income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 of $19,550,000, a decrease of $9,860,000 from $29,410,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Other than Trust administrative expenses, including any reserves established by the Trustee for future liabilities, the Trust’s only use of cash is for distributions to Trust unitholders. Administrative expenses include payments to the Trustee as well as a quarterly administrative fee to VOC Brazos pursuant to an administrative services agreement.  Each quarter, the Trustee determines the amount of funds available for distribution. Available funds are the excess cash, if any, received by the Trust from the net profits interest and other sources (such as interest earned on any amounts reserved by the Trustee) in that quarter, over the Trust’s expenses paid for that quarter.  Available funds are reduced by any cash that the Trustee decides to hold as a reserve against future expenses. As of September 30, 2013, $532,582 was held by the Trustee as such a reserve.

 

The Trustee may cause the Trust to borrow funds required to pay expenses if the Trustee determines that the cash on hand and the cash to be received are insufficient to cover the Trust’s expenses.  If the Trust borrows funds, the Trust unitholders will not receive distributions until the borrowed funds are repaid.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, there were no such borrowings. VOC Brazos has provided a letter of credit in the amount of $1 million to the Trustee to protect the Trust against the risk that it does not have sufficient cash to pay future expenses.

 

Income to the Trust from the net profits interest is based on the calculation and definitions of “gross proceeds” and “net proceeds” contained in the conveyance.

 

As substantially all of the underlying properties are located in mature fields, VOC Brazos does not expect future costs for the underlying properties to change significantly compared to recent historical costs other than changes due to fluctuations in the general cost of oilfield services.  VOC Brazos may establish a cash reserve of up to $1.0 million in the aggregate at any given time from the dollar amount otherwise distributable to the Trust to reduce the impact on distributions of uneven capital expenditure timing. VOC Brazos released $250,000 in January 2013 and withheld $1 million in April 2013 in accordance with this cash reserve.  VOC Brazos released $1 million in January 2012, withheld $600,000 in April 2012, and withheld

 

9



 

$400,000 in July 2012 in accordance with this cash reserve. The reserve balance was $1,000,000 at September 30, 2013 and 2012.

 

The amounts received by VOC Brazos from the hedge contract counterparty upon settlement of the hedge contracts will reduce the operating expenses related to the underlying properties in calculating the net proceeds. However, if the hedge payments received by VOC Brazos under the hedge contracts and other non-production revenue exceed operating expenses during a quarterly period, the ability to use such excess amounts to offset operating expenses will be deferred, with interest accruing on such amounts at the prevailing prime rate, until the next quarterly period where the hedge payments and the other non-production revenue are less than such expenses. In addition, the aggregate amounts paid by VOC Brazos on settlement of the hedge contracts will reduce the amount of net proceeds paid to the Trust.

 

The Trust does not have any transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or persons that could materially affect the Trust’s liquidity or the availability of capital resources.

 

Hedge Contracts

 

The revenues derived from the underlying properties depend substantially on prevailing crude oil prices and, to a lesser extent, natural gas prices.  As a result, commodity prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for distribution to the Trust unitholders.  Lower prices may also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that VOC Brazos can economically produce.  VOC Brazos sells the oil and natural gas production from the underlying properties under floating market price contracts each month.  VOC Brazos has entered into hedge contracts for 2013 and for the six months ending June 30, 2014, to reduce the exposure of the revenues from oil production from the underlying properties to fluctuations in crude oil prices and to achieve more predictable cash flow.  However, these contracts limit the amount of cash available for distribution if prices increase above the fixed hedge price.  The hedge contracts consist of fixed price swap contracts that have been placed with major trading counterparties whom VOC Brazos believes represent minimal credit risk.  The Trust cannot provide assurance, however, that these trading counterparties will not become credit risks in the future.

 

The crude oil swap contracts will settle based on the average of the settlement price for each commodity business day in the contract month.  In a swap transaction, the counterparty is required to make a payment to VOC Brazos for the difference between the fixed price and the settlement price if the settlement price is below the fixed price.  VOC Brazos is required to make a payment to the counterparty for the difference between the fixed price and the settlement price if the settlement price is above the fixed price.  From October 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014, VOC Brazos’ crude oil price risk management positions in swap contracts are as follows:

 

 

 

Fixed Price Swaps

 

Month

 

Volumes
(Barrels)

 

Weighted
Average Price
(Per Barrel)

 

October 2013

 

32,929

 

$

99.01

 

November 2013

 

32,741

 

$

99.01

 

December 2013

 

32,554

 

$

99.01

 

January 2014

 

13,220

 

$

102.15

 

February 2014

 

13,149

 

$

102.15

 

March 2014

 

13,078

 

$

102.15

 

April 2014

 

13,008

 

$

102.15

 

May 2014

 

12,939

 

$

102.15

 

June 2014

 

12,870

 

$

102.15

 

 

The amounts received by VOC Brazos from the hedge contract counterparty upon settlement of the hedge contracts will reduce the operating expenses related to the underlying properties in calculating the net proceeds.  However, if the hedge payments received by VOC Brazos under the hedge contracts and other non-production revenue exceed operating expenses during a quarterly period, the ability to use such excess amounts to offset operating expenses will be deferred, with interest accruing on such amounts at the prevailing prime rate, until the next quarterly period where the hedge payments and the other non-production revenue are less than such expenses.  In addition, the aggregate amounts paid by VOC Brazos on settlement of the hedge contracts will reduce the amount of net proceeds paid to the Trust.

 

10



 

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-Q, including without limitation the statements under “Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” are forward-looking statements. Although VOC Brazos advised the Trust that it believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations (“Cautionary Statements”) are disclosed in this Form 10-Q and in the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “Form 10-K”), including under the section “Item 1A. Risk Factors”. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Trust or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements.

 

Item 3.         Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Substantially all of the income to the Trust is derived from the net profits interest, which generally entitles the Trust to receive 80% of the net proceeds from oil and gas production from the underlying properties, and the Trust’s interest in the hedge contracts, which generally entitles the Trust to receive 80% of any proceeds received or paid by VOC Brazos from the settlement of certain hedges in existence on May 10, 2011. Consequently, the Trust is exposed to market risk from fluctuations in oil and gas prices. For more information regarding the hedge contracts, please see “Item 2. Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Hedge Contracts.” Although the Trust may borrow money to pay expenses of the Trust, the amount of any such borrowings is unlikely to be material to the Trust. As a result, the Trust is not subject to any material interest rate market risk.

 

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.  Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust is accumulated and communicated by VOC Brazos to the Trustee, 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 Trustee carried out an evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures. A Trust Officer of the Trustee has concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust are effective.

 

Due to the contractual arrangements of (i) the Trust Agreement and (ii) the conveyance of the net profits interest, the Trustee relies on (A) information provided by VOC Brazos, including historical operating data, plans for future operating and capital expenditures, reserve information and information relating to projected production, and (B) conclusions and reports regarding reserves by the Trust’s independent reserve engineers.  See “Risk Factors—Neither the Trust nor the Trust’s unitholders have the ability to influence VOC Brazos or control the operations or development of the underlying properties” in the Form 10-K.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2013, there was no change in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting 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, and makes no statement concerning, the internal control over financial reporting of VOC Brazos.

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

 

There have not been any material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Trust’s response to Item 1A to Part 1 of the Form 10-K.

 

Item 6.         Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed in the accompanying index are filed as part of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

11



 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

31

 

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

 

 

 

32

 

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

 

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.

 

 

VOC ENERGY TRUST

 

 

 

By:

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

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael J. Ulrich

 

 

Michael J. Ulrich

 

 

Vice President

 

Date: November 8, 2013

 

The Registrant, VOC Energy 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. In signing the report above, the Trustee does not imply that it has performed any such function or that such function exists pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement under which it serves.

 

12



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

31

 

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

 

 

 

32

 

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

 

13