UNITED STATES Washington, D.C. 20549 |
|
SCHEDULE 13D/A
(Amendment No. 1)
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| |
Pacific Coast Oil Trust | |
(Name of Issuer) | |
Units of Beneficial Interest | |
(Title of Class of Securities) | |
694103102 | |
(CUSIP Number) | |
Carson Mitchell Shipyard Capital LP San Juan, PR 00907 1-646-509-9519 | |
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) | |
November 3, 2022 | |
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) | |
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. x
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). |
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 2 of 9 |
1. | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | |
47-4835562 | ||
SHIPYARD CAPITAL LP | ||
2. | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | |
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | ||
(a) x | ||
(b) ¨ | ||
3. | SEC Use Only | |
4. | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | |
WC |
5. | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E) | ¨ |
6. | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |
United States |
NUMBER
OF |
7. | SOLE VOTING POWER
|
3,212,503 | ||
8. | SHARED VOTING POWER
| |
0 | ||
9. | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
3,212,503 | ||
10. | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
0 |
11. | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |
3,212,503 | ||
12. | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* | ¨ |
13. | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |
8.33% | ||
14. | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) | |
PN |
* | Percentage calculated based on 38,583,158 units outstanding as of August 1, 2019, as reported in the 10-Q of Pacific Coast Oil Trust, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2019. |
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 3 of 9 |
1. | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | |
47-4663148 | ||
SHIPYARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | ||
2. | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | |
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | ||
(a) x | ||
(b) ¨ | ||
3. | SEC Use Only | |
4. | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | |
WC |
5. | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E) | ¨ |
6. | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |
United States |
NUMBER
OF |
7. | SOLE VOTING POWER
|
3,212,503 | ||
8. | SHARED VOTING POWER
| |
0 | ||
9. | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
3,212,503 | ||
10. | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
0 |
11. | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |
3,212,503 | ||
12. | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* | ¨ |
13. | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |
8.33% | ||
14. | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) | |
IA |
* | Percentage calculated based on 38,583,158 units outstanding as of August 1, 2019, as reported in the 10-Q of Pacific Coast Oil Trust, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2019. |
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 4 of 9 |
1. | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | |
CEDAR CREEK PARTNERS LLC | ||
2. | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | |
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | ||
(a) x | ||
(b) ¨ | ||
3. | SEC Use Only | |
4. | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | |
WC |
5. | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E) | ¨ |
6. | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |
United States |
NUMBER
OF |
7. | SOLE VOTING POWER
|
1,515,400 | ||
8. | SHARED VOTING POWER
| |
0 | ||
9. | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
1,515,400 | ||
10. | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
0 |
11. | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |
1,515,400 | ||
12. | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* | ¨ |
13. | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |
3.9% | ||
14. | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) | |
PN |
* | Percentage calculated based on 38,583,158 units outstanding as of August 1, 2019, as reported in the 10-Q of Pacific Coast Oil Trust, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2019. |
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 5 of 9 |
1. | NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | |
ERIKSEN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | ||
2. | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | |
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | ||
(a) x | ||
(b) ¨ | ||
3. | SEC Use Only | |
4. | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) | |
WC |
5. | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(D) OR 2(E) | ¨ |
6. | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |
United States |
NUMBER
OF |
7. | SOLE VOTING POWER
|
1,515,400 | ||
8. | SHARED VOTING POWER
| |
0 | ||
9. | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
1,515,400 | ||
10. | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
| |
0 |
11. | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |
1,515,400 | ||
12. | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* | ¨ |
13. | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |
3.9% | ||
14. | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (see instructions) | |
IA |
* | Percentage calculated based on 38,583,158 units outstanding as of August 1, 2019, as reported in the 10-Q of Pacific Coast Oil Trust, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2019. |
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 6 of 9 |
Item 1. | Security and Issuer |
This Schedule 13D relates to units of beneficial interest (the “Units”), of Pacific Coast Oil Trust (the “Issuer” or “Pacific Coast”). The address of the issuer is 601 Travis Street, 16th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002.
Item 2. | Identity and Background |
(a) This Statement is filed by:
(1) Cedar Creek Partners LLC (“CCP”)
(2) Shipyard Capital Management LLC (“Shipyard”)
Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”
(b) The principal business address of Shipyard is 1477 Ashford Avenue, #2006, San Juan, PR 00907. The principal business address of CCP is 8695 Glendale Road, Custer, WA 98240.
(c) The principal business of Shipyard is acquiring, holding and disposing of investments in various companies. The principal business of CCP is acquiring, holding and disposing of investments in various companies.
(d) No Reporting Person described herein has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
(e) None of the Reporting Parties described herein has, during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violations with respect to such laws.
(f) Mr. Mitchell is a citizen of the United States. Shipyard is a Delaware limited liability company. Mr. Eriksen is a citizen of the United States. CCP is a Washington limited liability company.
The units were acquired in open market purchases with working capital of Shipyard and CCP. The amount of funds expended, excluding commissions, to acquire units held by Shipyard and CCP is $469,225 and $432,473, respectively.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction |
The Reporting Persons acquired shares of Pacific Coast for investment purposes.
Shipyard and CCP believe that the trustee is not properly representing unitholders. The trustee has refused to file suit against PCEC for what we believe are illegal and improper assessments against the trust, preventing the trust from making distributions and potentially forcing dissolution and liquidation, which we believe would harm unitholders.
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 7 of 9 |
In pursuing such investment purposes, the Reporting Persons may further purchase, hold, vote, trade, dispose or otherwise deal in the units at times, and in such manner, as they deem advisable to benefit from, among other things, (1) changes in the market prices of the units; (2) changes in the Issuer’s operations, business strategy or prospects; or (3) from the sale or merger of the Issuer. To evaluate such alternatives, the Reporting Persons will closely monitor the Issuer’s operations, prospects, business development, management, competitive and strategic matters, capital structure, and prevailing market conditions, as well as other economic, securities markets, and investment considerations. Consistent with their investment research methods and evaluation criteria, the Reporting Persons may discuss such matters with the trustee of the Issuer (the “Trustee”), other unitholders, industry analysts, existing or potential strategic partners or competitors, investment and financing professionals, sources of credit, and other investors. Such evaluations and discussions may materially affect, and result in, among other things, the Reporting Persons (1) modifying their ownership of the units; (2) exchanging information with the Issuer pursuant to appropriate confidentiality or similar agreements; (3) proposing changes in the Issuer’s operations, governance or capitalization; (4) proposing changes of the trust’s trustee or bylaws; or (5) pursuing one or more of the other actions described in subsections (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
In addition to the information disclosed in this Statement, the Reporting Persons reserve the right to (1) formulate other plans and proposals; (2) take any actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer, including any or all of the actions set forth in subsections (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D; and (3) acquire additional units or dispose of some or all of the units beneficially owned by them, in each case in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The Reporting Persons may at any time reconsider and change their plans or proposals relating to the foregoing.
On October 11, 2022, Shipyard and CCP sent a letter to the trustee requesting that it file suit against PCEC, the trust’s operator, or face a special meeting vote to be removed as trustee. That letter was filed as Exhibit 2 to the Schedule 13D filed the same day. On October 17, 2022, the trustee filed a response letter on Form 8K (incorporated here by reference), indicating that it intends to take no action against the operator at this time. On November 3, 2022, Shipyard and CCP sent a letter to the trustee further explaining why PCEC’s accounting is improper, and confirming an intent to call a meeting of unitholders to vote on the removal of the trustee.
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer |
The following sets forth the aggregate number and percentage (based on 38,583,158 units outstanding on August 1, 2019, as reported in the 10-Q of the Issuer filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2019) of outstanding units owned beneficially by the Reporting Persons.
Name | No. of Shares | Percent of Class | ||||||
Shipyard Capital LP (1) | 3,212,503 | 8.3 | % | |||||
Cedar Creek Partners LLC (2) | 1,515,400 | 3.9 | % | |||||
Total for Shipyard and CCP | 4,727,903 | 12.2 | % |
(1) | These shares are owned by Shipyard, an investment partnership, for which Shipyard Capital Management LLC is General Partner and acts as the discretionary portfolio manager. |
(2) | These shares are owned by CCP, an investment partnership, for which Eriksen Capital Management LLC is the Managing Member, and acts as the discretionary portfolio manager. |
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 8 of 9 |
The following table sets forth all transactions with respect to the Common Stock effected by Reporting Persons since the initial 13D filing on October 11, 2022.
Date | Shares | Buy/Sell | Price | ||||||||||||
Cedar Creek Partners | 10/11/2022 | 2,766 | Buy | 0.22 | |||||||||||
Cedar Creek Partners | 10/12/2022 | 13,071 | Buy | 0.2498 | |||||||||||
Cedar Creek Partners | 10/13/2022 | 20,086 | Buy | 0.26 | |||||||||||
Cedar Creek Partners | 10/20/2022 | 300,000 | Buy | 0.35 |
Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understanding or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
Other than as described herein, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the Reporting Persons, or between the Reporting Persons and any other person, with respect to the securities of the Issuer.
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Exhibit 1 | Letter to Trustee, dated November 3, 2022 |
CUSIP No. 694103102 | 13D | Page 9 of 9 |
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: November 3, 2022
SHIPYARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Carson Mitchell | |
Carson Mitchell | ||
Managing Member | ||
CEDAR CREEK PARTNERS LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Tim Eriksen | |
Tim Eriksen | ||
Managing Member |
Exhibit 1
November 3, 2022
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
Trustee for Pacific Coast Oil Trust
601 Travis, Floor 16
Houston, Texas 77002
Attn: Ms. Sarah Newell
Vice President
Dear Ms. Newell,
We reviewed your letter filed October 17, 2022 on Form 8-K, and we are disappointed that you continue to choose not to act in defense of Unitholders, to whom you owe a duty of loyalty, care, and good faith. While you note that you have relied on counsel in choosing not to file suit against PCEC, we believe you are relying on unsound legal advice. In addition to the issues and concerns noted in our October 11, 2022 letter, we believe that you are missing another fundamental issue: that PCEC is improperly trying to assess to the Trust asset retirement obligations (ARO) that rightly belong to PCEC.
The Conveyance Agreement Does Not Support PCEC’s Assessment
In court filings, PCEC’s counsel references the Conveyance Agreement as the basis for allowing the ARO assessment to the Trust. The portion they quote is:
[A]ll costs accrued for future plugging and abandonment of any well or facility on the Developed [or Remaining] Properties Subject Interests; provided that such amounts shall not be included as part of the Developed Properties Gross Deductions in subsequent Payment Periods. (Conveyance Agreement at 7, 22).
What PCEC ignores (and what Trustee’s counsel presumably overlooked) are the provisions regulating what costs and expenses can be deducted from distributions to Unitholders. Those provisions bar deductions relating to costs and expenses incurred before the Effective Time, which is April 1, 2012.
“Developed [or Remaining] Properties Gross Deductions” shall mean the following costs and expenses (and, where applicable, losses, liabilities and damages), to the extent that the same (x) are properly allocable to the Developed [or Remaining] Properties Subject Interests (and any related equipment or property used in connection therewith) and the production and marketing of Developed [or Remaining] Properties Subject Hydrocarbons therefrom and (y) have been incurred or accrued by Grantor, from and after the Effective Time, but that are not attributable to a production month that occurs prior to the Effective Time (excluding, in all instances, the Developed [or Remaining] Properties Excluded Deductions): (Conveyance Agreement at 5, 20)
The provision above states that deductions must be incurred or accrued by the Grantor after the Effective Time, but an ARO was incurred and accrued by the Grantor prior to the Effective Time. Further, the Conveyance Agreement states that the costs and expenses must not be attributable to a production month that occurred prior to April 1, 2012. Yet nearly all of the ARO does relate to months before the Effective Time, since it covers the lifetime production of the properties since ARO recognition.
The Offering Documents Do Not Support PCEC’s Assessment
The Offering documentsi clearly detail that PCEC had already accrued for the ARO in 2009 or earlier (see Note 7 PCEC-14, 15), and more importantly, that PCEC had excluded the ARO liability from the property being conveyed to the Trust:
Note 5. Pro Forma Adjustments
The Conveyed Interests are recorded at the historical cost of PCEC and are calculated as follows as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
Historical cost of Underlying Properties | $ | 421,207 | ||
Less: Asset Retirement Obligations | (22,300 | ) | ||
Less: Accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization of Underlying Properties | (93,846 | ) | ||
Net property value to be conveyed | 305,061 | |||
Times 80% Net Profits Interest to Trust | $ | 244,049 |
Since the ARO was incurred and accrued prior to the Effective Time, the $22.3 million initial present value is not a liability of the Trust, nor would any accretion of that liability be attributable to the Trust since April 1, 2012 as it is due to the passage of time. That accretion, assuming the 7% discount rate compounded that PCEC used, would result in PCEC being responsible for a roughly $45 million ARO currently, which would not be assessable to the Trust.
PCEC has argued that it was an oversight by the prior owners not to assess the ARO or its accretion. PCEC provided no evidence for this supposition, which is not surprising since the offering documents refute their position. The offering documents, which the prior owners of PCEC wrote, did not attribute any balance sheet liability for, nor any cost of, the existing ARO in historical proformas (p. 11) or in projections (p. 46) to the trust. In fact, the offering documents show the liability for the ARO remaining with PCEC (PCEC-30, p. 169 the proforma copied below reflects the ARO balance still with PCEC). For PCEC to try and allocate the liability to the trust nearly eight years later may well be a securities violation.
Pacific Coast Energy Company LP and
Subsidiaries Unaudited Pro Forma
Balance Sheet
December 31, 2011 | ||||||||||||
In thousands | Historical | Adjustments | Pro Forma | |||||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash | $ | 1,380 | $ | 1,620 | (a) | $ | 3,000 | |||||
Accounts receivable, net | 13,428 | — | 13,428 | |||||||||
Derivative instruments | 1,482 | — | 1,482 | |||||||||
Prepaid expenses | 115 | — | 115 | |||||||||
Total current assets | 16,405 | 1,620 | 18,025 | |||||||||
Equity investment | 35,067 | — | 35,067 | |||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | ||||||||||||
Oil and gas properties | 421,207 | (153,016 | )(b) | 268,191 | ||||||||
Non-oil and gas assets | 9,149 | — | 9,149 | |||||||||
430,356 | (153,016 | ) | 277,340 | |||||||||
Accumulated depletion and depreciation | (94,241 | ) | 35,998 | (b) | (58,243 | ) | ||||||
Net property, plant and equipment | 336,115 | (117,018 | ) | 219,097 | ||||||||
Other long-term assets | ||||||||||||
Derivative instruments | 409 | — | 409 | |||||||||
Other long-term assets | 4,682 | — | 4,682 | |||||||||
Total assets | $ | 392,678 | $ | (115,398 | ) | $ | 277,280 | |||||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 7,628 | $ | — | $ | 7,628 | ||||||
Derivative instruments | 866 | — | 866 | |||||||||
Short-term debt | 74,000 | (74,000 | )(a) | — | ||||||||
Related party payables | 3,159 | — | 3,159 | |||||||||
Revenue and royalties payable | 3,970 | — | 3,970 | |||||||||
Other current liabilities | 744 | — | 744 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities | 90,367 | (74,000 | ) | 16,367 | ||||||||
Long-term debt | 30,000 | (30,000 | )(a) | – | ||||||||
Asset retirement obligation | 22,300 | — | 22,300 | |||||||||
Derivative instruments | 3,059 | — | 3,059 | |||||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 899 | — | 899 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 146,625 | (104,000 | ) | 42,625 | ||||||||
Equity: | ||||||||||||
Partners’ equity | 246,053 | 223,107 | (c) | 234,655 | ||||||||
(234,505 | )(a) | |||||||||||
Total equity | 246,053 | (11,398 | ) | 234,655 | ||||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 392,678 | $ | (115,398 | ) | $ | 277,280 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma financial statements.
PCEC F-30
i https://royt.q4web.com/trust-overview/default.aspx ROYT - Final Prospectus. We believe GAAP required recognition of ARO in 2003.
The prior owners of PCEC, who created the trust, were the same group that owned BreitBurn, a clearly sophisticated oil and gas operator. We believe the offering documents and Conveyance Agreement that they themselves wrote accurately reflected their intent regarding the ARO. We contend that it is the new owners of PCEC who are trying to reinterpret both documents in a way contrary to what the original parties understood.
As trustee, you are responsible to represent Unitholders. Despite the obvious facts of the case, you have chosen to side with PCEC against Unitholders, we therefore intend to proceed with calling a Special Meeting to have you removed as Trustee.
Sincerely,
Tim Eriksen
Managing Member
Cedar Creek Partners LLC
tim@eriksencapital.com
Carson Mitchell
Managing Member
Shipyard Capital Management LLC
carson@shipyardcapital.com