S-1 1 ds1.htm FORM S-1 Form S-1
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2006

Registration No. 333-            


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


Constellation Energy Resources LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   1311   11-3742489
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

111 Market Place

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

(410) 468-3500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)


Felix J. Dawson

Chief Executive Officer

Constellation Energy Resources LLC

111 Market Place

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

(410) 468-3500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copies to:

G. Michael O’Leary

Andrews Kurth LLP

600 Travis, Suite 4200

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 220-4200

 

Alan P. Baden

Catherine S. Gallagher

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, New York 10103

(212) 237-0000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

    

Proposed
Maximum

Aggregate
Offering Price (1)(2)

  

Amount of

Registration
Fee

Common units representing Class B limited liability company interests

     $ 146,107,500    $ 15,634

(1)   Includes common units issuable upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
(2)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.



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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 13, 2006

 

P R O S P E C T U S

 

Constellation Energy Resources LLC

6,050,000 Common Units

Representing Class B Limited Liability Company Interests

 


 

We are offering 6,050,000 common units representing Class B limited liability company interests in us. This is our initial public offering and no public market currently exists for our common units. We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 907,500 additional common units to cover over-allotments. We currently estimate that the initial public offering price will be between $             and $             per common unit. We intend to apply to list our common units on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CEP.”

 


 

Investing in our common units involves risks. See “ Risk Factors” beginning on page 24.

 

These risks include the following:

 

    We may not have sufficient cash from operations to pay our initial quarterly distribution following establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to affiliates of Constellation Energy Group, Inc., or Constellation.

 

    If commodity prices decline significantly, our cash from operations will decline, and we may have to reduce our quarterly cash distributions or may not be able to pay cash distributions at all.

 

    Unless we replace the reserves that we produce, our existing reserves and production will decline, which would adversely affect our cash from operations and our ability to make cash distributions to you.

 

    We will rely on an affiliate of Constellation to identify and evaluate for us prospective oil and natural gas properties for acquisition. Constellation and its affiliates have no obligation to present us with such potential acquisitions, and, if they fail to do so, we may not be able to replace or increase our reserves, which would adversely affect our cash from operations and our ability to make cash distributions to you.

 

    Our operations require substantial capital expenditures, which will reduce our cash available for distribution. We may be unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms, which could lead to a decline in our reserves and production.

 

    Constellation and its affiliates will own a controlling interest in us through their ownership of all of our Class A limited liability company interests and 57% of our outstanding common units. Constellation and its affiliates have conflicts of interest with us and no fiduciary duties to us, which permit them to favor their own interests over yours and to our detriment.

 

    We benefit from a gas purchase contract that will be terminated if a third-party royalty trust is terminated. The termination of the royalty trust is an event that is beyond our control.

 

    You will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $         per common unit.

 

    You may be required to pay taxes on your share of our income even if you do not receive any cash distributions from us.

 

     Per Common Unit

   Total

Initial public offering price

   $                 $             

Underwriting discount(1)

   $      $  

Proceeds to Constellation Energy Resources LLC (before expenses)

   $      $  

(1)   Excludes a structuring fee of $             to be paid to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the common units to purchasers on or about                 , 2006.

 


Citigroup    Lehman Brothers

 

                    , 2006


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[ARTWORK TO COME]


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY

   1

Constellation Energy Resources LLC

   1

The Offering

   9

Summary Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data

   16

Non-GAAP Financial Measure—Adjusted EBITDA

   19

Summary Reserve and Operating Data

   21

RISK FACTORS

   24

Risks Related to Our Business

   24

Risks Related to Our Structure

   42

Tax Risks to Unitholders

   46

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   49

USE OF PROCEEDS

   50

CAPITALIZATION

   51

DILUTION

   52

HOW WE MAKE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

   53

Initial Quarterly Distributions

   53

Distributions of Available Cash

   53

Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus

   53

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

   57

Management Incentive Interests

   57

Percentage Allocations of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

   59

Distributions from Capital Surplus

   59

Quarterly Cash Distributions on our Class D Interests

   60

Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation

   61

CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY AND RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS

   63

General

   63

Our Initial Quarterly Distribution Rate

   65

Financial Forecast

   66

Our Estimated Cash Available to Pay Distributions

   67

Sensitivity Analysis

   74

Unaudited Pro Forma Available Cash to Pay Distributions

   74

SELECTED HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

   77

Non-GAAP Financial Measure—Adjusted EBITDA

   80

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   82

Overview

   82

Comparability of Financial Statements

   83

Outlook

   85

Results of Operations

   87

Revenue

   88

Mark-to-Market Activities

   88

Expenses

   88

Other Income (Expenses)

   91

Capital Resources and Liquidity

   92

Cash Flow from Operations

   93

Investing Activities—Acquisitions and Capital Expenditures

   94

Financing Activities

   95

Impact of Inflation

   95

Contingencies and Contractual Obligations

   95

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

   96

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

   96

Natural Gas Properties

   97

Natural Gas Reserve Quantities

   98

Net Profits Interest

   98

Revenue Recognition

   98

Hedging Activities

   99

Accounting Standards Adopted

   99

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Effective

   100

BUSINESS

   101

Overview

   101

Business Strategies

   101

Competitive Strengths

   102

Our Relationship With Constellation

   103

Description of Our Properties and Projects

   104

Natural Gas Data

   107

Operations

   113

Marketing and Major Customers

   114

Hedging Activity

   115

Competition

   115

Title to Properties

   116

Environmental Matters and Regulation

   116

Employees

   118

Offices

   119

Legal Proceedings

   119

MANAGEMENT

   120

Management of Constellation Energy Resources LLC

   120

Our Board of Managers

   120

Governance Matters

   121

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

   122

Meetings of Board of Managers

   122

Our Board of Managers and Executive Officers

   122

Executive Compensation

   123

Employment Agreements

   123

Compensation of Managers

   123

Reimbursement of Expenses of CERM

   124

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

   125

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

   126

Distributions and Payments to CERH, CEP Equity II LLC, CHI and CERM

   126

Agreements Governing the Transactions

   128

Gas Purchase Contract

   130

Cash Pool Arrangement

   130

Transactions with Executive Officers, Managers and Principal Unitholders

   130

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FIDUCIARY DUTIES

   131

Conflicts of Interests

   131

Fiduciary Duties

   133

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS

   134

The Common Units

   134

Transfer Agent and Registrar

   134

Transfer of Common Units

   134

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

   135

Organization

   135

Purpose

   135

Fiduciary Duties

   135

 

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Agreement to be Bound by Limited Liability Company Agreement; Power of Attorney

   135

Capital Contributions

   135

Limited Liability

   136

Voting Rights

   136

Issuance of Additional Securities

   137

Election of Members of Our Board of Managers

   137

Amendment of Our Limited Liability Company Agreement

   138

Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets

   140

Termination and Dissolution

   140

Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds

   140

Anti-Takeover Provisions

   141

Limited Call Right

   142

Meetings; Voting

   142

Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption

   143

Indemnification

   143

Books and Reports

   143

Right To Inspect Our Books and Records

   144

Registration Rights

   144

UNITS ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

   145

MATERIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES

   146

INVESTMENT IN OUR COMPANY BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

   164

UNDERWRITING

   165

VALIDITY OF THE UNITS

   167

EXPERTS

   167

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   168

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   F-1

 


 

APPENDIX A –    Form of Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Constellation Energy Resources LLC    A-1
APPENDIX B –    Glossary of Terms    B-1

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

Until                         , 2006 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common units, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

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SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the historical and pro forma consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements. The information presented in this prospectus assumes an initial public offering price of $                 per common unit (the mid-point of the price range on the cover of this prospectus), and that the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units is not exercised, in each case unless otherwise noted. You should read “Risk Factors” for information about important factors to consider before buying the common units. We include a glossary of some of the terms used in this prospectus in Appendix B. We have prepared the estimates of proved natural gas reserves described in this prospectus, including the reserve estimates contained in the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. As described in more detail under the caption “Summary Reserve and Operating Data,” in preparing the estimates as of December 31, 2005 included in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the estimates included elsewhere in this prospectus, we made certain downward adjustments to the reserve estimates as of December 31, 2005 prepared by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., or NSAI. In preparing the reserve estimates as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 used to prepare the financial statements of our predecessor for 2004 and 2003, we made other adjustments to the reserve estimates as of December 31, 2005 prepared by NSAI to rollback those estimates for actual production, prices and development as described in more detail under the caption “Business—Natural Gas Data—Proved Reserves.” We have removed from CER’s reserve and Standardized Measure estimates in this prospectus estimated amounts attributable to the NPI by treating the NPI as an overriding royalty interest. The number of common units referred to in this prospectus are after giving pro forma effect to a split of the outstanding member interest of CER into 286,940 Class A units, 8,010,120 common units and the management incentive interests to be effected prior to the closing of this offering.

 

References in this prospectus to “Constellation Energy Resources,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms refer to Constellation Energy Resources LLC and its subsidiaries. References in this prospectus to “CERM” are to Constellation Energy Resources Management, LLC, a newly formed Delaware limited liability company. References in this prospectus to “CCG” are to Constellation Energy Commodities Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation. References in this prospectus to “CERH” are to Constellation Energy Resources Holdings, LLC, a newly formed Delaware limited liability company. References to “CHI” are to Constellation Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation. References in this prospectus to “Constellation” are to Constellation Energy Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation. We refer to our Class A limited liability company interests as the Class A units, our Class B limited liability company interests as the common units, our Class C limited liability company interests as the management incentive interests and our Class D limited liability company interests as the Class D interests.

 

Constellation Energy Resources LLC

 

We are a limited liability company that was formed by Constellation in February 2005 to acquire coalbed methane reserves and production. We are focused on the acquisition, development and exploitation of oil and natural gas properties, or E&P properties, as well as related midstream assets. Our primary business objective is to generate stable cash flows allowing us to make quarterly cash distributions to our unitholders and over time to increase our quarterly cash distributions. Currently, our estimated proved reserves are 100% natural gas and are located in the Robinson’s Bend Field, which we acquired in June 2005. The Robinson’s Bend Field is located in Alabama’s Black Warrior Basin. Our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2005 were approximately 112.0 Bcf, approximately 80% of which were classified as proved developed producing. Our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2005 had estimated future net revenues discounted at 10%, which we refer to as the Standardized Measure, of approximately $295.4 million. Standardized Measure is an accounting term that should not be confused with fair market value. Our average proved reserve-to-production ratio is approximately 25 years

 

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based on our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2005 and annualized production for the six months ended December 31, 2005. We currently own a 100% working interest (an approximate 75% average net revenue interest, calculated before the Torch Royalty NPI described below) in our Robinson’s Bend Field producing properties, which had 436 producing natural gas wells as of December 31, 2005.

 

The Black Warrior Basin is one of the oldest and most prolific coalbed methane basins in the country, with over 2,750 producing coalbed methane wells and an estimated 4.4 Tcf of remaining recoverable gas as of 2002 (the most recent date for which information is available). These multi-seam vertical wells range from 500 to 3,700 feet deep, with coal seams averaging a total of 25 to 30 feet of thickness, or net pay, per well. Coalbed methane wells are generally more shallow than other natural gas wells, require pumping units to remove the water from the wells, which we refer to as dewatering, and require fracturing to enhance production. These wells also tend to start producing gas and water immediately upon completion, and production increases as the well is dewatered. However, production rates from newly drilled and completed wells in the Robinson’s Bend Field do not always increase as the formation dewaters. Once dewatered, coalbed methane wells often demonstrate fairly constant production rates for up to five years and then start on a decline to a final decline rate of as low as 5% to 6% per year. A typical well produces over a period of 20 to over 50 years. For a further description of the characteristics of coalbed methane production, please read “Business—Description of Our Properties and Projects—Characteristics of Coalbed Methane.”

 

Prior to the closing of this offering, we will implement a commodity price risk management program that is intended to reduce the volatility in our revenues due to commodity price changes, which in turn should provide greater stability to our future cash flows. Under that program, we plan to adopt a policy that contemplates hedging the sales prices for approximately 80% of our expected production from currently producing wells for a period of up to five years, as appropriate, based primarily on our intent to stabilize cash flows and our view of prevailing and expected market conditions for natural gas. In determining our initial quarterly distribution, or IQD, we have assumed that we will hedge approximately 80% of our expected production from currently producing wells. Please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions.”

 

Business Strategies

 

Our primary business objective is to generate stable cash flows allowing us to make quarterly cash distributions to our unitholders and over time to increase the amount of our future quarterly distributions by executing our business strategy, which is to:

 

    make accretive acquisitions of E&P properties characterized by a high percentage of proved producing reserves with long-lived, stable production, which may include associated midstream assets such as gathering systems, compression, dehydrating and treating facilities and other similar facilities;

 

    identify and work with third-party operators who have experience in regions in which we seek to acquire an ownership interest and who will hold an ownership interest in our properties;

 

    increase reserves and production through what we believe to be low-risk development and exploitation drilling; and

 

    reduce the volatility in our revenues resulting from changes in oil and natural gas commodity prices through hedging.

 

Competitive Strengths

 

We believe we are positioned to successfully execute our business strategies because of the following competitive strengths:

 

    Relationship with Constellation.    We believe our ability to grow through acquisitions is enhanced by our relationship with Constellation, an integrated energy company that has developed a portfolio of oil and natural gas investments in North America.

 

 

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    Operational and Technical Support.    We believe our relationship with Constellation will provide us with a wide range of operational, commercial, technical, risk management, asset management and other expertise including:

 

    a technical evaluation team whose professionals have many years of experience in engineering, geology, recovery methods and production of oil and natural gas;

 

    a portfolio management team whose professionals have many years of land, title, marketing and sales, operations and development experience; and

 

    a team of professionals with substantial risk management expertise, including commodity price hedging.

 

    Low-Risk, Low-Cost Development Drilling Operations.    During the year ended December 31, 2005, we (and our predecessor, Everlast Energy LLC) drilled and completed 18 gross (13.5 net) development wells, 100% of which are producing natural gas in commercial quantities. Our implied finding and development cost in respect of these wells was approximately $1.06 per Mcf, which includes the development costs incurred for reserves previously classified as proved undeveloped that were classified as proved developed as of December 31, 2005. For a description of the calculation of our implied finding and development costs, please read “Business—Natural Gas Data—Finding Costs.” Our average well currently takes four days to drill and complete, and we budget an average cost of $400,000 to drill, complete and place on production each well. Most of our wells are producing and are typically connected to a pipeline within approximately 40 days after drilling has commenced. In order to sustain or grow our production in the long term, we will have to acquire or develop other producing E&P properties, which will likely increase our costs.

 

    Predictable, Long-Lived Reserves.    Our properties are located in the Black Warrior Basin in Alabama, a coal seam natural gas basin with a long history of relatively stable production characterized by low to moderate rates of production decline compared to rates generally experienced in conventional production. Our current reserves have an average reserve life of approximately 25 years.

 

    Control of Operations.    We own at least a 75% working interest in all of our currently undeveloped leasehold acreage, and a 100% working interest in all of our leasehold acreage that is held by production, in the Robinson’s Bend Field. In addition, we own and operate all of the compression, gas gathering, water handling and related facilities for the Robinson’s Bend Field. As a result, we are able to control decisions with respect to the development and operations of our properties in the Robinson’s Bend Field.

 

    Large Undeveloped Acreage Base.    As of December 31, 2005, we had identified 364 total potential drilling locations on our acreage in the Robinson’s Bend Field, of which 120 locations were proved undeveloped drilling locations. As of December 31, 2005, we also had identified 133 gross (99.75 net) existing wells that were candidates for refracture stimulation activities, or refractures, designed to enhance production from those wells. We intend to drill, complete and place on production 20 gross (15 net) development wells in the Robinson’s Bend Field during the nine months ending September 30, 2006. During the twelve months ending September 30, 2007, we currently plan to drill, complete and place on production approximately 20 gross (15 net) development wells and to refracture the formations of approximately 7 gross (5.25 net) existing wells. Gross wells are the total number of producing wells in which we have an interest, and net wells are the sum of our fractional working interests owned in gross wells.

 

Our Relationship With Constellation

 

We believe that one of our principal strengths is our relationship with Constellation, an integrated energy company with 2005 revenues of approximately $17.1 billion and total assets of approximately $21.5 billion.

 

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Constellation’s common stock trades on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CEG.” Constellation is engaged in numerous aspects of the energy industry, including, through CCG, oil and natural gas exploration and production, or E&P, natural gas transportation, natural gas storage and physical and financial natural gas trading.

 

A principal component of our business strategy is to grow our asset base and production through the acquisition of E&P properties characterized by long-lived, stable production. Constellation, through CCG, has a track record of successfully acquiring developed and undeveloped E&P properties. CCG is currently developing several other E&P projects in various locations with unconventional production, including coalbed methane, tight sands and shale. As CCG continues to develop the E&P properties that comprise these projects, and potentially other undeveloped E&P properties that it may acquire in the future, it is possible these projects will have characteristics of properties suitable for us and our business strategies. These characteristics may include a combination of the following:

 

    a high percentage of proved developed producing reserves;

 

    long-lived, stable production;

 

    a significant number of step-out development opportunities; that is, properties where, as development progresses, reserves from newly completed wells are reclassified from the proved undeveloped to the proved developed category and additional adjacent locations are added to proved undeveloped reserves;

 

    a significant working interest in the wells;

 

    properties where we can work with third-party operators with experience in the applicable regions and who hold an interest in such properties; and

 

    low operating costs.

 

Constellation views us as an integral component of the growth strategy for its upstream oil and natural gas business and intends to use us as its primary vehicle to develop a portfolio of long-lived, proved producing E&P properties. However, Constellation has no obligation or commitment to do so, and may act in a manner that is beneficial to its interests and detrimental to ours.

 

We will enter into a management services agreement with CERM, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Constellation. Pursuant to that agreement, CERM will provide us with legal, accounting, finance and tax services. We also expect that CERM will provide us with property management, engineering and other services and with assistance in hedging our production as well as acquisition services in respect of opportunities for us to acquire long-lived, stable and proved oil and natural gas reserves. While we are consolidated with Constellation for accounting purposes, we will be required under the management services agreement to use CERM or its designee for legal, accounting, finance, tax and risk management services. Neither Constellation nor CERM has any obligation to provide us with acquisition services under the management services agreement. While CERM and Constellation are not obligated to provide us with acquisition services, we expect that their ownership of our Class A units, common units and management incentive interests will provide them with an incentive to grow our business by helping us to identify, evaluate and complete acquisitions that will be accretive to our distributable cash.

 

Following this offering we will be dependent on CERM for management of our operations and, pursuant to the management services agreement, we will reimburse CERM for the reasonable costs of the services it provides to us. Our board of managers has the right and the duty to review the services provided, and the costs charged, by CERM under that agreement. Our board of managers may in the future cause us to hire additional personnel to supplement or replace some or all of the services provided by CERM, as well as employ third-party service providers. If we were to take such actions, they could increase the overall costs of our operations. For a

 

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description of the services that CERM will provide to us under the management services agreement and our obligation to reimburse CERM for the costs it incurs in providing those services, please read “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Management Services Agreement.”

 

While our relationship with Constellation and its subsidiaries is a significant strength, it is also a source of potential conflicts. For example, none of Constellation or any of its affiliates is restricted from competing with us. Constellation or its affiliates may acquire, invest in or dispose of E&P or other assets in the future without any obligation to offer us the opportunity to purchase or own interests in those assets. Please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties.”

 

In December 2005, Constellation entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with FPL Group, Inc., a Florida corporation whose common stock trades on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FPL.” FPL Group, Inc. is also an integrated energy company with 2005 revenues of $11.8 billion and total assets of $33.0 billion.

 

Cash Distribution Policy

 

Our board of managers has adopted a cash distribution policy to pay a regular quarterly distribution of $0.425 per unit on our outstanding common and Class A units while reinvesting in our business a portion of our operating cash flow. We intend to pay our first cash distribution on or about February 14, 2007 for the period from the closing of this offering through December 31, 2006. We will adjust our first distribution based on the actual length of that period. Thereafter, we intend to pay a distribution on a quarterly basis. Declaration and payment of distributions is at the discretion of our board of managers, and we cannot assure you that we will not reduce or eliminate our distributions.

 

In general, it is our policy to distribute substantially all of our available cash after paying our operating expenses and retaining an amount of funds that our board of managers estimates is adequate for the proper conduct of our business, including the maintenance of our asset base. If we continue this policy, we will be dependent on our ability to raise debt and equity from the capital markets to grow our asset base, and we cannot assure you of our ability to access such markets. If our board of managers underestimates the amounts necessary to maintain our asset base or we fail to invest those funds effectively, our board of managers will likely need to reduce the amount of our distributions. In an effort to reduce the uncertainty regarding our distributions, our board of managers intends to increase our distributions per unit only if it believes that (i) we have sufficient reserves and liquidity for the proper conduct of our business, including the maintenance of our asset base, and (ii) we can maintain such increased distribution level for a sustained period.

 

You may not receive distributions in the intended amounts described above, or at all. Please read “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business.”

 

Torch Royalty NPI

 

The majority of our properties in the Robinson’s Bend Field are subject to a non-operating net profits interest, or NPI, held by Torch Energy Royalty Trust, or the Trust. Through the NPI, the Trust is entitled to a royalty payment, calculated as a percentage of the net revenue, that is, specified revenues reduced by associated expenditures, from specified wells in the Robinson’s Bend Field, or Trust Wells. As of December 31, 2005, we owned a working interest in 436 producing wells in the Robinson’s Bend Field, of which 404 wells were subject to the NPI. We estimate that, as of December 31, 2005, approximately 5.8 Bcf of proved reserves were

 

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attributable to the NPI on the Trust Wells, which we have excluded from our estimate of proved reserves attributable to our interests in the Robinson’s Bend Field.

 

Under the terms of the NPI and related contractual arrangements, the royalty payment we are required to make to the Trust under the NPI is calculated using a sharing arrangement with a pricing formula that has resulted in below-market prices and has had the effect of keeping our payments to the Trust significantly lower than if such payments had been calculated based on then prevailing market prices. No amounts were due to the Trust in 2005 in respect of the NPI. We paid the Trust approximately $0.2 million in the aggregate for January 2006 through March 2006 production from the Trust Wells in respect of the NPI.

 

The sharing arrangement may be terminated under specified circumstances that are beyond our control. If we lose the benefit of the sharing arrangement in respect of calculating payments under the NPI, our payments to the Trust will increase and our revenues will decrease. For a further description of the NPI and the related contractual arrangements, as well as the circumstances under which the sharing arrangement may be terminated, please read “Business—Natural Gas Data—Developed and Undeveloped Acreage.”

 

In order to address to a limited extent the risks of the potential adverse impact on our operating results from early termination, without the prior consent of our board of managers, of the sharing arrangement in respect of the calculation of amounts payable to the Trust for the NPI, CHI will contribute to us at the closing of this offering $8.0 million for all of our Class D interests. This contribution will be returned to CHI in 24 special quarterly distributions over a period of approximately six years if the sharing arrangement remains in effect during that period. If the amounts payable by us to the Trust are not calculated based on the continued applicability of the sharing arrangement through December 31, 2012, unless such change is approved in advance by our board of managers and our conflicts committee, the following will occur: the Class D interests will cease receiving the special quarterly cash distributions; and the Class D interests will only be returned the remaining undistributed amount of the $8.0 million contribution under certain circumstances upon our liquidation. The effect of our retention and use of the unreturned portion of the $8.0 million is to provide us with cash that will reduce, but not eliminate, the adverse impact of our reduced revenues from the termination of the sharing arrangement. For a further description of this special distribution right, please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Class D Contribution by CHI.”

 

Risk Factors

 

An investment in our common units involves risks associated with our business, regulatory and legal matters, our limited liability company structure and the tax characteristics of our common units. Please read carefully the risks under the caption “Risk Factors” immediately following this Summary beginning on page 25.

 

The Transactions and Limited Liability Company Structure

 

General.    We are a Delaware limited liability company formed in February 2005 to own natural gas properties that were acquired in June 2005 in the Black Warrior Basin of Alabama.

 

Conversion of Interests and Formation of CERM.    Immediately prior to the closing of this offering, the limited liability company interests in us held by CERH will be converted into 286,940 Class A units, 8,010,120 common units and the management incentive interests. Immediately after such conversion, CERH will contribute the 286,940 Class A units and the management incentive interests to CERM in exchange for all of the limited liability company interests in CERM.

 

Class D Interests Contribution.    For a description of the Class D interests, the special cash distribution rights associated with those interests and the effects thereon of termination of the sharing arrangement without

 

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the prior consent of our board of managers, please read “Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Class D Contribution by CHI.”

 

Distribution of Floyd Shale Rights.    Prior to the closing of this offering, we will distribute to an affiliate of Constellation, CEP Equity II, LLC, an undivided mineral interest in our properties in the Robinson’s Bend Field for depths generally below 100 feet below the base of the lowest producing coal seam. We refer to this mineral interest, which does not fit our investment strategy, as the Floyd Shale Rights.

 

Reserve-Based Credit Facility.    Prior to this offering, we plan to enter into a new reserve-based credit facility under which we expect our initial borrowing base will be $110.0 million. At the closing of this offering, we plan to borrow $30.0 million under that facility to fund part of a distribution currently estimated to be $131.9 million to CERH as reimbursement for capital expenditures made by CCG prior to this offering.

 

Management of Constellation Energy Resources LLC.    Our board of managers will manage our operations and activities, and CERM, through its affiliates and employees, will carry out the directions of our board of managers pursuant to a management services agreement. This agreement is not terminable by us while we are consolidated with Constellation for accounting purposes. Thereafter, the management services agreement is terminable by either us or CERM upon six months’ notice. CERM will not receive any management fee or other compensation in connection with the management of our business, but will be entitled to be reimbursed for all direct and indirect expenses incurred on our behalf. Constellation and its affiliates will also be entitled to distributions on our Class A units, common units they own, management incentive interests and Class D interests. For more information about our management, please read “Management—Managers and Executive Officers of CERM” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”

 

Elimination of Special Voting Rights of Class A Units; Conversion of Class A Units and Management Incentive Interests Into Common Units.    The holders of our Class A units have the right, voting as a separate class, to elect two of the five members of our board of managers, and any replacement of either of such members. This right can be eliminated upon a vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of our outstanding common units. If such elimination is so approved and Constellation and its affiliates do not vote their common units in favor of such elimination, the Class A units will be converted into common units on a one-for-one basis and CERM will have the right to convert its management incentive interests into common units at the then fair market value of such interests. For a further description of the right of common unitholders to eliminate the voting rights of the Class A units and the conversion of Class A units and management incentive interests into common units, see “The Limited Liability Company Agreement—Elimination of Special Voting Rights of Class A Units.”

 

Principal Executive Offices and Internet Address

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 111 Market Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, and our telephone number is (410) 468-3500. Our website is located at http://www.constellationenergyresources.com. We expect to make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

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Organizational Chart

 

The following diagram depicts our organizational structure after giving effect to this offering and the related transactions.

 

 

LOGO

 

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The Offering

 

Units offered by us

6,050,000 common units; or 6,957,500 common units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional common units in full.

 

Units outstanding after this offering

14,060,120 common units.

 

 

286,940 Class A units, all of which will be owned by CERM.

 

Use of proceeds

The following table sets forth the estimated sources and uses of the funds we expect to receive from the sale of common units in this offering and related transactions. The actual sources and uses of these funds may differ from those set forth below. Please read “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Sources of Funds: