Description North European Oil Royalty Trust isn't owned by the crowned oil barons of Europe. The passive fixed investment trust receives royalties based on its interests in natural gas (97% of revenues), oil, and sulfur producing properties in the former state of Oldenburg and portions of northwest Germany. Royalties are generated by the sale of crude oil, natural gas, distillate, and sulfur mined by Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and their subsidiaries; the trust then distributes the royalties to shareholders on a quarterly basis. As a grantor trust, North European Oil is exempt from paying income taxes; shareholders, however, are not.