SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUSTNorth European Oil Royalty Trust
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST
SUITE 19A, 43 WEST FRONT STREET
RED BANK, NEW JERSEY 07701
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF UNIT OWNERS
FEBRUARY 12, 20039, 2005
To the Unit Owners of
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Unit Owners of NORTH
EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST (the "Trust"), pursuant to Article 14 of its
Agreement of Trust, will be held on Wednesday, February 12, 2003,9, 2005, at 1:30 P.M.,
in Rooms 3 and 4, Ninth Floor, at The University Club, 1 West 54th Street, New
York, New York 10019 (corner of Fifth Avenue; entrance on 54th Street) for the
following purposes:
(1) To elect five persons as Trustees to serve until the next annual
meeting of unit owners or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified.
(2) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting.
The transfer books of the Trust will not be closed. Only unit owners of
record as of the close of business on December 31, 20022004 will be entitled to
notice of and to vote at the annual meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES:
JOHN H. VAN KIRK
Managing Trustee
January 10, 20032005
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IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE UNIVERSITY CLUB HAS
A DRESS CODE. GENTLEMEN ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A JACKET AND TIE AND LADIES ARE
REQUIRED TO WEAR BUSINESS ATTIRE. THE UNIVERSITY CLUB DOES NOT MAKE EXCEPTIONS.
IF YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON, YOU ARE URGED TO SIGN AND
RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST
SUITE 19A, 43 WEST FRONT STREET
RED BANK, NEW JERSEY 07701
(732) 741-4008
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PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Trustees of NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST (the "Trust") to be
used at the Annual Meeting of Unit Owners to be held on Wednesday, February 12,
20039,
2005 and any adjournment or adjournments thereof for the purposes set forth in
the accompanying notice of annual meeting. Only unit owners of record at the
close of business on December 31, 20022004 will be entitled to vote at such meeting.
Proxies properly executed and received in time to be presented at the meeting
will be voted as specified in such proxies. If no instructions are specified in
such proxies, units of beneficial interest in the Trust ("units") will be voted
for the election of the Trustees. The Trustees do not know of any matters, other
than as described in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Unit Owners, which are to
come before the annual meeting. If any other matters are properly presented at
the annual meeting for action, the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy
and acting thereunder will have the discretion to vote on such matters in
accordance with their best judgment.
Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its being exercised by filing
with the Managing Trustee, at the address of the Trust above, written notice of
such revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending
and voting in person at the annual meeting. Owners of units which are registered in the
name of a nominee (e.g., units held by brokers in "street name") who wish to
vote in person at the annual meeting should contact the nominee to obtain
appropriate authority to vote such units at the annual meeting. Attendance at
the annual meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy.
This proxy statement and the proxy included herewith are being mailed to unit
owners on or about January 10, 2003.2005.
The Trust was formed on September 10, 1975, pursuant to a vote of the
shareholders of North European Oil Company, a predecessor corporate entity.
Certain persons may be owners of shares of predecessor corporate entities; such
shares are entitled to be converted into units but are not considered units
entitled to vote at meetings until presented for conversion. There were
8,931,4148,933,316 units of the Trust outstanding on December 31, 2002.2004. Each unit owner
is entitled to one vote for each unit he or she holds or represents. Additional
units may be issued prior to the meeting upon presentation of evidence of
ownership or certificates of predecessor corporate entities of the Trust. Any
number of units represented in person or by proxy will constitute a quorum for
all purposes at the annual meeting.
The affirmative vote of a majority of units represented in person or by
proxy at the annual meeting is required to elect any person a Trustee of the
Trust. With regard to the election of Trustees, votes may be cast in favor or
withheld with respect to all nominees; votes that are withheld will be counted
as present for purposes of the election of Trustees and, thus, will have the
same effect as a vote "against" such
election. In the event of a broker non-vote with respect to any issue coming
before the annual meeting arising from the absence of authorization by the
beneficial owner to vote as to that issue, such non-voting units will not be
deemed present and entitled to vote as to that issue for purposes of determining
the total number of units of which a majority is required for adoption.
The Trustees do not expect that the cost of soliciting proxies will exceed
the amount normally expended for a proxy solicitation for an election of
directors or trustees and all such costs will be borne by the Trust. In addition
to the use of mails,the mail, some proxies may be solicited personally by the Trustees
without additional compensation. The Trustees may reimburse persons holding
units in their names or in the names of their nominees for their expenses in
sending the soliciting materials to their principals.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR RETURNS
The graph set forth below compares, for the last five years, the cumulative
return on Trust Units, the securities in a peer group index, and the S&P 500
Composite Index. Because no published peer group index exists, the Trustees have
developed a peer group consisting of the following three domestic oil royalty
trusts: Mesa Royalty Trust, Sabine Royalty Trust and San Juan Basin Royalty
Trust (the "Royalty Peer Group"). The composition of the Royalty Peer Group has
been the same since the Trust's proxy statement for its 1993 Annual Meeting of
Unit Owners. In determining the cumulative returns on investment, it has been
assumed that on October 31, 1997, an equal dollar amount was invested in Trust
Units, in the securities of the trusts of the Royalty Peer Group, and in the S&P
500 Composite Index. The comparisons assume in all cases the reinvestment of all
dividends or distributions on the respective payment dates. The cumulative
returns shown for the Trust and the Royalty Peer Group do not reflect any
differences between the tax treatment of Trust distributions, due to permitted
cost depletion, and dividends on securities in the S&P 500 Composite Index. As
indicated previously, because the Trust's financial results are determined
primarily by factors not within the control of its executives, the Trust's
financial results are not a significant consideration in determining the
compensation of its executives.
[GRAPH]
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL
ROYALTY TRUST S&P 500 INDEX PEER GROUP
------------------ ------------- ----------
Oct-97 100.00 100.00 100.00
Oct-98 104.98 121.99 82.03
Oct-99 106.66 153.30 113.26
Oct-00 128.62 162.64 138.51
Oct-01 170.91 122.14 182.98
Oct-02 212.89 103.69 210.88
2-2-
ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
The persons named in the accompanying proxy intend to vote for the election
of the five individuals named belowon the following page to serve until the next
annual meeting of unit owners, or until their successors have been duly elected
and qualified. All of the nominees are presently serving as Trustees. The
Trustees are informed that all nominees are willing to serve, but if any such
person shall decline or shall become unable to serve as a Trustee for any
reason, votes will be cast instead for a substitute nominee, if any, designated
by the present Trustees, or, if none is so designated prior to election, said
votes will be cast according to the judgment of the person or persons voting the
proxy.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002,2004, the Trustees met sixfive times.
The Trustees have designated a standing Audit Committee of the Trustees of North
European Oil Royalty Trust (the "Audit Committee") and a standing Compensation
Committee of the Trustees of North European Oil Royalty Trust (the "Compensation
Committee"). The Trust does not have a nominating committee. Robert P. Adelman
serves as the Chairman of both committees and Samuel M. Eisenstat, Willard B.
Taylor and Rosalie J. Wolf serve as members of both committees. During fiscal
20022003 the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee met formally seventhree times
and one time, respectively, and each had several additional informal meetings and
communications.
As more fully discussed onin the following pages, the function of the Audit
Committee is to review the internal financial management and control procedures
of the Trust, to appoint and remove independent auditors for the Trust, and to
consult with the auditors. The function of the Compensation Committee is to
determine the separate compensation of the Managing Trustee and to determine the
compensation of the Managing Director. All of the Trustees, except for Rosalie
J. Wolf, who was absent for one Audit Committee meeting, attended all of the meetings of the Trustees and the meetings of the
Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee (if a member thereof) either in
person or by teleconferencing during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002.
32004. Ms.
Wolf was unable to attend the December 9, 2003 meetings of the Trustees and the
two Committees due to scheduling conflicts. It is the expectation of the
Trustees that all of the Trustees attend each Annual Meeting of Unit Owners. All
of the Trustees attended such meeting last year.
-3-
The following table sets forth certain information, including ownership of
Trust units as of December 1, 2002,2004, about the nominees for election as Trustees
and the Managing Director:
TRUSTEE OR UNITS
DIRECTOR OF BENEFICIALLY
OFPREDECESSOR OWNED AS
PREDECESSOR OF PERCENT
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT OR OFFICER, DECEMBER 1, OF
AGE FOR PAST FIVE YEARS SINCE 20022004 UNITS(1)
--- ------------------------------------- ----------------------- ------------ --------
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS TRUSTEES
Robert P. Adelman 7274 Director, Trustee of various profit 1987 11,100 0.12%10,000 0.11%
and non-profit companies
Samuel M. Eisenstat 6264 Attorney; CEO, Abjac Energy Corp.; 1996 2,0003,000 (2)
Director, Sun America Mutual Fund &
Annuities
Willard B. Taylor 6264 Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell 1974(3) 6,619 (2)
attorneys
John H. Van Kirk 7880 Managing Trustee 1954 81,000(4) 0.91%79,500(4) 0.89%
Rosalie J. Wolf 6163 Managing Member, Botanica Capital 2001 2,000 (2)
Partners LLC, formerly Senior Advisor
and Managing Director, Offit Hall
Capital 2001 1,000 (2) Management LLC (and
predecessor entity); formerly Chief
Investment Officer of The Rockefeller
Foundation
MANAGING DIRECTOR
John R. Van Kirk 5052 Managing Director(5) 1990 7,551 (2)
ALL TRUSTEES AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, AS A GROUP 109,270108,670 1.22%
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(1) Percentage computations are based upon units actually issued and
outstanding. Percentage computations for each Trustee and the Managing
Director include units deemed to be owned indirectly even when beneficial
ownership has been disclaimed as set forth in note (4).
(2) Less than 0.1%.
(3) Mr. Taylor also served as a director of North European Oil Company from 1970
to 1972.
(4) Including 15,00014,500 units owned by John H. Van Kirk's wife, in which units he
disclaims beneficial interest.
-4-
(5) John R. Van Kirk, the Managing Director of the Trust, provides office space
and office services to the Trust at cost. During fiscal 2002,2004, the Trust
reimbursed him a total of $21,733$21,252.82 for such office space and office
services.
4No person known to the Trust owns beneficially more than 5% of the Trust's
units.
-5-
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules adopted by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Trustees, the Managing
Director and persons owning more than 10% of the Trust's units (the "Reporting
Persons") are required to file reports of ownership of, and changes in ownership
of, Trust units with the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange and the Trust.
Except as set forth in the following paragraph, basedBased solely on a review of such forms furnished to it and written
representations from certain Reporting Persons, the Trust believes that during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2002,
all filing requirements
applicable to the Reporting Persons have been complied with.
Mr. Adelman failed to file one Form 4 on a timely basis during the fiscal
year ending October 31, 2002. There was one transaction not timely reported.
This transaction was reported on a subsequently filed Form 5.
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Under the provisions of the Trust Agreement approved by the Delaware Court
of Chancery and the shareholders of the Trust's Corporate predecessor at the formation of
the Trust, each Trustee receives a yearly fee equal to 0.2% of the gross
royalties and interest received during the year by the Trust. In addition,
theThe Managing
Trustee receives additional compensation which is set by the Compensation
Committee of the Trustees of North European Oil Royalty Trust. The Committee
also fixes the annual compensation of the Managing Director.
In setting the compensation amounts of the Managing Trustee and the
Managing Director, the Committee takes into account the amount of time these two
executives are expected to devote to the Trust's affairs. The Committee also
takes into consideration the allocation of administrative and management
responsibilities between the Managing Trustee and the Managing Director. The
Managing Trustee is responsible for managerial oversight of the Trust's affairs
and the Managing Director handles day-to-day matters of the Trust.
The Trust's financial results are determined primarily by factors not
within the control of its executives or the Trustees, including energy prices in
Europe, currency exchange rates, energy supply contracts and the operating
companies' production and sales levels. The Committee continues to believe that
the time required and the level of skill with which the Managing Trustee and the
Managing Director handle the administrative and financial affairs of the Trust,
rather than the Trust's financial results, are the significant factors in
determining their respective compensation.
Robert P. Adelman, Chairman
Samuel M. Eisenstat
Willard B. Taylor
Rosalie J. Wolf
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
None.
5-6-
MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
TRUSTEE AND OFFICER COMPENSATION
Set forth below is a table summarizing the compensation paid to the
Managing Trustee and the Managing Director during the indicated fiscal years of
the Trust.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
NAME AND
PRINCIPAL POSITIONS YEAR COMPENSATION
------------------- ---- ------------
John H. Van Kirk 2004 $68,265
Managing Trustee(1) 2003 $70,247
2002 $72,254
Managing Trustee (1) 2001 $73,296
2000 $59,149
John R. Van Kirk 2002 $94,1672004 $99,167
Managing Director 2001 $92,500
2000 $90,0002003 $97,500
2002 $94,167
(1) The compensation amounts indicated for John H. Van Kirk include both the
amounts paid to him in accordance with the Trust Agreement as a Trustee and
the separately fixed compensation paid to him as Managing Trustee.
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During fiscal 2002,2004, each Trustee was paid a fee of $38,754$32,264.68 pursuant to a
formula contained in the Trust Agreement. Robert P. Adelman received additional
compensation at an annual rate of $9,500 for serving as Audit Committee
Chairman. The duties of the Audit Committee Chairman serve to increase the level
of internal control and supervision, given the minimal number of Trust
employees. In addition, the Trustees are reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with travel and accommodations for meetings of
the Trustees. The Trustees do not receive, either directly or indirectly,
securities or property, retirement or insurance benefits or personal benefits or
other similar forms of compensation.
6COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
None.
-7-
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR RETURNS
The graph set forth below compares, for the last five years, the cumulative
return on Trust units, the securities in a peer group index, and the S&P 500
Composite Index. Because no published peer group index exists, the Trustees have
developed a peer group consisting of the following three domestic oil royalty
trusts: Mesa Royalty Trust, Sabine Royalty Trust and San Juan Basin Royalty
Trust (the "Royalty Peer Group"). The composition of the Royalty Peer Group has
been the same since the Trust's proxy statement for its 1993 Annual Meeting of
Unit Owners. The reserves and sales attributed to the royalty trusts comprising
the Royalty Peer Group are located in the United States, while the reserves and
sales attributed to North European Oil Royalty Trust are located in Germany.
There are fundamental differences between the energy markets in the United
States and Germany that limit the usefulness of any comparison of their
cumulative returns. The Trust has been unable to locate any publicly traded oil
royalty trusts with reserves and sales in either Germany or Europe. In
determining the cumulative returns on investment, it has been assumed that on
October 31, 1999, an equal dollar amount was invested in Trust units, in the
securities of the trusts of the Royalty Peer Group, and in the S&P 500 Composite
Index. The comparisons assume in all cases the reinvestment of all dividends or
distributions on the respective payment dates. The cumulative returns shown for
the Trust and the Royalty Peer Group do not reflect any differences between the
tax treatment of Trust distributions, due to permitted cost depletion, and
dividends on securities in the S&P 500 Composite Index.
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL
ROYALTY TRUST S&P 500 INDEX PEER GROUP
------------------ ------------- ----------
Oct-99 100.00 100.00 100.00
Oct-00 120.64 106.09 122.25
Oct-01 160.73 79.67 161.27
Oct-02 200.43 67.64 185.80
Oct-03 241.20 81.70 277.19
Oct-04 252.07 89.40 484.01
-8-
AUDIT COMMITTEE
All of the Trustees, except the Managing Trustee, constitute the Audit
Committee of the Trustees of North European Oil Royalty Trust. The Managing
Trustee and the Audit
Committee meets the definition of an audit committee set forth in Section
3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. All of the members consider all of the Audit Committee members to beare
"independent" as that term is defined in the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission applicable to audit committee members and in the applicable
listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. The Trustees have determined
that both Robert P. Adelman and Rosalie J. Wolf are "audit committee financial
experts," as the term is defined in the Commission rules. The Audit Committee is
chaired by Robert P. Adelman. The Trustees of North European Oil Royalty Trust
have adopted a written Charter outlining the duties and responsibilities of the
Audit Committee.Committee, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement.
Pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter and the requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Audit Committee has provided the
following report for inclusion in this proxy statement:
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The undersigned constitute the members of the Audit Committee of the
Trustees of North European Oil Royalty Trust. In connection with the proxy
statement in which this report appears and the distribution to unit owners of
the financial reports for the Trust's fiscal year ended October 31, 2002,2004, the
Audit Committee reports as follows:
1. The committee has reviewed and discussed the audited financial
statements for the Trust for the fiscal year ended October 31, 20022004 with the
Managing Trustee and the Managing Director of the Trust, constituting its
ongoing management.
The committee along with management, Trust counsel and
representatives of Ernst & Young LLP have discussed extensively the requirements
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as well as new directives being issued by the
SEC in response and the Trust's compliance therewith. In addition as part of the
Trust's compliance, a review of the Trust's internal controls was conducted.
2. The committee has discussed with representatives of Ernst & Young LLP,
the independent auditors of the Trust, the matters which are required to be
discussed with them under the provisions of SAS 61. The Statement of Accounting
Standards requires the auditors to ensure that the Audit Committee received
information regarding the scope and results of the audit.
3. The committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent auditors, required by Independence Standards
Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussion with Audit Committees) and has
discussed with Ernst & Young LLP their independence.
4. Based on the review and discussions described in this report, the Audit
Committee recommended to the Trustees that the audited financial statements be
included in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 20022004 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Robert P. Adelman, Chairman
Samuel M. Eisenstat
Willard B. Taylor
Rosalie J. Wolf
7-9-
AUDITOR MATTERS
A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to attend the annual
meeting and to be available to respond to appropriate questions from unit
owners. The representative from Ernst & Young LLP will also have the opportunity
to make a statement at the meeting if he chooses to do so.
RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
As of June 15, 2002 Arthur Andersen LLP ceased to serve as auditor for
North European Oil Royalty Trust because of its inability to perform future
audit services. The Trust was advised that neither the engagement partner nor
the manager of the audit work performed by Arthur Andersen LLP for the Trust
remained in the employ of Arthur Andersen LLP.
Arthur Andersen LLP's report on the financial statements for the Trust's
fiscal years 2000 and 2001 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of
opinion. The report was unqualified except for the fact that the financial
statements did not present financial position and results of operations in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, which require the use
of the accrual basis of accounting. The Trust uses the cash basis of accounting,
which is a comprehensive basis of accounting other than accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").
In the two full fiscal years and the first two quarters of the current
fiscal year prior to the termination of Arthur Andersen LLP's services to the
Trust, there were no disagreements between the Trust and Arthur Andersen LLP on
any matter of accounting principles or practice, financial statement disclosure
or auditing scope or procedure which would have caused Arthur Andersen LLP to
make reference to the subject matter of such disagreement in connection with its
report. During the same period, there were no "reportable events" as defined in
Item 304 of Regulation S-K.
Prior to the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP there had been no
consultations regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified
transaction or type of audit opinion that might be rendered by Ernst & Young
LLP. Ernst & Young LLP provided no opinion or advice, either written or oral,
that could be concluded to be an important factor considered by the Trust in its
decision to engage Ernst & Young LLP as its new auditor.
Ernst & Young LLP assumed audit responsibilities for the Trust on September
13, 2002 and has conducted a review of the financial statements for the Trust's
third fiscal quarter and has performed an audit of the Trust's 2002 fiscal year.
FEES BILLED BY INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
AUDIT FEES
For the fiscal yearyears ended October 31, 2002,2003 and 2004, the Trust agreed to
pay $30,000$40,500 and $45,500 respectively as the aggregate amount for audit services
and the review of and attestation to the sufficiency of the Trust's internal
controls to be performed by Ernst & Young LLP.
For its review ofAUDIT-RELATED FEES AND TAX FEES
No fees were billed during the first two quarters of fiscal 2002,years ending October 31, 2003 and
2004 for services rendered by the Trust paid Arthur
Andersen LLP $12,000.Trust's independent accountants for
audit-related fees or tax fees.
ALL OTHER FEES
At the Trust's direction and as part of its audit monitoring process, Arthur Andersenthe German
affiliate of Ernst & Young LLP reviewed the basis for royalty payments and
allowable cost deductions for Mobil Erdgas-Erdol GmbH and BEB Erdgas und Erdol
GmbH in Germany for the period 2001-02 and has been paid $11,197$32,385.63 by the Trust. In the future similarTrust
in fiscal 2003. No such work in Germany
will be handled by the German affiliate of Ernst & Young LLP.
8
FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FEES
Nowas performed and no fees were billed duringin fiscal
2004.
PRE-APPROVAL POLICIES
It is the fiscal year ending October 31, 2002 forpolicy of the Audit Committee that all audit and non-audit
services renderedprovided to the Trust must be pre-approved by the Trust's independent auditors for financial information
systems designAudit Committee. All
of the audit and implementation.
ALL OTHER FEES
No other feesnon-audit services described above were billed during the fiscal year ending October 31, 2002
for services renderedpre-approved by the
Audit Committee.
GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATIONS
With the exception of the Managing Trustee, none of the Trustees have a
financial relationship with the Trust other than as Trustees under the terms of
the Trust Agreement. The Trustees have determined that, with the exception of
the Managing Trustee, all the Trustees are considered independent according to
the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The independent Trustees of North
European Oil Royalty Trust met in executive session one time during fiscal 2004.
The Trustees have created a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics (the
"Code"). All the Trustees, including the Managing Trustee and the Managing
Director, have signed the Code. The Code is available on the Trust's independent auditorsweb-site,
www.NEORT.com. A copy of the Code will be furnished without charge to any unit
owner who sends a written request to John H. Van Kirk, P.O. Box 456, Red Bank,
NJ 07701.
The Trustees have not created and do not intend to create a Governance
Committee. It is the opinion of the Trustees that since the Trust Agreement and
orders of the Delaware Court of Chancery provide the framework for governance of
the Trust no such
-10-
Committee is necessary for the protection of the investors. A copy of the Trust
Agreement, as amended, is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Trustees have not created and do not intend to create a separate
Nominating Committee. The ongoing supervision of the Trust requires continuity
of experience and familiarity with its unique structure. The Trust is precluded
from business activities and would not benefit from the rotation of its member
Trustees. Rotation of the Trustees would, in the opinion of the Trustees,
substantially increase costs and be counter to the best interests of the unit
owners. Accordingly, absent the retirement, resignation, incapacity or death of
any other
services.Trustee, the Trustees have customarily been re-nominated every year.
At such time as a vacancy occurs in the Trustees by reason of retirement,
resignation, incapacity or death of any Trustee, all of the remaining Trustees
serve the function of a nominating committee and do so pursuant to the
provisions of the Trust Agreement and the orders of the Delaware Court of
Chancery.
Any unit owner may at any time communicate in writing with either the
Managing Trustee, or the senior Trustee then serving, to make a nomination and
such nominee will be considered by the Trustees without differentiation as to
the source of the suggestion. In the event of a vacancy among the Trustees,
nominees would be sought who had the background, experience and competence in
those areas where the former Trustee was proficient. They would include business
experience in the extractive industries, experience with royalty trust
management and general business and accounting experience.
-11-
OTHER MATTERS
The Trustees are not aware of any other mattersmatter to be presented for action
at the annual meeting. If any other matters arematter is brought before the meeting, it is
the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote in accordance with their
discretion pursuant to the terms of the proxy.
COMMUNICATIONS
Any unit owner may communicate with the Trustees or with the Audit
Committee Chairman in writing. All such communications will be treated in
confidence and an appropriate response or action will be taken. Communications
to any Trustee, or the Trustees as a group, may be sent to the office of the
Trust at P.O. Box 456, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Communications to the Audit Committee
Chairman may also be sent by mail to the office of the Trust, marked
"confidential." The Managing Trustee and Audit Committee Chairman can also be
reached directly through the Trust's web-site, www.NEORT.com.
FORM 10-K
The Trust will have filed with the SEC prior to the Annual Meeting of Unit
Owners an Annual Report on Form 10-K. A copy of the report for the period ended
October 31, 2002,2004, including the financial statements, will be furnished without
charge to any individualunit owner who sends a written request to John R.H. Van Kirk,
Managing Director,Trustee, P.O. Box 456, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701. A copy of the report
is also accessible through the Trust's web-site, www.NEORT.com.
UNIT OWNER PROPOSALS FOR THE 20042006 ANNUAL MEETING
The 20042006 Annual Meeting of Unit Owners is tentatively scheduled to be held on February
11, 2004.9, 2006. Any proposals of the unit owners intended to be presented at the 20042006
annual meeting must be received by the Trust by October 13, 200312, 2005 for inclusion
in the Trust's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. Such
proposals should be sent to John H. Van Kirk, Managing Trustee, P.O. Box 456,
Red Bank, New Jersey 07701. If the date of the 20042006 annual meeting is changed by
more than 30 days from February 11, 2004,9, 2006, unit owners will be advised of such
change and of the new date for submission of proposals.
Unit owners are urged to sign and return their proxies without delay.
BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES:
JOHN H. VAN KIRK
Managing Trustee
January 10, 2003
92005
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APPENDIX
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST
REVISED CHARTER OF AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE TRUSTEES
[APPROVED DECEMBER 15, 2004]
ORGANIZATION
The Audit Committee (the "Committee") of the Trustees (the "Trustees") of
North European Oil Royalty Trust (the "Trust") shall consist of no fewer than
three members. The members of the Committee shall meet the independence
requirements of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Each member of
the Committee must be financially literate, as such qualification is interpreted
by the Trustees in their business judgment, or must become financially literate
within a reasonable period of time after his/her appointment to the Committee.
In addition, at least one member of the Committee must be an "audit committee
financial expert" as defined by the SEC.
Committee members shall be appointed by, and may be replaced by, the
Trustees. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be designated by the Trustees.
PURPOSE
The Committee shall assist the Trustees in their oversight of (1) the
integrity of the Trust's financial statements, (2) the Trust's compliance with
legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent auditor's qualification
and independence and (4) the performance of the Trust's independent auditors.
The Committee shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) a Report of the Audit
Committee as required by the SEC to be included in the Trust's annual proxy
statement.
While the Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this
Charter, it is not the duty of the Committee to plan or conduct audits or to
determine that the Trust's financial statements and disclosures are complete and
accurate and are in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. These are
the responsibilities of management and the independent auditors.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
1. The Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment,
compensation, retention, termination and oversight of the work of the
independent auditor(s) engaged by the Trust (including resolution of
disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial
reporting) for the purposes of preparing or issuing an audit report or
performing other audit, review or attestation services for the Trust, and the
independent auditor(s) shall report directly to the Committee.
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2. All auditing services and non-audit services (other than the de
minimus exceptions provided by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) provided to
the Trust by the independent auditors shall be pre-approved by the Committee.
3. The Committee shall review with the independent auditors, prior to
their audit, the scope of their examination; review the anticipated level of
non-audit services to be provided by independent auditors and consider the
possible effect, if any, of these services on the independence of the
independent auditors; and review with the independent auditors the estimated
fees to be paid for the work performed.
4. The Committee shall evaluate the qualifications, performance and
independence of the independent auditors. The Committee shall present its
conclusions to the Trustees and, if determined by the Committee, recommend that
the Trustees take additional action to satisfy themselves of the qualifications,
performance, and independence of the auditor.
5. The Committee shall discuss with the independent auditors such matters
and take such action as contemplated by Statements on Auditing Standards 61
("SAS 61"), including discussions with respect to the independent auditors'
responsibility; significant accounting policies; proposed audit adjustments not
recorded, if any; unusual transactions; significant audit adjustments; other
information in documents containing audited financial statements; and any
difficulties encountered in performing an audit.
6. The Committee shall, to the extent not already covered by SAS 61,
review with the independent auditors any problems or difficulties encountered by
the independent auditors in the course of the audit work (and management
responses), including any restrictions on the scope of their activities or on
access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with
management.
7. The Committee shall review with the independent auditors any
"management" or "internal controls" letters issued by the independent auditors
to the Trust.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND DISCLOSURE MATTERS
1. The Committee shall provide oversight of the quarterly and annual
reporting of the Trust.
2. The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the
independent auditors the Trust's annual audited financial statements and
quarterly financial statements, including disclosures under "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
3. The Committee shall review with management and the independent
auditors major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement
presentations, including any significant changes in the Trust's selection or
application of accounting principles, any major issues as to the adequacy of the
Trust's internal controls, any special audit steps adopted in light of material
control deficiencies, and the impact of the Trust's compliance with legal and
regulatory requirements on the Trust's financial statements.
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4. The Committee shall make such recommendations to the Trustees, as the
Committee deems appropriate, with respect to the inclusion of the audited
financial statements in the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the last
fiscal year for filing with the SEC.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The Committee shall establish procedures for the receipt, retention
and treatment of communications or complaints received by the Trust regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.
2. The Committee shall have the authority to engage independent counsel
and other advisers, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties. The
Committee shall be entitled to appropriate funding, as determined by the
Committee, for payment of (a) compensation to any independent accounting firm
engaged by the Trust for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or
performing other audit, review or attestation services for the Trust, (b)
compensation to any advisers employed by the Committee, and (c) ordinary
administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in
carrying out its duties.
3. The Committee shall periodically review and assess compliance with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the NYSE specifically applicable
to the composition and responsibilities of the Committee and recommend any
proposed changes to the Trustees for approval.
4. The Committee shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) an audit
committee report as required by the SEC to be included in the Trust's annual
proxy statement.
5. The Committee shall conduct an annual evaluation of its own
performance.
6. The Committee shall perform such other activities as the Trustees may
from time to time deem necessary or appropriate.
7. The Committee shall make periodic reports to the Trustees on at least
an annual basis.
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REVOCABLE PROXY
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST
[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES
AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
REVOCABLE PROXY
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST
ANNUAL MEETING OF UNIT OWNERS --- FEBRUARY 12, 20039, 2005
This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Trustees. The undersigned hereby
appoints John H. Van Kirk, Robert P. Adelman and Lawrence A. Kobrin, and any of
them, proxies, with several power of substitution, to vote all units of the
undersigned as instructed below and in their discretion upon other matters,
including matters incident to the conduct of the meeting, which may come before
the Annual Meeting of Unit Owners of North European Oil Royalty Trust to be held
on February 12, 20039, 2005 or any adjournment thereof, hereby revoking any prior proxy.
The undersigned has received the notice of meeting and proxy statement dated
January 10, 2003.2005.
The Trustees recommend a vote "FOR" Proposal 1.
WITH- FOR ALL
FOR HOLD EXCEPTFor With- For All
1. Election of Trustees hold Except
[ ] [ ] [ ]
NOMINEES: ROBERT P. ADELMAN, SAMUEL M. EISENSTAT, WILLARD B. TAYLOR, JOHN H.
VAN KIRK, ROSALIE J. WOLF.
INSTRUCTION: To withhold your vote for any nominee(s)TO WITHHOLD YOUR VOTE FOR ANY NOMINEE(S), mark "For All Except" and
write that nominee's name on the line below.
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-------------------------------MARK "FOR ALL EXCEPT" AND
WRITE THAT NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE LINE BELOW.
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Please be sure to sign and date Date
this Proxy in the box belowbelow.
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Unit Owner sign above ------------ Co-owner (if any) sign above
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DETACH ABOVE CARD, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL IN POSTAGE-PAIDPOSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED. -
NORTH EUROPEAN OIL ROYALTY TRUST
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This proxy must be signed as name appears hereon. Executors,
administrators, trustees, etc., should give full title as such. If the signer is
a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer.
PLEASE ACT PROMPTLY
SIGN, DATE & MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD TODAY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED, PLEASE CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED
BELOW AND RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.
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