PART I
Item 1. Business.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST
Sabine Royalty Trust (the “Trust”) is an express trust formed under the laws of the State of Texas by the Sabine Corporation Royalty Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) made and entered into effective as of December 31, 1982, between Sabine Corporation, as trustor, and InterFirst Bank Dallas, N.A. (“InterFirst”), as trustee. The current trustee of the Trust is Simmons Bank, an Arkansas state-chartered bank (“Simmons Bank”). In accordance with the successor trustee provisions of the Trust Agreement, Simmons Bank, as trustee of the Trust (the “Trustee”) is subject to all terms and conditions of the Trust Agreement. The principal office of the trust (sometimes referred to herein as the “Registrant”) is located at 2911 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 850, Dallas, Texas, 75219. The telephone number of the trust is 1-855-588-7839.
On January 9, 2014, Bank of America, N.A. (as successor to InterFirst Bank Dallas, N.A.) gave notice to Unit holders that it was resigning as the Trustee subject to certain conditions including the appointment of Southwest Bank as trustee of the Trust. At a special meeting of Trust Unit holders, the Unit holders approved the appointment of Southwest Bank as successor trustee of the Trust, once Bank of America, N.A.’s resignation took effect. The effective date of Bank of America, N.A.’s resignation and the effective date of Southwest Bank’s appointment as successor trustee was May 30, 2014.
Effective October 19, 2017, Simmons First National Corporation (“SFNC”) completed its acquisition of First Texas BHC, Inc., the parent company of Southwest Bank. SFNC is the parent of Simmons Bank. SFNC merged Southwest Bank with Simmons Bank effective February 20, 2018.
On November 4, 2021, Simmons Bank, as Trustee, announced that it has entered into an agreement with Argent Trust Company, a Tennessee chartered trust company (“Argent”), pursuant to which Simmons Bank will be resigning as trustee of the Trust and will nominate Argent as successor trustee of the Trust. The Trustee’s resignation as trustee, and Argent’s appointment as successor trustee, are subject to certain conditions set forth in the agreement, including approval by the unit holders of the Trust and of certain other trusts of which Simmons Bank acts as trustee (or a court) of (i) Argent’s appointment as successor trustee and (ii) any amendments to the Trust Agreement of the Trust and the trust agreements and indentures of the other trusts necessary to permit Argent to serve as successor trustee.
The defined term “Trustee” as used herein shall refer to Bank of America, N.A. for periods prior to May 30, 2014 and shall refer to Southwest Bank for periods from May 30, 2014 through February 19, 2018 and shall refer to Simmons Bank for periods on and after February 20, 2018.
The Trust maintains an Internet website, and as a result, reports such as its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, will now be made available at http://www.sbr-sabine.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such information is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.
On November 12, 1982, the shareholders of Sabine Corporation approved and authorized Sabine Corporation’s transfer of royalty and mineral interests, including landowner’s royalties, overriding royalty interests, minerals (other than executive rights, bonuses and delay rentals), production payments and any other similar, nonparticipatory interests, in certain producing and proved undeveloped oil and gas properties located in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas (the “Royalty Properties”) to the Trust. The conveyances of the Royalty Properties to the Trust were effective with respect to production as of 7:00 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 1983.
In order to avoid uncertainty under Louisiana law as to the legality of the Trustee’s holding record title to the Royalty Properties located in that state, title to such properties has historically been held by a separate trust formed under the laws of Louisiana, the sole beneficiary of which was the Trust. Sabine Louisiana Royalty Trust was a passive entity, with the trustee thereof, Hibernia National Bank in New Orleans, having only such powers as were necessary for the collection of and distribution of revenues from and the protection of the Royalty Properties located in Louisiana and the payment of liabilities of Sabine Louisiana Royalty Trust. Simmons Bank now serves as Trustee of the Sabine Louisiana Royalty Trust, since Louisiana law now permits an
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