Operating Risks
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Natural gas prices fluctuate due to a number of factors that are beyond the control of the Trust and Greylock Production, and lower prices would reduce proceeds to the Trust and cash distributions to Trust unitholders.
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Actual reserves and future production may be less than current estimates, which could reduce cash distributions by the Trust and the value of the Trust units.
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The generation of proceeds for distribution by the Trust depends in part on gathering, transportation and processing facilities owned by Greylock Midstream and others. Any limitation in the availability of those facilities could interfere with sales of natural gas production from the Underlying Properties.
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The generation of proceeds for distribution by the Trust depends in part on the ability of Greylock Production and/or its customers to obtain service on transportation facilities owned by third party pipelines. Any limitation in the availability of those facilities and/or any increase in the cost of service on those facilities could interfere with sales of natural gas production from the Underlying Properties.
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Due to the Trust’s lack of industry and geographic diversification, adverse developments in the Trust’s existing area of operation could adversely impact its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and reduce its ability to make distributions to Trust unitholders.
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Natural gas wells are subject to operational hazards that can cause substantial losses. Greylock Production maintains insurance but may not be adequately insured for all such hazards.
Financial Risks
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Declines in the financial position of Greylock Production could impede the operation of wells.
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The Trust units may lose value as a result of title deficiencies with respect to the Underlying Properties.
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The natural gas reserves estimated to be attributable to the Underlying Properties of the Trust are depleting assets and production from those reserves will diminish over time. Furthermore, the Trust is precluded from acquiring other oil and gas properties or Royalty Interests to replace the depleting assets and production.
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The amount of cash available for distribution by the Trust will be reduced by the amount of post-production costs, applicable taxes associated with the Trust’s interest, and Trust expenses.
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The Trust has established a cash reserve for contingent liabilities and to pay expenses in accordance with the Trust Agreement, which would reduce proceeds payable to the Trust and distributions to Trust unitholders.
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An increase in the negative basis differential between the price realized by Greylock Production for natural gas produced from the Underlying Properties and the NYMEX or other benchmark price of natural gas could reduce the proceeds to the Trust and therefore the cash distributions by the Trust and the value of the Trust units.
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The Trust has no hedges in place to protect against the price risk inherent in holding interest in natural gas, a commodity that is frequently characterized by significant price volatility.
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The ability of Greylock Production to satisfy its obligations to the Trust depends on the financial position of Greylock Production, and in the event of a default by Greylock Production in its obligations to the Trust, or in the event of Greylock Production’s bankruptcy, it would be expensive and time-consuming for the Trust to exercise its remedies.
Risks Related to the Structure of the Trust
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The Trust is passive in nature and has no stockholder voting rights in Greylock Production, managerial, contractual or other ability to influence Greylock Production, or control over the field operations of, sale of natural gas from, or development of, the Underlying Properties.
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Greylock Production may sell all or a portion of the Underlying Properties, subject to and burdened by the Royalty Interests. A purchaser of such Underlying Properties could have a weaker financial position and/or be less experienced in natural gas development and production than Greylock Production.
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The Trustee may, under certain circumstances, sell the Royalty Interests and dissolve the Trust. Unless sooner terminated, the Trust will begin to terminate following the end of the 20-year period in which the Trust owns the Term Royalty Interests.
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Conflicts of interest could arise between Greylock Production and the Trust unitholders.
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The Trust is administered by a Trustee who cannot be replaced except at a special meeting of Trust unitholders.
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Financial information of the Trust is not prepared in accordance with GAAP.
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The Trust is a smaller reporting company and benefits from certain reduced governance and disclosure requirements, including that the Trust’s independent registered public accounting firm is not required to attest to the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. The Trust cannot be certain if the omission of reduced disclosure requirements applicable to smaller reporting companies will make the Trust Units less attractive to investors.
Risks Related to Ownership of the Trust Units
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The Trust units are traded on the OTC market. As a result, Trust unitholders may have more difficulty selling Trust units or obtaining accurate quotations of the Trust units than if the Trust units were traded on a national securities exchange.