Exhibit 97
San Juan Basin Royalty Trust
Executive Officer Compensation Recovery Policy
This Executive Officer Compensation Recovery Policy (this “Policy”) of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust (the “Trust”) is hereby adopted as of December 29, 2023 by PNC Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”) in compliance with Section 10D and Rule 10D-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 303A.14 of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) Listed Company Manual (“Section 303A.14”). Certain terms shall have the meanings set forth in “Section 3. Definitions” below.
Section 1. Recovery Requirement
Subject to Section 4 of this Policy, in the event the Trust is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement, then the Trustee hereby directs the Trust, to the fullest extent permitted by governing law, to recover from each Executive Officer the amount received by an Executive Officer, if any, of Erroneously Awarded Compensation, with such recovery occurring reasonably promptly after the Restatement Date relating to such Accounting Restatement. An Executive Officer shall be deemed to have “received” Incentive-Based Compensation in the Trust’s fiscal period during which the Financial Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of the Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after the end of that fiscal period.
The Trustee may effect recovery in any manner consistent with applicable law including, but not limited to, (a) seeking reimbursement of all or part of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation previously received by an Executive Officer and to the extent that the Executive Officer does not reimburse such Erroneously Awarded Compensation, suing and enforcing recovery against the Executive Officer for repayment of the Erroneously Awarded Compensation, together with any expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees) incurred by the Trust in enforcing such recovery, (b) cancelling prior grants of Incentive-Based Compensation, whether vested or unvested, restricted or deferred, or paid or unpaid, and through the forfeiture of previously vested equity awards, (c) cancelling or setting-off against planned future grants of Incentive-Based Compensation, (d) deducting all or any portion of such Erroneously Awarded Compensation from any other remuneration payable by the Trust to such Executive Officer, and (e) any other method authorized by applicable law or contract.
The Trust’s right to recovery pursuant to this Policy is not dependent on if or when the Accounting Restatement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Section 2. Incentive-Based Compensation Subject to this Policy.
This Policy applies to all Incentive-Based Compensation received by a current or former Executive Officer on or after October 2, 2023 (the “Effective Date”):
(i) if such Incentive-Based Compensation was received on or after the date such person became an Executive Officer of the Trust;
(ii) if such Executive Officer served as an Executive Officer at any time during the performance period for that Incentive-Based Compensation;
(iii) if such Incentive-Based Compensation was received during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the Restatement Date (including any transition period that results from a change in the Trust’s fiscal year that is within or immediately following those three completed fiscal years; provided that a transition period of nine to 12 months is deemed to be a completed fiscal year); and
(iv) while the Trust has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange or national securities association.
This Policy shall apply and govern Incentive-Based Compensation received by any Executive Officer, notwithstanding any contrary or supplemental term or condition in any document, plan or agreement including without limitation any employment contract, indemnification agreement, equity agreement, or equity plan document. Subsequent changes to an Executive Officer’s employment status, including retirement or termination of employment, do not affect the Trust’s rights to recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation under this Policy.
Section 3. Definitions:
For purposes of this Policy, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
Section 4. Exceptions to Recovery
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust is not required to recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation to the extent that, in accordance with applicable federal securities laws and Section 303A.14, a determination is made that:
Section 5. No Right to Indemnification or Insurance
The Trust shall not indemnify any Executive Officer against the loss of Erroneously Awarded Compensation or losses arising from any claims relating to the Trust’s enforcement of this Policy. In addition, the Trust shall not pay, or reimburse any Executive Officer for, any premiums for a third-party insurance policy purchased by the Executive Officer or any other party that would fund any of the Executive Officer’s potential recovery obligations under this Policy.
Section 6. Interpretation and Amendment of this Policy
It is intended that this Policy be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of Section 10D and Rule 10D-1 of the Exchange Act (or any successor statute or rule) and any other applicable rules or listing standards adopted by the SEC or the NYSE. The Trustee shall have the sole authority to interpret and make any determinations regarding this Policy. The Trustee may amend, modify or terminate this Policy, in whole or in part at any time. Compliance with this Policy cannot be waived.
Section 7. Other Recoupment Rights.
The Trust intends that this Policy will be applied to the fullest extent of the law. Any right of recoupment under this Policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recoupment that may be available to the Trust pursuant to the terms of any similar policy in any employment agreement, equity award agreement,
or similar agreement and any other remedies available to the Trust under applicable law. Without by implication limiting the foregoing, following a restatement of the Trust’s financial statements, the Trust also shall be entitled to recover any compensation received by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer that is required to be recovered by Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Section 8. Public Disclosures
The Trust shall make all required disclosures and filings with respect to this Policy in accordance with the requirements of the federal securities laws.