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**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

 

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**Form 10-Q**

 

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**(Mark One)**

 

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

 

**For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015**

 

**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: 001-35274**

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

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| **Delaware**                                                                                                            | ** ** | **45-6276683**                       |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|--------------------------------------|
| (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****919 Congress Avenue, Suite 500****Austin, Texas** | ** ** | **78701**                            |
| (Address of principal executive offices)                                                                                |       | (Zip Code)                           |

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

**(512) 236-6531**

 

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report: **Not applicable**

 

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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 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.

 
| Large accelerated filer |   | o |                                          |   | Accelerated filer              |   | x |
|-----------------------------------|--------|---|-----------------------------------------------|--------|-------------------------------------|--------|---|
| Non-accelerated filer             |   | o | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |   | Smaller reporting company |   | 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 x

 

As of May 1, 2015, 39,375,000 Common Units and 13,125,000 Subordinated Units of Beneficial Interest in SandRidge Permian Trust were outstanding.

 

 

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**FORM 10-Q**

**Quarter Ended March 31, 2015**

 
| **PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION** |
|--------------------------------------------------|
|                                             |   |   |
| ITEM 1.                                     | Financial Statements   (Unaudited) | 4 |
|                                             | Statements of Assets and Trust Corpus | 4 |
|                                             | Statements of Distributable Income | 5 |
|                                             | Statements of Changes in Trust Corpus | 6 |
|                                             | Notes   to Financial Statements | 7 |
| ITEM 2.                                     | Trustee’s   Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 11 |
| ITEM 3.                                     | Quantitative   and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 16 |
| ITEM 4.                                     | Controls and   Procedures | 17 |
|                                             |   |   |
| **PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION**            |
|                                             |   |   |
| ITEM 1A.                                    | Risk Factors | 18 |
| ITEM 6.                                     | Exhibits | 18 |

 

All references to “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Trust” refer to SandRidge Permian Trust. References to “SandRidge” refer to SandRidge Energy, Inc., and where the context requires, its subsidiaries. The royalty interests conveyed by SandRidge from its interests in certain properties in the Permian Basin in Andrews County, Texas and held by the Trust are referred to as the “Royalty Interests.”

 

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**DISCLOSURES REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS**

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) includes “forward-looking statements” about the Trust, SandRidge and other matters discussed herein that are subject to risks and uncertainties within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), 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” in Item 2 of Part I and elsewhere herein regarding the Trust’s or SandRidge’s plans and objectives for future operations, information regarding target distributions, are forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by words such as “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “potential,” “could,” “may,” “foresee,” “plan,” “goal,” “should,” “intend” or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and assumptions about future events. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors discussed in Item 1A of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 (the “2014 Form 10-K”), which could affect the future results of the energy industry in general, and the Trust and SandRidge 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 SandRidge’s business or the Trust’s results. 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.

 

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**PART I. Financial Information**

 

**ITEM 1. *Financial Statements***

 

**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND TRUST CORPUS**

**(In thousands, except unit data)**

 
| ** **                                                                                                                                                     | ** ** | **March 31, 2015** | ** ** | **December 31,********2014** | ** ** |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|------------------------------|------------|-----------------------------------|------------|
| ** **                                                                                                                                                     | ** ** | **(Unaudited)**              | ** ** | ** **                        | ** ** |
| **ASSETS**                                                                                                                                                     | ** ** | ** **                   | ** ** | ** **                        | ** ** |
|                                                                                                                                                           |       |                         |       |                              |       |
| Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                      |       | $                            | 4,838      |                              | $          | 4,755 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                           |       |                         |       |                              |       |
| Investment in royalty interests                                                                                                                                |       | 549,831                      |       | 549,831                           |       |
| Less: accumulated amortization                                                                                                                                 |       | (164,812                     | )          | (154,705                          | )          |
| Net investment in royalty interests                                                                                                                            |       | 385,019                      |       | 395,126                           |       |
|                                                                                                                                                           |       |                         |       |                              |       |
| Total assets                                                                                                                                                   |       | $                            | 389,857    |                              | $          | 399,881 |   |
| **TRUST   CORPUS**                                                                                                                                             |       |                         |       |                              |       |
|                                                                                                                                                           |       |                         |       |                              |       |
| Trust corpus, 39,375,000 common units and   13,125,000 subordinated units issued and outstanding at   March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 |       | $                            | 389,857    |                              | $          | 399,881 |   |

 

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

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**STATEMENTS OF DISTRIBUTABLE INCOME**

**(In thousands, except unit and per unit data)**

 
| ** **                                                                       | ** ** | **Three Months Ended March 31,** | ** ** |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------|
| ** **                                                                       | ** ** | **2015**                                             | ** ** | **2014** | ** ** |
| ** **                                                                       | ** ** | **(Unaudited)**                                      | ** ** |
| Revenues                                                                         | ** ** | ** **                                           |       |   |   |
| Royalty income                                                                   |       | $                                                    | 23,776     |   | $ | 35,425 |   |
| Derivative settlements, net                                                      |       | 7,760                                                |       | 1,358 |   |
|                                                                             |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| Total revenues                                                                   |       | 31,536                                               |       | 36,783 |   |
| Expenses                                                                         | ** ** | ** **                                           |       |   |   |
| Post-production expenses                                                         |       | 27                                                   |       | 30 |   |
| Property taxes                                                                   |       | 1,990                                                |       | 1,940 |   |
| Production taxes                                                                 |       | 1,122                                                |       | 1,668 |   |
| Franchise taxes                                                                  |       | —                                               |       | — |   |
| Trust administrative expenses                                                    |       | 634                                                  |       | 491 |   |
| Cash reserves used, net of amounts withheld for   current Trust expenses         |       | (1,577                                               | )          | (1,544 | ) |
| Total expenses                                                                   |       | 2,196                                                |       | 2,585 |   |
|                                                                             |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| Distributable income available to unitholders                                    |       | $                                                    | 29,340     |   | $ | 34,198 |   |
|                                                                             |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| Distributable income per common unit (39,375,000   issued and outstanding)       |       | $                                                    | 0.656      |   | $ | 0.651 |   |
| Distributable income per subordinated unit   (13,125,000 issued and outstanding) |       | $                                                    | 0.267      |   | $ | 0.651 |   |

 

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

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TRUST CORPUS**

**(In thousands)**

 
| ** **                                      | ** ** | **Three Months Ended March 31,** | ** ** |
|-------------------------------------------------|------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------|
| ** **                                      | ** ** | **2015**                                             | ** ** | **2014** | ** ** |
| ** **                                      | ** ** | **(Unaudited)**                                      | ** ** |
| Trust corpus, beginning of period               |       | $                                                    | 399,881    |   | $ | 443,892 |   |
| Amortization of investment in royalty interests |       | (10,107                                              | )          | (11,440 | ) |
| Net cash reserves used                          |       | (1,577                                               | )          | (1,544 | ) |
| Distributable income                            |       | 29,340                                               |       | 34,198 |   |
| Distributions paid or payable to unitholders    |       | (27,680                                              | )          | (33,653 | ) |
| Trust corpus, end of period                     |       | $                                                    | 389,857    |   | $ | 431,453 |   |

 

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

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**

**(Unaudited)**

 

**1.**** ****Organization of Trust**

 

SandRidge Permian Trust (the “Trust”) is a statutory trust formed under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act pursuant to a trust agreement, as amended and restated, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc. (“SandRidge”), as Trustor, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”), and The Corporation Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee (the “Delaware Trustee”).

 

The Trust holds Royalty Interests in specified oil and natural gas properties located in Andrews County, Texas (the “Underlying Properties”). The Royalty Interests were conveyed by SandRidge to the Trust concurrent with the initial public offering of the Trust’s common units in August 2011. As consideration for conveyance of the Royalty Interests, the Trust remitted the proceeds of the offering, along with 4,875,000 Trust common units and 13,125,000 Trust subordinated units, to certain wholly owned subsidiaries of SandRidge. At March 31, 2015, SandRidge owned 13,125,000 Trust subordinated units and no common units, or 25% of all Trust units.

 

The Royalty Interests entitle the Trust to receive 80% of the proceeds (after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes) from the sale of oil, natural gas liquids (“NGL”)  and natural gas production attributable to SandRidge’s net revenue interest in 517 oil and natural gas wells developed as of April 1, 2011, including 21 wells awaiting completion at that time (the “Initial Wells”) and 70% of the proceeds (after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes) from the sale of oil, NGLs and natural gas production attributable to SandRidge’s net revenue interest in 888 development wells to be drilled (the “Trust Development Wells”) within an area of mutual interest. Pursuant to a development agreement entered into between the Trust and SandRidge, SandRidge was obligated to drill, or cause to be drilled, the Trust Development Wells by March 31, 2016. SandRidge fulfilled this obligation in November 2014.

 

The Trust is passive in nature and neither the Trust nor the Trustee has any control over, or responsibility for, costs relating to the operation of the Underlying Properties. The business and affairs of the Trust are administered by the Trustee. The trust agreement generally limits the Trust’s business activities to owning the Royalty Interests and entering into derivative contracts on a limited basis and activities reasonably related thereto, including activities required or permitted by the terms of the conveyances related to the Royalty Interests. The Trust is not responsible for any costs related to the drilling of the Trust Development Wells or any other operating or capital costs related to the Underlying Properties.

 

The Trust makes quarterly cash distributions of substantially all of its cash receipts, after deducting amounts for the Trust’s administrative expenses, property tax and Texas franchise tax and cash reserves withheld by the Trustee, on or about 60 days following the completion of each quarter. Due to the timing of the payment of production proceeds to the Trust, each distribution covers production from a three-month period consisting of the first two months of the most recently ended quarter and the final month of the quarter preceding it.

 

The common and subordinated units have identical rights and privileges, except with respect to their rights to receive distributions. The subordinated units, all of which are held by SandRidge, constitute 25% of the Trust units issued and outstanding. The subordinated units are entitled to receive pro rata distributions from the Trust each quarter if and to the extent there is sufficient cash to provide a cash distribution on the common units that is no less than 80% of the target distribution for the corresponding quarter (“Subordination Threshold”). If there is not sufficient cash to fund such a distribution on all of the common units, the distribution made with respect to the subordinated units is reduced or eliminated for such quarter in order to make a distribution, to the extent possible, of up to the Subordination Threshold amount on all of the common units. In exchange for agreeing to subordinate a portion of its Trust units, and in order to provide additional financial incentive to SandRidge to satisfy its drilling obligation, SandRidge is entitled to receive incentive distributions equal to 50% of the amount by which the cash available for distribution on all of the Trust units in any quarter exceeds 120% of the target distribution for such quarter (“Incentive Threshold”). On January 1, 2016, the day following the end of the fourth full calendar quarter subsequent to SandRidge’s satisfaction of its drilling obligation, the subordinated units will automatically convert into common units on a one-for-one basis and SandRidge’s right to receive incentive distributions in respect of subsequent periods will terminate. Distributions made on common units in respect of subsequent periods will no longer have the benefit of the Subordination Threshold, nor will the common units be subject to the Incentive Threshold, and all Trust unitholders will share on a pro rata basis in the Trust’s distributions.

 

The Trust will dissolve and begin to liquidate on March 31, 2031 (the “Termination Date”) and will soon thereafter wind up its affairs and terminate. At the Termination Date, 50% of the Royalty Interests will revert automatically to SandRidge. The remaining 50% of the Royalty Interests will be sold at that time, with the net proceeds of the sale, as well as any remaining Trust cash reserves,

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED**

**(Unaudited)**

 

distributed to the unitholders on a pro rata basis. SandRidge has a right of first refusal to purchase the Royalty Interests retained by the Trust at the Termination Date. The Trust will not dissolve until the Termination Date unless any of the following occurs: (a) the Trust sells all of the royalty interests; (b) cash available for distribution for any four consecutive quarters, on a cumulative basis, is less than $5.0 million; (c) Trust unitholders approve; or (d) the Trust is judicially dissolved. In the case of any of the foregoing, the Trustee would then sell all of the Trust’s assets, either by private sale or public auction, and distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Trust unitholders after payment, or reasonable provision for payment, of all Trust liabilities.

 

**2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies**

 

*Basis of Accounting.* The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as the Trust records revenues when cash is received (rather than when earned) and expenses when paid (rather than when incurred) and may also establish cash reserves for contingencies, which would not be accrued in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. This comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty trusts by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as specified by Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 12:E, *Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts*. Amortization of investment in royalty interests, calculated on a unit-of-production basis, and any impairments are charged directly to trust corpus. Distributions to unitholders are recorded when declared.

 

*Significant Accounting Policies.*Most accounting pronouncements apply to entities whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, which may require such entities to accrue or defer revenues and expenses in a period other than when such revenues are received or expenses are paid. Because the Trust’s financial statements are prepared on the modified cash basis as described above, most accounting pronouncements are not applicable to the Trust’s financial statements.

 

The Trust is treated for federal and applicable state income tax purposes as a partnership. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no U.S. federal income tax liability. With respect to state taxation, a partnership is typically treated in the same manner as it is for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the Trust’s activities result in the Trust having nexus in Texas and, therefore, make it subject to the Texas franchise tax. Texas franchise tax is treated as an income tax for financial statement purposes and the Trust is required to pay Texas franchise tax each year at a maximum effective rate (subject to changes in the statutory rate) of 0.7% of its gross income apportioned to Texas in the prior year. The Trust records Texas franchise tax when paid.

 

*Distributable Income Per Common and Subordinated Unit.*The Trust calculates distributable income per common and subordinated unit using the two-class method. In accordance with this method, undistributed earnings in the accompanying unaudited statements of distributable income have been allocated to the common and subordinated units based upon the subordinated units’ contractual participation rights as if all of the distributable income for the periods presented had been distributed. Distributable income per unit amounts as calculated for the periods presented in the accompanying unaudited statements of distributable income may differ from declared distribution amounts per unit due to the timing of the Trust’s receipt or payment of settlements on the novated derivative contracts. See discussion of the Trust’s derivative contracts at Note 4. After the conversion of the Trust’s subordinated units to common units and payment of the distribution in respect of the fourth full calendar quarter subsequent to SandRidge’s satisfaction of its drilling obligation, all Trust unitholders will share on a pro rata basis in the Trust’s distributable income.

 

*Interim Financial Statements.* The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies stated in the audited financial statements contained in the 2014 Form 10-K and reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of the Trustee, necessary to state fairly the information in the Trust’s unaudited interim financial statements. The accompanying statement of assets and trust corpus as of December 31, 2014 has been derived from audited financial statements. The unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the 2014 Form 10-K.

 

**3.**** ****Distributions to Unitholders**

 

The Trust makes quarterly cash distributions of substantially all of its cash receipts, after deducting amounts for the Trust’s administrative expenses, property tax and Texas franchise tax and cash reserves withheld by the Trustee, on or about 60 days following the completion of each quarter. Distributions cover a three-month production period. See Note 6 for discussion of the Trust’s quarterly distribution to be paid in May 2015. A summary of the Trust’s distributions to unitholders during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED**

**(Unaudited)**

 
| ** **                | ** ** | ** **                                           | ** ** | ** **             | ** ** | ** **             | ** ** | **Total**              | ** ** | ** **                          | ** ** | ** **       | ** ** |
|---------------------------|------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------|------------------------|------------|------------------------|------------|------------------------|------------|-------------------------------------|------------|------------------|------------|
| ** **                | ** ** | **Covered**                                          | ** ** | ** **             | ** ** | ** **             | ** ** | **Distribution**       | ** ** | **Distribution Per Unit** | ** ** |
| ** **                | ** ** | **Production Period**                           | ** ** | **Date Declared** | ** ** | **Date Paid**     | ** ** | **Paid**               | ** ** | **Common**                          | ** ** | **Subordinated** | ** ** |
| ** **                | ** ** | ** **                                           | ** ** | ** **             | ** ** | ** **             | ** ** | **(in millions)** | ** ** | ** **                          | ** ** | ** **       | ** ** |
| **Calendar Quarter 2015** |       |                                                 |       |                   |       |                   |       |                   |       |                                |       |             |       |
| First Quarter             |       | September 1, 2014 — November 30, 2014 |       | January 29, 2015  |       | February 27, 2015 |       | $                      | 27.7       |                                | $          | 0.656            |       | $ | 0.141 |   |
|                      |       |                                                 |       |                   |       |                   |       |                   |       |                                |       |             |       |
| **Calendar Quarter 2014** |       |                                                 |       |                   |       |                   |       |                   |       |                                |       |             |       |
| First Quarter             |       | September 1, 2013 — November 30, 2013 |       | January 30, 2014  |       | February 28, 2014 |       | $                      | 33.7       |                                | $          | 0.641            |       | $ | 0.641 |   |
| Second Quarter            |       | December 1, 2013 — February 28, 2014  |       | April 24, 2014    |       | May 30, 2014      |       | $                      | 29.9       |                                | $          | 0.608            |       | $ | 0.452 |   |
| Third Quarter             |       | March 1, 2014 — May 31, 2014          |       | July 31, 2014     |       | August 29, 2014   |       | $                      | 30.6       |                                | $          | 0.632            |       | $ | 0.432 |   |
| Fourth Quarter            |       | June 1, 2014 – August 31, 2014        |       | October 30, 2014  |       | November 26, 2014 |       | $                      | 28.2       |                                | $          | 0.656            |       | $ | 0.184 |   |

 

**4. Related Party Transactions**

 

*Trustee Administrative Fee.* Under the terms of the trust agreement, the Trust pays an annual administrative fee of $150,000 to the Trustee, which will be adjusted for inflation by no more than 3% in any year beginning in 2017. The Trustee’s administrative fees paid during each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, totaled approximately $38,000.

 

*Registration Rights Agreement*. The Trust is party to a registration rights agreement pursuant to which the Trust has agreed to register the offering of the Trust units held by SandRidge and certain of its affiliates and permitted transferees upon request by SandRidge. The holders have the right to require the Trust to file no more than five registration statements in aggregate, one of which has been filed to date. The Trust does not bear any expenses associated with such transactions.

 

*Administrative Services Agreement.* The Trust is party to an administrative services agreement with SandRidge that obligates the Trust to pay SandRidge an annual administrative services fee for accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and informational services performed by SandRidge on behalf of the Trust. Additionally, the administrative services agreement designates SandRidge as the Trust’s hedge manager, pursuant to which SandRidge has authority to administer the derivative contracts underlying the derivatives agreement (described below), and, on behalf of the Trust, to administer the Trust’s derivative contracts with unaffiliated third parties. For its services under the administrative services agreement, SandRidge receives an annual fee of $300,000, which is payable in equal quarterly installments and will remain fixed for the life of the Trust. SandRidge is also entitled to receive reimbursement for its out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the provision of any of the services under this agreement. The administrative services agreement will terminate on the earliest to occur of: (i) the date the Trust shall have dissolved and commenced winding up in accordance with the trust agreement, (ii) the date that all of the Royalty Interests have been terminated or are no longer held by the Trust, (iii) pertaining to services to be provided with respect to any Underlying Properties transferred by SandRidge, the date that either SandRidge or the Trustee may designate by delivering 90-days’ prior written notice, provided that SandRidge’s drilling obligation has been completed and the transferee of such Underlying Properties assumes responsibility to perform the services in place of SandRidge and (iv) a date mutually agreed to by SandRidge and the Trustee. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, the Trust paid administrative fees to SandRidge equal to $150,000 and $75,000, respectively.

 

*Derivatives Agreement.* The Trust is party to a derivatives agreement with SandRidge that provided the Trust with the economic effect of certain oil derivative contracts for production through March 31, 2015 that were entered into between SandRidge and a third party. Under the derivatives agreement, SandRidge paid the Trust amounts it received from its counterparty and the Trust paid SandRidge any amounts that SandRidge was required to pay such counterparty. Substantially concurrent with the execution of the derivatives agreement and in 2013 and 2012, SandRidge novated certain of the derivative contracts underlying the derivatives agreement to the Trust. As a party to these contracts, the Trust received payment directly from the counterparty and was required to pay any amounts owed directly to the counterparty. To secure its obligations under these novated contracts, the Trust entered into a collateral agency agreement and granted the counterparty a lien on the Royalty Interests. Under the collateral agency agreement, the Trust paid a $15,000 annual fee to the collateral agent through 2015. The Trust’s derivative contracts consisted of fixed price swaps, under which the Trust received a fixed price for the contract and paid a floating market price over a specified period for a contracted volume. After all obligations, if any, remaining under the derivatives contracts relating to production through March 15, 2015 were or are satisfied, the derivatives agreement will be of no further effect, and the Trust will obtain a release of the collateral agency agreement.

 

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**SANDRIDGE PERMIAN TRUST**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED**

**(Unaudited)**

 

**5. Commitments and Contingencies**

 

*Loan Commitment.* Pursuant to the trust agreement, if at any time the Trust’s cash on hand (including available cash reserves) is not sufficient to pay the Trust’s ordinary course administrative expenses as they become due, SandRidge will, at the Trustee’s request, loan funds to the Trust necessary to pay such expenses. Any funds loaned by SandRidge pursuant to this commitment will be limited to the payment of current accounts payable or other obligations to trade creditors in connection with obtaining goods or services or the payment of other current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of the Trust’s business, and may not be used to satisfy Trust indebtedness, or to make distributions. If SandRidge loans funds pursuant to this commitment, unless SandRidge agrees otherwise, no further distributions will be made to unitholders (except in respect of any previously determined quarterly cash distribution amount) until such loan is repaid. Any such loan will be on an unsecured basis, and the terms of such loan will be substantially the same as those which would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction between SandRidge and an unaffiliated third party. There was no such loan outstanding with SandRidge at March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

 

*Risks and Uncertainties.* The Trust’s revenue and distributions are substantially dependent upon the prevailing and future prices for oil and natural gas, each of which depends on numerous factors beyond the Trust’s control such as overall oil and natural gas production and inventories in relevant markets, economic conditions, the global political environment, regulatory developments and competition from other energy sources. Oil and natural gas prices historically have been volatile and may be subject to significant fluctuations in the future. The Trust’s derivative arrangements served to mitigate a portion of the effect of this price volatility through March 31, 2015. See Note 4 for a discussion of the Trust’s oil commodity derivative contracts.

 

**6. Subsequent Events**

 

*Distribution to Unitholders.*On April 30, 2015, the Trust declared a cash distribution of $0.640 per common unit and $0.154 per subordinated unit covering production for the three-month period from December 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015 for record holders as of May 15, 2015. The distribution will be paid on or about May 29, 2015. Distributable income for December 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015 was calculated as follows (in thousands, except for unit and per unit amounts):

 
| Revenues                                                                             |   |   |   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Royalty income                                                                       |   | $      | 13,348 |   |
| Derivative settlements, net                                                          |   | 15,403 |   |
| Total revenues                                                                       |   | 28,751 |   |
| Expenses                                                                             |   |   |   |
| Post-production expenses                                                             |   | 15     |   |
| Production taxes                                                                     |   | 630    |   |
| Cash reserves withheld by Trustee (1)                                                |   | 889    |   |
| Total expenses                                                                       |   | 1,534  |   |
| Distributable income available to unitholders                                        |   | $      | 27,217 |   |
| Distributable income per common unit (39,375,000 units issued and outstanding)       |   | $      | 0.640  |   |
| Distributable income per subordinated unit (13,125,000 units issued and outstanding) |   | $      | 0.154  |   |

 

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(1) Includes amounts withheld for payment of future Trust administrative expenses.

 

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

 

**Introduction**

 

The following discussion and analysis is intended to help the reader understand the Trust’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Trust’s unaudited financial statements and the accompanying notes included in this Quarterly Report and the Trust’s audited financial statements and the accompanying notes included in the 2014 Form 10-K.

 

**Overview**

 

The Trust is a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The business and affairs of the Trust are administered by the Trustee and, as necessary, the Delaware Trustee. The Trust’s purpose is to hold the Royalty Interests, to distribute to the Trust unitholders cash that the Trust receives in respect of the Royalty Interests and the derivatives agreement (described in Note 4 to the unaudited financial statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report) and to perform certain administrative functions in respect of the Royalty Interests and the Trust units. Other than the foregoing activities, the Trust does not conduct any operations or activities. The Trustee has no involvement with, control or authority over, or responsibility for, any aspect of the operations on or relating to the properties in which the Trust has an interest. The Trust derives all or substantially all of its income and cash flow from the Royalty Interests and the derivatives agreement. The Trust is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. The Trust’s activities result in the Trust having nexus in Texas and, therefore, make it subject to Texas franchise tax. The Trust is required to pay Texas franchise tax each year at a maximum effective rate (subject to changes in the statutory rate) of 0.7% of its gross income apportioned to Texas in the prior year.

 

*Recent Developments.* The Trust’s quarterly cash distributions are highly dependent upon the prices realized from the sale of oil, NGLs and natural gas. The markets for these commodities are volatile and experienced significant pricing declines during the latter half of 2014 into 2015. Because of the time lag between production and the related payments to the Trust (for example, payments to the Trust for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 were based on production from September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014), the effects of recent lower prices experienced during December 2014 and the early months of 2015 have not yet been reflected in the payments to the Trust or in the distributions to the Trust unitholders.

 

Further, although distributions relating to production through March 31, 2015 are partially supported by hedging arrangements, such arrangements are not in place for production attributable to periods thereafter. The Trust received net settlement proceeds of approximately $7.8 million and $1.4 million during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

SandRidge fulfilled its drilling obligation to the Trust during November 2014. Accordingly, on January 1, 2016, the subordinated units will automatically convert into common units, and distributions made on common units in respect of subsequent periods will no longer have the benefit of the Subordination Threshold.

 

*Properties.*As of March 31, 2015, the Trust’s properties consisted of Royalty Interests in the Initial Wells and the Trust Development Wells, all of which are located in Andrews County, Texas.

 

*Distributions.* The Trust makes quarterly cash distributions of substantially all of its cash receipts, after deducting amounts for the Trust’s administrative expenses, property tax and Texas franchise tax and cash reserves withheld by the Trustee, on or about 60 days following the completion of each quarter. The Trust’s subordinated units are entitled to receive pro rata distributions from the Trust each quarter if and to the extent there is sufficient cash to provide a cash distribution on the common units that is at least equal to the Subordination Threshold. If there is not sufficient cash to fund such a distribution on all of the common units (including the common units SandRidge owns), the distribution made with respect to the subordinated units is reduced or eliminated for such quarter in order to make a distribution, to the extent possible, to all of the common units (including the common units held by SandRidge) up to the Subordination Threshold. However, there is no minimum distribution. If the cash available for distribution on all of the Trust units in any quarter exceeds the Incentive Threshold for the corresponding quarter, SandRidge, as holder of the Trust’s subordinated units, is entitled to 50% of the amount by which the cash available for distribution exceeds the Incentive Threshold.

 

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The following table sets forth the approximate Subordination Threshold and Incentive Threshold for each remaining calendar quarter through the end of the subordination period, as set out in the trust agreement.

 
| **Period(1)**     | ** ** | **Subordination********Threshold(2)** | ** ** | **Incentive********Threshold(2)** | ** ** |
|-------------------|------------|---------------------------------------|------------|-----------------------------------|------------|
|              |       |                                  |       |                              |       |
| **2015**          |       |                                  |       |                              |       |
| First quarter (3) |       | $                                     | 0.64       |                              | $          | 0.96 |   |
| Second quarter    |       | 0.61                                  |       | 0.92                              |       |
| Third quarter     |       | 0.56                                  |       | 0.85                              |       |
| Fourth quarter    |       | 0.54                                  |       | 0.81                              |       |
|              |       |                                  |       |                              |       |
| **2016**          |       |                                  |       |                              |       |
| First quarter     |       | 0.53                                  |       | 0.80                              |       |
|                   |            |                                       |            |                                   |            |  |  |

 

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(1)         Due to the timing of the payment of production proceeds to the Trust, each distribution covers production from a three-month period consisting of the first two months of the most recently ended quarter and the final month of the quarter preceding it.

(2)         Each of the Subordination Threshold and Incentive Threshold terminates after the fourth full calendar quarter following SandRidge’s completion of its drilling obligation. Amounts have been rounded to two decimal places and are presented as set forth in the trust agreement. Actual distributions are declared and paid based upon a calculation carried out to three decimal places.

(3)         A distribution of $0.640 per common unit and $0.154 per subordinated unit was declared on April 30, 2015 and is expected to be paid on or about May 29, 2015. See Note 6 to the financial statements contained in Item 1 of this report for further discussion.

 

Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 1446, withholding tax on income effectively connected to a United States trade or business allocated to foreign partners should be made at the highest marginal rate. Under IRC Section 1441, withholding tax on fixed, determinable, annual, periodic income from United States sources allocated to foreign partners should be made at 30% of gross income unless the rate is reduced by treaty. This is intended to be a qualified notice to nominees and brokers as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b) by the Trust, and while specific relief is not specified for IRC Section 1441 income, this disclosure is intended to suffice. Nominees and brokers should withhold at the highest marginal rate, currently 39.6% for individuals, on the distribution made to foreign partners.

 

**Results of Trust Operations**

 

The primary factors affecting the Trust’s revenues and costs are the quantity of oil, NGLs and natural gas production attributable to the Royalty Interests, the prices received for such production and amounts paid or received as net settlements under the derivatives agreement. Royalty income, post-production expenses, certain taxes and derivative settlements are recorded on a cash basis when net revenue distributions are received by the Trust from SandRidge and net derivative settlements are received from or paid to the Trust’s derivative counterparty. Information regarding the Trust’s production, pricing and costs for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is presented below.

 
| ** **                                                | ** ** | **Three Months Ended March 31,** | ** ** |
|-----------------------------------------------------------|------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------|
| ** **                                                | ** ** | **2015(1)**                                          | ** ** | **2014(2)** | ** ** |
| **Production Data**                                       |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| Oil (MBbls)                                               |       | 291                                                  |       | 343 |   |
| NGL (MBbls)                                               |       | 31                                                   |       | 37 |   |
| Natural gas (MMcf)                                        |       | 99                                                   |       | 109 |   |
| Combined equivalent volumes (MBoe)                        |       | 338                                                  |       | 398 |   |
| Average daily combined equivalent volumes (MBoe/d)        |       | 3.7                                                  |       | 4.4 |   |
|                                                      |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| **Well data**                                             |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| Initial and Trust Development Wells producing -   average |       | 1,196                                                |       | 983 |   |
|                                                      |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| **Revenues** (in   thousands)                             |       |                                                 |       |   |   |
| Royalty income                                            |       | $                                                    | 23,776     |   | $ | 35,425 |   |
| Derivative settlements                                    |       | 7,760                                                |       | 1,358 |   |
| Total revenue                                             |       | $                                                    | 31,536     |   | $ | 36,783 |   |

 

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| **Expenses**(in   thousands)                                                                        |   |   |   |   |   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Post-production expenses                                                                            |   | $      | 27     |   | $      | 30 |   |
| Property taxes                                                                                      |   | 1,990  |   | 1,940  |   |
| Production taxes                                                                                    |   | 1,122  |   | 1,668  |   |
| Franchise taxes                                                                                     |   | — |   | — |   |
| Trust administrative expenses                                                                       |   | 634    |   | 491    |   |
| Cash reserves used for current Trust expenses, net   of amounts withheld                            |   | (1,577 | )      | (1,544 | )      |
| Total expenses                                                                                      |   | $      | 2,196  |   | $      | 2,585 |   |
| Distributable income available to unitholders                                                       |   | $      | 29,340 |   | $      | 34,198 |   |
|                                                                                                |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Average Prices**                                                                                  |   |   |   |   |   |
| Oil (per Bbl)                                                                                       |   | $      | 77.79  |   | $      | 98.72 |   |
| NGL (per Bbl)                                                                                       |   | $      | 27.19  |   | $      | 34.20 |   |
| Combined oil and NGL (per Bbl)                                                                      |   | $      | 72.98  |   | $      | 92.47 |   |
| Natural gas (per Mcf)                                                                               |   | $      | 2.96   |   | $      | 2.81 |   |
| Combined equivalent (per Boe)                                                                       |   | $      | 70.28  |   | $      | 89.01 |   |
|                                                                                                |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Average Prices – including impact   of derivative settlements and post-production expenses** |   |   |   |   |   |
| Oil (per Bbl)(3)                                                                                    |   | $      | 98.72  |   | $      | 101.16 |   |
| NGL (per Bbl)                                                                                       |   | $      | 27.19  |   | $      | 34.20 |   |
| Combined oil and NGL (per Bbl)                                                                      |   | $      | 91.92  |   | $      | 94.67 |   |
| Natural gas (per Mcf)                                                                               |   | $      | 2.69   |   | $      | 2.54 |   |
| Combined equivalent (per Boe)                                                                       |   | $      | 88.22  |   | $      | 91.03 |   |
|                                                                                                |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Expenses** (per Boe)                                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Post-production                                                                                     |   | $      | 0.08   |   | $      | 0.07 |   |
| Production taxes                                                                                    |   | $      | 3.32   |   | $      | 4.19 |   |

 

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(1)         Production volumes and related revenues and expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 (included in SandRidge’s February 2015 net revenue distribution to the Trust) represent production from September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014.

 

(2)        Production volumes and related revenues and expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 (included in SandRidge’s February 2014 net revenue distribution to the Trust) represent production from September 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013.

 

(3)     Includes impact of derivative settlements attributable to production from September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 and from September 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014.

 

***Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014***

 

*Revenues*

 

*Royalty Income.* Royalty income received during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 totaled $23.8 million compared to $35.4 million received during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014. Royalty income is a function of production volumes sold attributable to the Royalty Interests and associated prices received. The decrease in royalty income was attributable to decreases in the average price received for oil production, excluding the impact of derivative settlements and post-production expenses, to $77.79 per Bbl during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 from $98.72 per Bbl during the same period in 2014. Also contributing to the decrease in royalty income was a decrease in total volumes produced caused by natural declines in production. The net revenue distribution from SandRidge received by the Trust during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 included royalty income attributable to production for the three-month period from September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014 of 291 MBbls of oil, 31 MBbls of NGLs and 99 MMcf of natural gas, or 338 MBoe of combined production. The net revenue distribution from SandRidge received by the Trust during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 included royalty income attributable to production for the three-month period from September 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013 of 343 MBbls of oil, 37 MBbls of NGLs and 109 MMcf of natural gas, or 398 MBoe of combined production.

 

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*Derivative Settlements.* The Trust’s derivatives agreement with SandRidge reduces the Trust’s exposure to commodity price volatility attributable to a portion of production from the Royalty Interests through March 31, 2015 by the use of oil fixed price swaps. Net cash settlements received related to the Trust’s derivatives during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 were approximately $7.8 million, and included (i) approximately $3.6 million received related to the conveyed contracts for production attributable to the Royalty Interests from September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014, (ii) approximately $2.1 million received from the counterparty to the novated contracts for production attributable to the Royalty Interests from October 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014 and (iii) approximately $2.1 million received from the counterparty to the novated contracts for December 2014 production. Derivative settlements received during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 related to December 2014 production will be included in the Trust’s May 2015 quarterly distribution. Total net derivative settlements received by the Trust for production from September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014 were $6.1 million, including approximately $0.4 million received in November 2014 from the counterparty to the novated contracts, which effectively increased the average price received for oil production for the related period by $20.93 per Bbl to $98.72 per Bbl. Net cash settlements received related to the Trust’s derivatives during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 were approximately $1.4 million, and included (i) approximately $0.4 million received related to the conveyed contracts for production attributable to the Royalty Interests from September 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013, (ii) approximately $0.7 million received from the counterparty to the novated contracts for production attributable to the Royalty Interests from October 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013 and (iii) approximately $0.3 million received from the counterparty to the novated contracts for December 2013 production. Derivative settlements received during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 related to December 2013 production were included in the Trust’s May 2014 quarterly distribution. Total net derivative settlements received by the Trust for production from September 1, 2013 to November 30, 2013 were $0.9 million, including the impact of $0.2 million paid in November 2013 to the counterparty to the novated contracts, which effectively increased the average price received for oil production for the related period by $2.44 per Bbl to $101.16 per Bbl.

 

*Expenses*

 

*Post-Production Expenses.* The Trust bears post-production expenses attributable to production from the Royalty Interests. Post-production expenses generally consist of costs incurred to gather, store, compress, transport, process, treat, dehydrate and market the oil and natural gas produced. Post-production expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 totaled approximately $27,000 compared to approximately $30,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014.

 

*Property Taxes*. Property taxes paid during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 totaled approximately $2.0 million compared to approximately $1.9 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014.

 

*Production Taxes.* Production taxes are calculated as a percentage of oil and natural gas revenues, excluding the effects of derivative settlements and net of any applicable tax credits. Production taxes for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 totaled approximately $1.1 million, or $3.32 per Boe, and were approximately 4.7% of royalty income. Production taxes for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 totaled approximately $1.7 million, or $4.19 per Boe, and were approximately 4.7% of royalty income.

 

*Trust Administrative Expenses.* Trust administrative expenses generally consist of fees paid to the Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, administrative services fees paid to SandRidge, tax return and related form preparation fees, legal and accounting fees, and other expenses incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity. Trust administrative expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 totaled approximately $0.6 million compared to approximately $0.5 million for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014.

 

*Distributable Income*

 

Distributable income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 was $29.3 million, which included a net reduction to the cash reserve for payment of future Trust expenses of approximately $1.6 million (approximately $2.6 million used to pay Trust expenses during the period partially offset by approximately $1.0 million withheld from the February 2015 cash distribution to unitholders). Distributable income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 was $34.2 million, which included a net reduction to the cash reserve for payment of future Trust expenses of approximately $1.5 million (approximately $2.4 million used to pay Trust expenses during the period partially offset by approximately $0.9 million withheld from the February 2014 cash distribution to unitholders).

 

*Distributions to Common and Subordinated Units.* Holders of Trust common units received greater distributions than holders of Trust subordinated units during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 as a result of the Trust’s subordination provisions. Because income available for distribution on all Trust units for the February 2015 distributions were below the Subordination Threshold, reduced distributions were paid to the subordinated units for the period. As a result of the subordination provisions, holders of common units received approximately $5.1 million more in distributions for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, than such holders would have received had the subordination provisions not existed. There were no subordinated or incentive distributions made during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014

 

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**Liquidity and Capital Resources**

 

The Trust’s principal sources of liquidity and capital are cash flow generated from the Royalty Interests and, during the term of the derivatives agreement, the Trust’s derivative contracts, and borrowings to fund administrative expenses, including any amounts borrowed under SandRidge’s loan commitment described in Note 5 to the financial statements contained in Part I, Item I of this Quarterly Report. The Trust’s primary uses of cash are distributions to Trust unitholders, including, if applicable, incentive distributions to SandRidge during the subordination period, payment of amounts owed under the Trust’s derivative contracts, payment of Trust administrative expenses, including any reserves established by the Trustee for future liabilities, payment of applicable taxes and payment of expense reimbursements to SandRidge for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Trust. The incentive distribution provisions will terminate concurrently with the subordination provisions. Under the conveyances granting the Royalty Interests, the Trust does not have any capital requirements related to drilling wells or any other operating and capital costs related to the wells.

 

Administrative expenses include payments to the Trustee and the Delaware Trustee as well as a quarterly fee of $75,000 to SandRidge 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 sale of oil and natural gas production attributable to the Royalty Interests that quarter over the Trust’s expenses for the quarter, subject in all cases to the subordination and incentive provisions. If at any time the Trust’s cash on hand (including available cash reserves) is not sufficient to pay the Trust’s ordinary course administrative expenses as they become due, the Trust may borrow funds from the Trustee or other lenders, including SandRidge, to pay such expenses. The Trustee does not intend to lend funds to the Trust. If such funds are borrowed, no further distributions will be made to unitholders (except in respect of any previously determined quarterly distribution amount) until the borrowed funds have been repaid, except that if SandRidge loans such funds, SandRidge may permit the Trust to make distributions prior to SandRidge being repaid. There was no such loan outstanding at March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.

 

Under the derivatives agreement, SandRidge pays the Trust amounts it receives from its counterparty and the Trust pays SandRidge any amounts that SandRidge is required to pay such counterparty. Additionally, the Trust receives payment directly from its counterparty to the contracts novated to the Trust by SandRidge and is required to pay any amounts owed under those contracts directly to the counterparty. Payments by the Trust under the derivatives agreement, which covers production attributable to the Royalty Interests through March 31, 2015, to SandRidge or the counterparty to the novated contracts reduce, and could eliminate, distributions paid to unitholders.

 

*2015 Trust Distributions to Unitholders.*On January 29, 2015, the Trust declared a cash distribution of $0.656 per common unit and $0.141 per subordinated unit covering production for the three-month period from September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014 for record unitholders as of February 13, 2015. The distribution, totaling $27.7 million, was made on February 27, 2015.

 

*Future Trust Distributions to Unitholders.*During the three-month production period from December 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015, total sales volumes were lower than initial Trust estimates and oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids markets experienced significant pricing declines. The lower total sales volumes and low commodity prices were partially offset by net cash settlements received under the derivatives agreement of approximately $15.4 million. On April 30, 2015, the Trust declared a cash distribution of $0.640 per common unit and $0.154 per subordinated unit covering production for the period for record unitholders as of May 15, 2015. The distribution will be paid on or about May 29, 2015 and was calculated as follows (in thousands, except for unit and per unit amounts):

 
| Revenues                                                                               |   |   |   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Royalty income                                                                         |   | $      | 13,348 |   |
| Derivative settlements, net                                                            |   | 15,403 |   |
| Total revenues                                                                         |   | 28,751 |   |
| Expenses                                                                               |   |   |   |
| Post-production expenses                                                               |   | 15     |   |
| Production taxes                                                                       |   | 630    |   |
| Cash reserves withheld by Trustee(1)                                                   |   | 889    |   |
| Total expenses                                                                         |   | 1,534  |   |
| Distributable income available to unitholders                                          |   | $      | 27,217 |   |
| Distributable income per common unit (39,375,000 units issued and outstanding)         |   | $      | 0.640  |   |
| Distributable income subordinated per unit   (13,125,000 units issued and outstanding) |   | $      | 0.154  |   |

 

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(1)                  Includes amounts withheld for payment of future Trust administrative expenses.

 

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**ITEM 3. *Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk***

 

This discussion provides information about commodity derivative contracts, the benefits and obligations of which SandRidge has passed to the Trust pursuant to a derivatives agreement. Under the derivatives agreement, SandRidge pays the Trust amounts it receives from its counterparty under certain of its derivative contracts with a third party, and the Trust pays SandRidge any amounts that SandRidge is required to pay its counterparty under such derivative contracts. Substantially concurrent with the execution of the derivatives agreement, SandRidge novated certain of the derivative contracts underlying the derivatives agreement to the Trust. As a party to these contracts, the Trust receives payment directly from the counterparty, and is required to pay any amounts owed directly to the counterparty. To secure its obligations under these novated contracts, the Trust entered into a collateral agency agreement and has granted the counterparty a lien on the Royalty Interests. Under the collateral agency agreement, the Trust pays a $15,000 annual fee to the collateral agent through 2015. The commodity derivative contracts underlying the derivatives agreement are settled in cash and do not require the actual delivery of a commodity at settlement. Fixed price swap contracts are settled based upon New York Mercantile Exchange prices. The contracts underlying the derivatives agreement may not cover all of the future sales volumes of oil production through March 31, 2015. Except in limited circumstances involving the novation of an existing hedge, the Trust does not have the ability to enter into additional hedges. The Trust received net settlement proceeds of approximately $7.8 million and $1.4 million related to the derivatives agreement and the Trust’s derivative contracts with its counterparty during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

*Commodity Price Risk.* Because the Trust’s primary asset and source of income is the Royalty Interests, which generally entitle the Trust to receive a portion of the net proceeds from sales of oil, NGL and natural gas production from the Underlying Properties, the Trust’s most significant market risk relates to the prices received for oil, NGL and natural gas production. The derivative contracts described above are intended to mitigate a portion of the variability of oil prices received for the Trust’s share of production from the Underlying Properties through March 31, 2015. Derivative settlements related to production for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 will be included with the Trust’s May 2015 and August 2015 distributions.

 

*Credit Risk.* A portion of the Trust’s liquidity is concentrated in the derivative contracts described above. The use of derivative contracts, including the arrangement between the Trust and SandRidge, involves the risk that SandRidge or its counterparty or the Trust’s unaffiliated counterparty would be unable to meet their obligations under the contracts. The Trust’s counterparty under the derivatives agreement was SandRidge, whose sole current counterparty was an institution with a corporate credit rating equal to or better than an “investment grade” credit rating. The sole current counterparty to the derivative contracts novated by SandRidge to the Trust was also an institution with a corporate credit rating of at least an “investment grade” credit rating. SandRidge was not required to pay the Trust to the extent of payment defaults by SandRidge’s counterparty.

 

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**ITEM 4. *Controls and Procedures***

 

The Trustee conducted an evaluation of the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, 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 forms and such information is accumulated and communicated as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, the Trustee has concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. In its evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures, the Trustee has relied, to the extent considered reasonable, on information provided by SandRidge.

 

Due to the nature of the Trust as a passive entity and in light of the contractual arrangements pursuant to which the Trust was created, including the provisions of (i) the trust agreement, (ii) the administrative services agreement, (iii) the development agreement and (iv) the conveyances granting the Royalty Interests, the Trustee’s disclosure controls and procedures related to the Trust necessarily rely on (A) information provided by SandRidge, including information relating to results of operations, the status of drilling of the Trust Development Wells, the costs and revenues attributable to the Trust’s interests under the conveyance and other operating and historical data, plans for future operating and capital expenditures, reserve information, information relating to projected production, and other information relating to the status and results of operations of the Underlying Properties and the Royalty Interests, and (B) conclusions and reports regarding reserves by the Trust’s independent reserve engineers.

 

There were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2015, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trustee’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 SandRidge.

 

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**PART II. Other Information**

 

**ITEM 1A.*Risk Factors***

 

Risk factors relating to the Trust are contained in Item 1A of the Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. No material change to such risk factors has occurred during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015.

 

**ITEM 6.*Exhibits***

 

See the Exhibit Index accompanying this Quarterly Report.

 

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**SIGNATURE**

 

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.

 
|       | SANDRIDGE   PERMIAN TRUST |
|------------|---------------------------|
|       |                      |   |
|       |                      |   |
|       | By:                       | THE   BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST   COMPANY, N.A, Trustee |
|       |                      |   |
|       |                      |   |
|       |                      | By: | /s/ Sarah   Newell |
| ** ** | ** **                | ** ** | **Sarah   Newell** |
| ** ** | ** **                | ** ** | **Vice President** |

 

Date: May 11, 2015

 

The Registrant, SandRidge Permian 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 any such function exists pursuant to the terms of the trust agreement under which it serves.

 

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**EXHIBIT INDEX**

 
| ** **             | ** ** | ** **                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | ** ** | **Incorporated by Reference** | ** ** | ** **                   |
|------------------------|------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|-----------------------------------------|------------|------------------------------|
| **Exhibit********No.** | ** ** | **Exhibit Description**                                                                                                                                                                                                    | ** ** | **Form**                                | ** ** | **SEC********File No.** | ** ** | **Exhibit** | ** ** | **Filing Date** | ** ** | **Filed********Herewith** |
|                   |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |       |                                    |       |                         |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| 3.1                    |       | Certificate   of Trust of SandRidge Permian Trust                                                                                                                                                                               |       | S-1                                     |       | 333-174492                   |   | 3.1 |   | 05/25/2011 |   |   |
|                   |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |       |                                    |       |                         |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| 3.2                    |       | Amended   and Restated Trust Agreement of SandRidge Permian Trust, dated   August 16, 2011, by and among SandRidge Energy, Inc., The Bank of   New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., and The Corporation Trust Company |       | 8-K                                     |       | 001-35274                    |   | 4.1 |   | 08/19/2011 |   |   |
|                   |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |       |                                    |       |                         |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| 3.3                    |       | Amendment   No. 1 to Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of SandRidge Permian   Trust, dated June 18, 2012, by the Bank of New York Mellon Trust   Company, N.A.                                                     |       | 10-Q                                    |       | 001-35274                    |   | 3.3 |   | 08/13/2012 |   |   |
|                   |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |       |                                    |       |                         |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| 31.1                   |       | Section 302   Certification                                                                                                                                                                                                |       |                                    |       |                         |   |   |   |   |   | * |
|                   |       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |       |                                    |       |                         |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| 32.1                   |       | Section 906   Certification                                                                                                                                                                                                |       |                                    |       |                         |   |   |   |   |   | * |

 

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