INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS
SoftVest LP is a hedge fund specializing in the ownership of oil and gas minerals and royalties, with more than 8,000 net royalty acres in the Midland and Delaware Basins, along with various non-core acreage throughout Texas and the United States.
The general partner of SoftVest LP is SoftVest GP. Mr. Oliver is the managing member of SoftVest GP. The principal business of SoftVest GP is to act as general partner to SoftVest LP. The principal business of SoftVest Advisors is to serve as investment manager of SoftVest LP.
Mr. Oliver is an experienced oil and gas investor with nearly 30 years of experience buying and selling properties (which includes his experience as the managing member of SoftVest LP which he founded in 1999) and over 40 years of experience managing investments with an emphasis in the energy market. Among other relevant experience:
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In 2019, SoftVest was the catalyst to the conversion of Texas Pacific Land Corporation (NYSE: TPL) from an 1888 Business Trust into a c-corporation with modern governance that was added to the S&P 500 in November 2024. Mr. Oliver joined the TPL board of directors in January 2021, and will be stepping down in November 2025, when his current term expires;
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In 2019, Mr. Oliver, as President of Midland Map Company, LLC, a Permian Basin oil and gas lease and ownership map producer since 1997, led the sale of the company to Drillinginfo (now known as Enverus, Inc.);
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In 2007, through certain affiliated entities, SoftVest successfully acquired the assets of the Santa Fe Energy Trust (formerly, NYSE: SFF), which consisted of royalty and working interest properties across the United States; and
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Mr. Oliver has served on the board of directors of AMEN Properties, Inc. (“AMEN”) since July 2001 and was appointed Chairman of the board in September 2002. AMEN owns, directly or indirectly, certain oil and gas royalty and working interest properties.
The principal business address of the Participants is 400 Pine Street, Suite 1010, Abilene, Texas 79601.
SoftVest LP holds 6,217,107 Units (the “SoftVest Units”), which represent approximately 13.3% of the Units. The Participants may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power, and beneficial ownership of the SoftVest Units. Mr. Oliver’s family members and partnerships for the benefit of Mr. Oliver’s family own an additional 17,000 Units, with respect to which Mr. Oliver disclaims beneficial ownership.
SoftVest LP has the following short put options outstanding: (a) 3,965 short put options, referencing 396,500 Units, which are currently exercisable at $12.50 per Unit and expire on December 19, 2025 and (b) one short put option, referencing 100 Units, which is currently exercisable at $15.00 per Unit and expires on December 19, 2025. In the future, the Participants may from time to time transact in other derivative securities referencing the Units.
The Participants do not have any substantial interest in any of the matters to be acted upon at the Special Meeting, other than in their capacities as Unitholders.
Given his expertise and qualifications, Mr. Oliver may, if the Proposed Conversion is effected, stand for election to Newco’s board of directors.
For information regarding the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of the Trust, see Schedule I of this Proxy Statement.
The Participants intend to vote their Units “FOR” the Proposals.