PERMIAN BASIN ROYALTY TRUST ANNOUNCES FILING OF SECOND AMENDED PETITION AGAINST BLACKBEARD OPERATING, LLC

Rhea-AI Summary

Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) has filed a Second Amended Petition against Blackbeard Operating in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. The Trust is seeking to recover over $9 million in damages due to alleged improper calculation and payment of royalties from April 2020 through December 2023. The Trust claims Blackbeard incorrectly calculated overhead costs, labor expenses, and saltwater disposal fees, failed to pay on all production volumes, and didn't provide required annual reports. The Trust holds a 75% net overriding royalty in the Waddell Ranch properties.

The trial is scheduled for November 17, 2025. Discovery is ongoing, including on-site audits, expert witness analyses, and document review. A joint venture audit of 2024 production months is in progress, with the Trust reserving rights to bring additional claims based on audit findings.

Positive

• Trust is actively pursuing $9 million in damages to protect shareholder interests
• Some claims from original and first amended petitions have been resolved through joint venture audit
• Comprehensive discovery process including on-site audits and expert analyses is underway

Negative

• Alleged underpayment of royalties affecting Trust's revenue from April 2020 through December 2023
• Legal proceedings could result in additional costs and uncertain outcomes
• Ongoing dispute with operator may impact future business relationships and operations

Insights

Legal Expert specializing in Energy Royalty Trusts

PBT seeks $9M+ from Blackbeard for alleged royalty underpayments; litigation outcome uncertain with November 2025 trial date.

Permian Basin Royalty Trust's legal action against Blackbeard Operating represents a significant attempt to recover substantial royalty payments allegedly owed to unitholders. The Trust's Second Amended Petition seeks $9 million in damages related to what it claims are improper calculations and underpayments of royalties from the Waddell Ranch properties, where PBT holds a 75% net overriding royalty interest.

The specific allegations are technically significant in royalty accounting terms: impermissible deductions for overhead costs, labor expenses, and saltwater disposal fees; failure to pay on all production volumes; and non-compliance with reporting requirements. These issues span a substantial period (April 2020 through December 2023), suggesting systematic rather than isolated discrepancies.

The litigation timeline is important for unitholders to understand. With trial scheduled for November 2025 and ongoing discovery including on-site audits and expert witness engagement, this represents a protracted resolution process. The reference to previously resolved claims from earlier petitions does indicate some progress through the joint venture audit process.

For context, royalty trusts like PBT are pass-through entities that distribute income directly to unitholders, meaning any systematic underpayment directly impacts the distributions unitholders receive. The $9 million in disputed funds would represent a material amount relative to the Trust's typical annual distributions.

While the potential recovery represents a positive possibility, litigation outcomes remain inherently uncertain, with significant legal expenses and a lengthy timeline before resolution. The ongoing audit of 2024 production months also suggests the possibility of additional claims being added to the lawsuit, further extending the process.

DALLAS, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Argent Trust Company, as Trustee of the Permian Basin Royalty Trust (NYSE: PBT) ("Permian" or the "Trust") today announced that it has filed a Second Amended Petition in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas in connection with its lawsuit against Blackbeard Operating, LLC ("Blackbeard"), the operator of properties in the Waddell Ranch, in Crane County, Texas, in which the Trust holds a 75% net overriding royalty.

Under the Second Amended Petition, the Trustee seeks to recover more than $9 million in damages to the Trust it alleges result from Blackbeard's failure to properly calculate and pay royalties due and owing to the Trust. Specifically, the Trustee alleges that Blackbeard impermissibly calculated and deducted overhead costs, labor expenses, and saltwater disposal fees. The Trustee also claims Blackbeard failed to pay on all volumes of oil, gas, and other minerals produced by Blackbeard from the relevant lands and failed to provide annual reports required by the Conveyance. The claims relate to the April 2020 through December 2023 production months. A joint venture audit of the 2024 production months is underway, and the Trustee reserved the right in the petition to bring any additional claims revealed by such audit. Certain additional claims raised in the Trustee's original and first amended petitions have been resolved through the joint venture audit.

The trial date in the District Court of Tarrant County is scheduled for November 17, 2025, 8:30 a.m., Central Time. Discovery is ongoing, including on-site audits of the Waddell Ranch properties, engagement of and analyses by expert witnesses, and review of documents provided by Blackbeard.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any statements in this press release about future events or conditions, and other statements containing the words "estimates," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," "may," "intends," and similar expressions, other than historical facts, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Factors or risks that could cause the Trust's actual results to differ materially from the results the Trustee anticipates include, but are not limited to the factors described in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Trustee's views as of the date hereof. The Trustee anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change. However, while the Trustee may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Trustee's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

Contact: Jana Egeler, Vice President, Argent Trust Company, Trustee, Toll Free – 1.855.588.7839

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/permian-basin-royalty-trust-announces-filing-of-second-amended-petition-against-blackbeard-operating-llc-302464499.html

SOURCE Permian Basin Royalty Trust

FAQ

What is the amount Permian Basin Royalty Trust (PBT) seeking in damages from Blackbeard Operating?

Permian Basin Royalty Trust is seeking to recover more than $9 million in damages from Blackbeard Operating for alleged improper calculation and payment of royalties.

When is the trial date for PBT's lawsuit against Blackbeard Operating?

The trial is scheduled for November 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Central Time in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas.

What are the main allegations in PBT's lawsuit against Blackbeard Operating?

The Trust alleges Blackbeard improperly calculated overhead costs, labor expenses, and saltwater disposal fees, failed to pay on all production volumes, and didn't provide required annual reports.

What time period does PBT's lawsuit against Blackbeard Operating cover?

The claims relate to the production months from April 2020 through December 2023, with a joint venture audit of 2024 production months currently underway.

What percentage of royalty interest does PBT hold in the Waddell Ranch properties?

Permian Basin Royalty Trust holds a 75% net overriding royalty interest in the Waddell Ranch properties in Crane County, Texas.