NEW YORK, March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CAS Investment
Partners ("CAS") would like to make investors aware of new language
that The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company (the "Trustee")
has included in the latest Form 10-K filing for BP Prudhoe Bay
Royalty Trust ("BPT" or the "Trust") (NYSE: BPT) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. CAS believes that the
following new language from BPT's Form 10-K is an acknowledgement
that BPT's royalty and income oriented investors bear significant
risk:
"Based on the 2015 twelve-month average WTI Price of
$50.28 per barrel, current Production
Taxes, and the Chargeable Costs adjusted as prescribed by the
Overriding Royalty Conveyance, it is estimated that royalty
payments to the Trust will continue through the year 2020, and
would be zero in the following year. Therefore, no proved reserves
are currently attributed to the BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust after
that date." [i]
Based on its analysis, CAS has concluded that the only material
asset that BPT holds is a royalty interest (RI) in the BP Prudhoe
Bay Field. The RI entitles BPT to receive a royalty on up to
90,000 barrels of production per day, with the price set by WTI
(West Texas Intermediate) and a cost that is set by a previously
negotiated cost adjustment factor which rises every year going
forward and is also multiplied by the consumer price index
(CPI). Due to these contractually rising costs, CAS has
calculated that oil prices must continually rise in order for BPT
to maintain its current royalty payout to investors.
BPT's last royalty distribution (payable January 20, 2016) was $0.60188891 per unit. Therefore, CAS
calculates that even if royalties remain flat, the total paid
out to holders by 2020 would be $12.04 per share. BPT's closing
price yesterday was [$29.76.]
Additionally, as disclosed in the 10-K filing, "BP Alaska
calculated that as of December 31,
2015 production of oil and condensate from the proved
reserves allocated to the 1989 Working Interests will result in
undiscounted estimated future cash flow to the Trust of
$248.1 million" [i]
Given that there are 21.4 million shares, CAS calculates that BP
Alaska's estimate of BPT's undiscounted future cash flow to be
$11.59 per share.
BPT's closing price yesterday was [$29.76]
CAS has purchased put options expiring [March 18] on BPT and expects to profit off a fall
in stock price.
CAS encourages investors to contact the Trustee [ii] and BP
[iii] (BPTs parent company) for guidance on the value of their
shares.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements."
Generally, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate,"
"expect," "intend," "may," "predict," "project," "plan," and
similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from any future
results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statement. Consequently, no reliance should
be placed on any forward-looking statements contained herein and
the reader should consider any such forward-looking statements only
as CAS's current beliefs as of the date of this press
release. Even if these beliefs change because of future
events or circumstances, CAS declines any obligation to publicly
update or revise any such forward-looking statements.
[i] BPT 10-K p.26, 17
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/850033/000119312516484604/d102077d10k.htm
[ii] Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company (713) 483-6020
[iii] BP P.L.C. 44 20 7496-4000
CAS Investment Partners is a member of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority, CRD number 170071.
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SOURCE CAS Investment Partners