Capital |
12 Months Ended | ||||||
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Dec. 31, 2018 | |||||||
| Equity [Abstract] | |||||||
| Capital |
Certificates of Proprietary Interest (“Certificates”) and Sub-share Certificates in Certificates of Proprietary Interest (“Sub-shares”) are exchangeable in the ratio of one Certificate to 3,000 Sub-shares. No Certificates were exchanged for Sub-shares in 2018 and 2017.
The number of Certificates authorized for issuance at a given date is the number then outstanding plus one/three-thousandth of the number of Sub-shares then outstanding. The number of Sub-shares authorized for issuance at a given date is the number then outstanding plus three thousand times the number of Certificates then outstanding.
The Declaration of Trust was executed and delivered in New York. In the opinion of counsel for the Trust, under the laws of the State of New York, the Certificate and Sub-share Certificate holders are not subject to any personal liability for the acts or obligations of the Trust.
The assets of the Trust are located in Texas. In the opinion of Texas counsel, under the laws of the State of Texas, the Certificate and Sub-share Certificate holders may be held personally liable with respect to claims against the Trust, but only after the assets of the Trust first have been exhausted.
Dividends
On March 16, 2018, we paid $31.7 million in dividends representing a cash dividend of $1.05 per Sub-share and a special dividend of $3.00 per Sub-share for sub-shareholders of record at the close of business on March 9, 2018.
On March 16, 2017, we paid $10.7 million in dividends representing a cash dividend of $0.35 per Sub-share and a special dividend of $1.00 per Sub-share for sub-shareholders of record at the close of business on March 9, 2017.
Repurchases of Sub-shares
During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, we purchased and retired 59,185, 105,715 and 190,750 Sub-shares, respectively.
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