UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011 | |
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OR | |
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
for the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-34800
ECA MARCELLUS TRUST I
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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27-6522024 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
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The Bank of New York Mellon |
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Trust Company, N.A., Trustee |
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Global Corporate Trust |
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919 Congress Avenue |
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Austin, Texas |
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78701 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
1-800-852-1422
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o |
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Accelerated filer o |
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Non-accelerated filer x |
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Smaller reporting company o |
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of May 12, 2011, 13,203,750 Common Units and 4,401,250 Subordinated Units of Beneficial Interest in ECA Marcellus Trust I were outstanding.
The following are definitions of certain significant terms used in this report. Other terms are defined in the text of this report.
AMI means the area of mutual interest, or AMI, consists of the Marcellus Shale formation in approximately 121 square miles of property located in Greene County, Pennsylvania in which ECA had leased approximately 9,300 acres and owned substantially all of the working interests at the date of formation of the Trust. ECA is obligated to drill the 52 development wells from drill sites on approximately 9,300 leased acres in the AMI. Until ECA has satisfied its drilling obligation, it will not be permitted to drill and complete any well in the Marcellus Shale formation within the AMI for its own account.
Completion (or its derivatives) means that the well has been perforated, stimulated, tested and permanent equipment for the production of natural gas has been installed.
FASB ASC means the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification.
Gas means natural gas and all other gaseous hydrocarbons, excluding condensate, butane, and other liquid and liquefiable components that are actually removed from the Gas stream by separation, processing, or other means.
Incentive Threshold means, for any particular quarter (through the first quarter of 2015), the amount shown in the column titled Incentive Threshold in the section titled Overview in Managements Discussion and Analysis in this report. In exchange for agreeing to subordinate the 4,401,250 Trust units it owns, and in order to provide additional financial incentive to ECA to perform its drilling obligation and operations on the Underlying Properties in an efficient and cost-effective manner, ECA is entitled to receive incentive distributions equal to 50% of the amount by which the cash available for distribution on all of the Trust units in any quarter exceeds 150% of the subordination threshold for such quarter. ECAs right to receive the incentive distributions will terminate upon the expiration of the subordination period.
MMBtu means one million British Thermal Units.
Mcf means one thousand standard cubic feet of natural gas.
MMcf means one million standard cubic feet of natural gas.
Producing Wells means the 14 natural gas wells located in Greene County, Pennsylvania and described as the Producing Wells in the Prospectus.
Prospectus means the final prospectus relating to the initial public offering of the Trust units as filed with the SEC pursuant to rule 424(b) on June 30, 2010.
PUD Wells means the horizontal natural gas development wells to be drilled by ECA to the Marcellus Shale formation within the Area of Mutual Interest, or AMI, described in the Prospectus and located in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The number of PUD Wells drilled is to be computed as described in the Prospectus, and the actual number of PUD Wells drilled may be more or less than 52.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subject Gas means Gas from the Marcellus Shale formation from any Producing Well or PUD Well.
Subject Interest means ECAs undivided interests in the AMI, as lessee under Gas leases, as an owner of the Subject Gas (or the right to extract such Gas), or otherwise, by virtue of which undivided interests ECA has the right to conduct exploration and Gas production operations on the AMI.
Subordination Threshold means, for any particular quarter (through the first quarter of 2015), the amount shown in the column titled Subordination Threshold in the section titled Overview in Managements Discussion and Analysis in this report. In order to provide support for cash distributions on the common units, ECA has agreed to subordinate the 4,401,250 Trust units it owns, which constitute 25% of the outstanding Trust units. While the subordinated units are entitled to receive pro rata distributions from the Trust if and to the extent there is sufficient cash to provide a cash distribution on the common units which is at least equal to the applicable quarterly subordination threshold, if there is not sufficient cash to fund such a distribution on all Trust units, the distribution to be made with respect to the subordinated units will be reduced or eliminated in order to make a distribution, to the extent possible, of up to the subordination threshold amount on the common units.
Trust Gas means that percentage of Gas to which the Trust is entitled, calculated in accordance with the provisions of the conveyances of the royalty interests.
Working Interest means the right granted to the lessee of a property to explore for and to produce and own oil, gas, or other minerals. The working interest owners bear the exploration, development, and operating costs on either a cash, penalty, or carried basis.
ECA Marcellus Trust I
Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Trust Corpus
(Unaudited)
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March 31, 2011 |
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December 31, 2010 |
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ASSETS: |
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Cash |
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$ |
53,641 |
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$ |
398,324 |
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Royalty income receivable |
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7,904,834 |
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6,885,434 |
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Hedge proceeds receivable |
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1,787,798 |
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2,032,620 |
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Floor price contracts |
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4,788,960 |
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4,858,920 |
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Royalty interest in gas properties |
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352,100,000 |
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352,100,000 |
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Accumulated amortization |
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(21,759,021 |
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(14,854,467 |
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Net royalty interest in gas properties |
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330,340,979 |
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337,245,533 |
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Total Assets |
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$ |
344,876,212 |
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$ |
351,420,831 |
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LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS: |
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Liabilities: |
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Floor premiums payable |
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$ |
4,957,920 |
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$ |
4,957,920 |
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Distributions payable to unitholders |
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9,232,406 |
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8,809,013 |
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Incentive distribution payable to ECA |
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Floor costs payable to ECA as: |
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Premium |
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Interest |
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Trust corpus; 13,203,750 common units and 4,401,250 subordinated units authorized, issued and outstanding |
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330,685,886 |
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337,653,898 |
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Total Liabilities and Trust Corpus |
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$ |
344,876,212 |
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$ |
351,420,831 |
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See notes to the unaudited financial statements.
ECA Marcellus Trust I
Statement of Distributable Income
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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2011 |
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2010 |
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Royalty income |
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$ |
7,904,834 |
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$ |
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Hedge proceeds |
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1,929,573 |
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Net proceeds to Trust |
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$ |
9,834,407 |
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$ |
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General and administrative expense |
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(602,206 |
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Interest income |
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205 |
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Income available for distribution prior to cash reserves and incentive calculation |
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$ |
9,232,406 |
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$ |
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Cash reserves (withheld) released by Trustee |
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Income available for distribution prior to incentive calculation |
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$ |
9,232,406 |
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$ |
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Less: |
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Incentive distribution to ECA |
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Floor cost reimbursement distribution to ECA as: |
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Premium |
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Interest |
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Distributable income available to unitholders |
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$ |
9,232,406 |
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$ |
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Distributable income per unit (13,203,750 common units and 4,401,250 subordinated units authorized and outstanding) |
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$ |
0.524 |
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$ |
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See notes to the unaudited financial statements.
ECA Marcellus Trust I
(Unaudited)
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Three Months |
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Trust Corpus, Beginning of Period |
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$ |
337,653,898 |
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Cash reserves |
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Distributed to ECA |
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(10 |
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Distributable income |
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9,232,406 |
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Distributions paid or payable to unitholders |
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(9,225,894 |
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Amortization of royalty interest in gas properties |
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(6,904,554 |
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Amortization of floor price contracts |
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(69,960 |
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Trust Corpus, End of Period |
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$ |
330,685,886 |
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See notes to the unaudited financial statements.
ECA MARCELLUS TRUST I
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1. Organization of the Trust
ECA Marcellus Trust I is a Delaware statutory trust formed in March 2010 by Energy Corporation of America (ECA) to own royalty interests in fourteen producing horizontal natural gas wells producing from the Marcellus Shale formation, all of which are online and are located in Greene County, Pennsylvania (the Producing Wells) and royalty interests in 52 horizontal natural gas development wells to be drilled to the Marcellus Shale formation (the PUD Wells) within the Area of Mutual Interest, or AMI, comprised of approximately 9,300 acres held by ECA, of which it owns substantially all of the working interests, in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The effective date of the Trust was April 1, 2010; consequently, the Trust received the proceeds of production attributable to the PDP Royalty Interest from that date even though the PDP Royalty Interest was not conveyed to the Trust until the closing of the initial public offering on July 7, 2010. The total number of units the Trust is authorized to issue is 17,605,000 units, of which 13,203,750 are common units and 4,401,250 are subordinated units. The royalty interests were conveyed from ECAs working interest in the Producing Wells and the PUD Wells limited to the Marcellus Shale formation (the Underlying Properties). The royalty interest in the Producing Wells (the PDP Royalty Interest) entitles the Trust to receive 90% of the proceeds (exclusive of any production or development costs but after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes) from the sale of production of natural gas attributable to ECAs interest in the Producing Wells. The royalty interest in the PUD Wells (the PUD Royalty Interest and collectively with the PDP Royalty Interest, the Royalty Interests) entitles the Trust to receive 50% of the proceeds (exclusive of any production or development costs but after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes) from the sale of production of natural gas attributable to ECAs interest in the PUD Wells. Approximately 50% of the estimated natural gas production attributable to the Trusts royalty interests has been hedged with a combination of floors and swaps through March 31, 2014. The floor price contracts were transferred to the Trust by ECA, while ECA entered into a back-to-back swap agreement with the Trust to provide the Trust with the benefit of swap contracts entered into between ECA and third parties. ECA will be entitled to recoup the costs of establishing the floor price contracts only if and to the extent cash available for distribution by the Trust exceeds certain levels.
ECA is obligated to drill all of the PUD Wells by March 31, 2013; however, in the event of delays, ECA will have until March 31, 2014 to fulfill its drilling obligation. ECA has granted to the Trust a lien (the Drilling Support Lien) on ECAs interest in the Marcellus Shale formation in the AMI (except the Producing Wells and any other wells which are already producing and not subject to the Royalty Interests) in order to secure the estimated amount of the drilling costs for the Trusts interests in the PUD Wells. The amount obtained by the Trust pursuant to the Drilling Support Lien may not exceed $91 million. As ECA fulfills its drilling obligation over time, the total dollar amount that may be recovered will be proportionately reduced and the drilled PUD Wells will be released from the lien.
The Trust is not responsible for any costs related to the drilling of development wells or any other development or operating costs. The Trusts cash receipts in respect of the royalties will be determined after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes associated with the PDP and PUD Royalty Interests, and the Trusts cash available for distribution will include cash receipts from its hedging contracts and will be reduced by Trust administrative expenses and expenses incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity. Post-production costs will generally consist of costs incurred to gather, compress, transport, process, treat, dehydrate and market the natural gas produced. Any charge payable to ECA for such post-production costs on its Greene County Gathering System will be limited to $0.52 per MMBtu gathered until ECA has fulfilled its drilling obligation (the Post-Production Services Fee); thereafter, ECA may increase the Post-Production Services Fee to the extent necessary to recover certain capital expenditures in the Greene County Gathering System.
Generally, the percentage of production proceeds to be received by the Trust with respect to a well will equal the product of (i) the percentage of proceeds to which the Trust is entitled under the terms of the conveyances (90% for the Producing Wells and 50% for the PUD Wells) multiplied by (ii) ECAs net revenue interest in the well. ECA on average owns an 81.53% net revenue interest in the Producing Wells. Therefore, the Trust will be entitled to receive on average 73.37% of the proceeds of production from the Producing Wells. With respect to a PUD Well,
the conveyance related to the PUD Royalty Interest provides that the proceeds from the PUD Wells will be calculated on the basis that the underlying PUD Wells are burdened only by interests that in total would not exceed 12.5% of the revenues from such properties, regardless of whether the royalty interest owners are actually entitled to a greater percentage of revenues from such properties. As the applicable net revenue interest of a well is calculated by multiplying ECAs percentage working interest in such well by the unburdened interest percentage (87.5%), assuming ECA owns a 100% working interest in a PUD Well, such well would have a minimum 87.5% net revenue interest. Accordingly, the Trust would be entitled to 43.75% of the production proceeds from such well. To the extent ECAs working interest in a PUD well is less than 100%, the Trusts share of proceeds would be proportionately reduced. Pursuant to the Development Agreement, however, ECA will only satisfy its drilling obligation when it has drilled 52 equivalent wells. Therefore, any reduction in production proceeds attributable to a PUD Well caused by ECA having less than a 100% working interest in the well will be offset by the requirement to drill additional wells to achieve a total of 52 equivalent wells.
The Trust will make quarterly cash distributions of substantially all of its cash receipts, after deducting Trust administrative expenses and the costs incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity, on or about 60 days following the completion of each quarter through (and including) the quarter ending March 31, 2030 (the Termination Date). The first quarterly distribution was made on August 31, 2010 to record unitholders as of August 16, 2010. The Trust will begin to liquidate on the Termination Date and will soon thereafter wind up its affairs and terminate. At the Termination Date, 50% of each of the PDP Royalty Interest and the PUD Royalty Interest will revert automatically to ECA. The remaining 50% of each of the PDP Royalty Interest and the PUD Royalty Interest will be sold, and the net proceeds will be distributed pro rata to the unitholders soon after the Termination Date. ECA will have a first right of refusal to purchase the remaining 50% of the royalty interests at the Termination Date.
In order to provide support for cash distributions on the common units, ECA has agreed to subordinate 4,401,250 of the Trust units it owns, which constitute 25% of the outstanding Trust units. The subordinated units are entitled to receive pro rata distributions from the Trust each quarter if and to the extent there is sufficient cash to provide a cash distribution on the common units which is at least equal to the applicable quarterly subordination threshold. However, if there is not sufficient cash to fund such a distribution on all Trust units, the distribution with respect to the subordinated units will be reduced or eliminated for such quarter in order to make a distribution, to the extent possible, of up to the subordination threshold amount on the common units. In exchange for agreeing to subordinate these Trust units, and in order to provide additional financial incentive to ECA to perform its drilling obligation and operations on the Underlying Properties in an efficient and cost-effective manner, ECA is entitled to receive incentive distributions equal to 50% of the amount by which the cash available for distribution on all of the Trust units in any quarter exceeds 150% of the subordination threshold for such quarter. ECAs right to receive the incentive distributions will terminate upon the expiration of the subordination period.
ECA incurred costs of approximately $5.0 million for floor price contracts that were transferred to the Trust. ECA is entitled to reimbursement for these expenditures plus interest accrued at 10% per annum only if and to the extent distributions to Trust unitholders would otherwise exceed the incentive threshold. This reimbursement will be deducted, over time, from the 50% of cash available for distribution in excess of the incentive thresholds otherwise payable to the Trust unitholders.
The subordinated units will automatically convert into common units on a one-for-one basis and ECAs right to receive incentive distributions and to recoup the reimbursement amount will terminate, at the end of the fourth full calendar quarter following ECAs satisfaction of its drilling obligation to the Trust. Accordingly, ECA bears the risk that it will not be partially or fully reimbursed for the floor price contracts transferred to the Trust. ECA currently expects that it will complete its drilling obligation on or before March 31, 2013 and that, accordingly, the subordinated units will convert into common units on or before March 31, 2014. In the event of delays, it will have until March 31, 2014 under its contractual obligation to drill all the PUD Wells, in which event the subordinated units would convert into common units on or before March 31, 2015. The period during which the subordinated units are outstanding is referred to as the subordination period.
The business and affairs of the Trust are managed by The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as Trustee. Although ECA operates all of the Producing Wells and substantially all of the PUD Wells, ECA has no ability to manage or influence the management of the Trust.
NOTE 2. Basis of Presentation
The preparation of financial statements requires the Trust to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Without limiting the foregoing statement, the information furnished is based upon certain estimates of the revenues attributable to the Trust from natural gas production for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and is therefore subject to adjustment in future periods to reflect actual production for the periods presented.
The information furnished reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of the Trustee, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim period presented. The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
NOTE 3. Significant Accounting Policies
The accompanying unaudited financial information has been prepared by the Trustee in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q. The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) because certain cash reserves may be established for contingencies, which would not be accrued in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Amortization of expired floor price contract premiums does not reduce Distributable Income, rather it is charged directly to Trust Corpus. Amortization of the investment in overriding royalty interests calculated on a unit-of-production basis is charged directly to Trust Corpus. This comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP corresponds to the accounting permitted for royalty Trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as specified by FASB ASC Topic 932 Extractive Activities Oil and Gas: Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts. Income determined on the basis of GAAP would include all expenses incurred for the period presented. However, the Trust serves as a pass-through entity, with expenses for depreciation, depletion, and amortization, interest and income taxes being based on the status and elections of the Trust unitholders. General and administrative expenses, production taxes or any other allowable costs are charged to the Trust only when cash has been paid for those expenses. In addition, the royalty interest is not burdened by field and lease operating expenses. Thus, the statement purports to show distributable income, defined as income of the Trust available for distribution to the Trust unitholders before application of those additional expenses, if any, for depreciation, depletion, and amortization, interest and income taxes. The revenues are reflected net of existing royalties and overriding royalties and have been reduced by gathering/post-production expenses.
Cash:
Cash consists of highly liquid instruments with maturities at the time of acquisition of three months or less.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements:
The preparation of financial statements requires the Trust to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue and Expenses:
The Trust serves as a pass-through entity, with items of depletion, interest income and expense, and income tax attributes being based upon the status and election of the unitholders. Thus, the Statement of Distributable Income purports to show Income available for distribution before application of those unitholders additional expenses, if any, for depletion, interest income and expense, and income taxes.
The Trust uses the accrual basis to recognize revenue, with royalty income recorded as reserves are extracted from the Underlying Properties and sold. Expenses are recognized when paid.
Royalty Interest in Gas Properties:
The Royalty Interests in gas properties are assessed to determine whether their net capitalized cost is impaired, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable, pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification 360, Property, Plant and Equipment (ASC 360). The Trust will determine if a writedown is necessary to its investment in the Royalty Interests in gas properties to the extent that total capitalized costs, less accumulated amortization, exceed undiscounted future net revenues attributable to proved gas reserves of the Underlying Properties. The Trust will then provide a writedown to the extent that the net capitalized costs exceed the fair value of the investment in net profits interests attributable to proved gas reserves of the Underlying Properties. Any such writedown would not reduce Distributable Income, although it would reduce Trust Corpus. No impairment in the Underlying Properties was recognized during the three-month period ended March 31, 2011. Significant dispositions or abandonment of the Underlying Properties are charged to Royalty Interests and the Trust Corpus.
Amortization of the Royalty Interests in gas properties is calculated on a units-of-production basis, whereby the Trusts cost basis in the properties is divided by Trust total proved reserves to derive an amortization rate per reserve unit. Such amortization does not reduce Distributable Income, rather it is charged directly to Trust Corpus. Revisions to estimated future units-of-production are treated on a prospective basis beginning on the date significant revisions are known.
The conveyance of the Royalty Interests to the Trust was accounted for as a purchase transaction. The $352,100,000 reflected in the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus as Royalty Interests in Gas Properties represents 17,605,000 Trust units valued at $20.00 per unit. The carrying value of the Trusts investment in the Royalty Interests is not necessarily indicative of the fair value of such Royalty Interests.
Accrued Interest Payable:
Accrued interest payable to ECA by the Trust is calculated at 10% per annum on the outstanding balance of the floor contract premiums payable, but is not recorded by the Trust until paid. As of March 31, 2011, the amount of unrecorded accrued interest payable to ECA was $437,104.
NOTE 4. Commodity Hedges
The Trust is exposed to risk fluctuations in energy prices in the normal course of operations. ECA conveyed to the Trust natural gas derivative floor price contracts and entered into a back-to-back swap agreement with the Trust which conveyed the benefit of certain swap agreements which ECA had previously entered into with third parties. The volumes covered by these agreements equate to approximately 50% of the estimated natural gas to be produced by the Trust properties through March 31, 2014. The swap contracts relate to approximately 7,500 MMBtu per day at a weighted average price of $6.78 per MMBtu for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012. The price of the floor hedging contracts is $5.00 per MMBtu on a total volume of 11,268,000 MMBtu for the period from October 1, 2010 through March 31, 2014. The Trust uses the cash method to account for commodity contracts. Under this method, gains or losses associated with the contracts are recognized at the time the hedged production occurs.
Hedge proceeds realized for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 totaled $1,929,573. The fair market values of the commodity contracts are not included in the accompanying financial statements, as the statements are presented on a modified cash basis of accounting.
NOTE 5. Income Taxes
The Trust is a Delaware statutory trust, which is taxed as a partnership for federal and state income taxes. Accordingly, no provision for federal or state income taxes has been made.
NOTE 6. Related Party Transactions
Trustee Administrative Fee:
Under the terms of the Trust agreement, the Trust pays an annual administrative fee of $150,000 to the Trustee, which may be adjusted beginning on the fifth anniversary of the Trust as provided in the Trust agreement. These costs, as well as those to be paid to ECA pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement referred to below, will be deducted by the Trust in the period paid. The Trustee waived its administrative fee for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, but does not intend to waive the fee for any other quarter.
Administrative Services Fee:
The Trust entered into an Administrative Services Agreement with ECA that obligates the Trust to pay ECA each quarter an administrative services fee for accounting, bookkeeping and informational services to be performed by ECA on behalf of the Trust relating to the Royalties. The annual fee of $60,000 is payable in equal quarterly installments. After the completion of ECAs drilling obligation, under certain circumstances, ECA and the Trustee each may terminate the Administrative Services Agreement at any time following delivery of notice no less than 90 days prior to the date of termination. ECA waived its administrative services fee for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, but does not intend to waive the fee for any other quarter.
Drilling Support Lien:
As described in Note 1, ECA has granted to the Trust the Drilling Support Lien. The Drilling Support Lien is limited to $91 million, and as ECA fulfills its drilling obligation over time, the total dollar amount is to be proportionately reduced. As of March 31, 2011, ECA had received partial releases of the Drilling Support Lien in the amount of approximately $28.5 million reducing the Drilling Support Lien to approximately $62.5 million. However, after giving effect to the total number of wells drilled as of March 31, 2011 (29.44 wells, calculated as provided in the Development Agreement) the maximum amount of the Drilling Support Lien would be reduced to approximately $39.5 million.
NOTE 7. Subsequent Events
On April 12, 2011 the Trust entered into an underwriting agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) with ECA and the underwriters named therein (the Underwriters) providing for the offer and sale in a firm commitment underwritten offering by ECA of 2,525,000 units of beneficial interest in the Trust (Common Units) at a public offering price of $29.35 per Common Unit. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, ECA granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional 360,723 Common Units to cover over-allotments, if any. On May 12, 2011, the Underwriters exercised the option to purchase 181,175 additional Common Units from ECA. The purchase is expected to close on May 16, 2011.
As of May 9, 2011, six additional PUD wells had been brought online by ECA that were producing 9,030 Mcf per day net to the Trusts interest.
As of May 9, 2011, ECA had received partial releases of the Drilling Support Lien in the amount of approximately $38.3 million reducing the Drilling Support Lien to approximately $52.7 million.
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
References to the Trust in this document refer to ECA Marcellus Trust I. References to ECA in this document refer to Energy Corporation of America and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and when discussing the conveyance documents, includes the Private Investors. The following review of the Trusts financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto, as well as the Discussion and Analysis of Historical Results from the Producing Wells contained in the Prospectus. The Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov and also at www.businesswire.com/cnn/ect.htm.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements about ECA and the Trust and other matters discussed herein that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this document, including, without limitation, statements under Trustees Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Risk Factors regarding the financial position, business strategy, production and reserve growth, development activities and costs and other plans and objectives for the future operations of ECA and all matters relating to the Trust are forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those projected.
When used in this document, the words believes, expects, anticipates, intends or similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Further, all statements regarding future circumstances or events are forward-looking statements. The following important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this document, could affect the future results of the energy industry in general, and ECA and the Trust in particular, and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements:
· risks incident to the drilling and operation of natural gas wells;
· future production and development costs;
· the effect of existing and future laws and regulatory actions;
· the effect of changes in commodity prices;
· the ability of the Trusts hedge counterparties, including ECA, to meet their contractual obligations;
· conditions in the capital markets;
· competition from others in the energy industry;
· the uncertainty of estimates of natural gas reserves and production; and
· other risks described under the caption Risk Factors in this Report on Form 10-Q.
This Form 10-Q describes other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations of ECA and the Trust, including under the caption Risk Factors. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to ECA or the Trust or persons acting on behalf of ECA or the Trust are expressly qualified in their entirety by such factors. The Trust assumes no obligation, and disclaims any duty, to update these forward-looking statements.
Overview
The Trust is a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. serves as trustee. The Trust does not conduct any operations or activities. The Trusts purpose is, in general, to hold the Royalties (described below), to distribute to the Trust unitholders cash that the Trust receives in respect of the Royalties after the payment of Trust expenses. The Trustee performs certain administrative functions in respect of the Royalties and the Trust units. The Trust derives all or substantially all of its income and cash flows from the Royalties, which in turn are subject to the Hedge Contracts described in Part I, Item 3. The Trust is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Initially, the Trust owned royalty interests in the 14 Producing Wells described in the Prospectus (the Producing Wells) and royalty interests in 52 horizontal natural gas development wells to be drilled to the Marcellus Shale formation (the PUD Wells) within the Area of Mutual Interest, or AMI, in which ECA presently holds approximately 9,300 acres, of which it owns substantially all of the working interests, in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The Area of Mutual Interest consists of the Marcellus Shale formation in approximately 121 square miles in Greene County, Pennsylvania.
The royalty interests were conveyed from ECAs working interest in the Producing Wells and the PUD Wells limited to the Marcellus Shale formation (the Underlying Properties). The royalty interest in the Producing Wells (the PDP Royalty Interest) entitles the Trust to receive 90% of the proceeds (exclusive of any production or development costs but after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes) from the sale of production of natural gas attributable to ECAs interest in the Producing Wells for a period of 20 years commencing on April 1, 2010 and 45% thereafter. The royalty interest in the PUD Wells (the PUD Royalty Interest) entitles the Trust to receive 50% of the proceeds (exclusive of any production or development costs but after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes) from the sale of production of natural gas attributable to ECAs interest in the PUD Wells for a period of 20 years commencing on April 1, 2010 and 25% thereafter. Approximately 50% of the estimated natural gas production attributable to the Trusts royalty interests has been hedged with a combination of floors and swaps through March 31, 2014. ECA is entitled to recoup its costs of establishing the floor price contracts only if and to the extent cash available for distribution by the Trust exceeds certain levels.
ECA is obligated to drill all of the PUD Wells by March 31, 2013. However, in the event of delays, ECA will have until March 31, 2014 to fulfill its drilling obligation. As of March 31, 2011, ECA had drilled 29.44 of the PUD Wells, calculated as provided in the Development Agreement. The Trust will not be responsible for any costs related to the drilling of development wells or any other development or operating costs. The Trusts cash receipts in respect of the royalties will be determined after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes associated with the PDP and PUD Royalty Interests. The Trusts cash available for distribution will include cash receipts from the Hedge Contracts and will be reduced by Trust administrative expenses and expenses incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity. Post-production costs will generally consist of costs incurred to gather, compress, transport, process, treat, dehydrate and market the natural gas produced. Any charge payable to ECA for such post-production costs on its Greene County Gathering System will be limited to $0.52 per MMBtu gathered until ECA has fulfilled its drilling obligation (the Post-Production Services Fee); thereafter, ECA may increase the Post-Production Services Fee to the extent necessary to recover certain capital expenditures in the Greene County Gathering System.
Generally, the percentage of production proceeds to be received by the Trust with respect to a well will equal the product of (i) the percentage of proceeds to which the Trust is entitled under the terms of the conveyances (90% for the Producing Wells and 50% for the PUD Wells) multiplied by (ii) ECAs net revenue interest in the well. ECA on average owns an 81.53% net revenue interest in the Producing Wells. Therefore, the Trust will be entitled to receive on average 73.37% of the proceeds of production from the Producing Wells. With respect to a PUD Well, the conveyance related to the PUD Royalty Interest provides that the proceeds from the PUD Wells will be calculated on the basis that the underlying PUD Wells are burdened only by interests that in total would not exceed 12.5% of the revenues from such properties, regardless of whether the royalty interest owners are actually entitled to a greater percentage of revenues from such properties. As the applicable net revenue interest of a well is calculated by multiplying ECAs percentage working interest in such well by the unburdened interest percentage (87.5%), assuming ECA owns a 100% working interest in a PUD Well, such well would have a minimum 87.5% net revenue interest. Accordingly, the Trust would be entitled to 43.75% of the production proceeds from such well. To the extent ECAs working interest in a PUD Well is less than 100%, the Trusts share of proceeds would be
proportionately reduced. Pursuant to the Development Agreement, however, ECA will only satisfy its drilling obligation when it has drilled 52 equivalent wells. Therefore, any reduction in production proceeds attributable to a PUD Well caused by ECA having less than a 100% working interest in the well will be offset by the requirement to drill additional wells to achieve a total of 52 equivalent wells.
The Trust expects to make quarterly cash distributions of substantially all of its cash receipts, after deducting Trust administrative expenses and the costs incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity and reserves therefore, on or about 60 days following the completion of each quarter through (and including) the quarter ending March 31, 2030 (the Termination Date). The first quarterly distribution was made on August 31, 2010 to record unitholders as of August 16, 2010.
The amount of Trust revenues and cash distributions to Trust unitholders will depend on:
· the timing of initial production from the PUD Wells;
· natural gas prices received;
· the volume and Btu rating of natural gas produced and sold;
· post-production costs and any applicable taxes;
· the reimbursement by the Trust, if any, of ECAs costs associated with establishing the floor price contracts transferred to the Trust; and
· administrative expenses of the Trust and expenses incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity, and any changes in amounts reserved for such expenses.
The amount of the quarterly distributions will fluctuate from quarter to quarter, depending on the proceeds received by the Trust, among other factors. There is no minimum required distribution. However, in order to provide support for cash distributions on the common units, ECA has agreed to subordinate 4,401,250 of the Trust units it owns, which constitute 25% of the outstanding Trust units. While the subordinated units will be entitled to receive pro rata distributions from the Trust if and to the extent there is sufficient cash to provide a cash distribution on the common units which is no less than the applicable quarterly subordination thresholds set forth below, if there is not sufficient cash to fund such a distribution on all Trust units, the distribution to be made with respect to the subordinated units will be reduced or eliminated in order to make a distribution, to the extent possible, of up to the subordination threshold amount on the common units. In exchange for agreeing to subordinate these Trust units, and in order to provide additional financial incentive to ECA to perform its drilling obligation and operations on the Underlying Properties in an efficient and cost-effective manner, ECA is entitled to receive incentive distributions equal to 50% of the amount by which the cash available for distribution on all of the Trust units in any quarter exceeds 150% of the subordination threshold for such quarter. ECAs right to receive the incentive distributions will terminate upon the expiration of the subordination period.
ECA incurred costs of approximately $5.0 million for floor price contracts transferred to the Trust. ECA is entitled to reimbursement for these expenditures plus interest accrued at 10% per annum (Reimbursement Amount) only if and to the extent distributions to Trust unitholders would otherwise exceed the incentive threshold. This reimbursement will be deducted, over time, from the 50% of cash available for distribution in excess of the incentive thresholds otherwise payable to the Trust unitholders.
The subordinated units will automatically convert into common units on a one-for-one basis and ECAs right to receive incentive distributions and to recoup the Reimbursement Amount will terminate, at the end of the fourth full calendar quarter following ECAs satisfaction of its drilling obligation to the Trust. The Trust currently expects that ECA will complete its drilling obligation on or before March 31, 2013 and that, accordingly, the subordinated units would convert into common units on or before March 31, 2014. In the event of delays, ECA will have until March 31, 2014 under the Development Agreement to drill all the PUD Wells, in which event the subordinated units would convert into common units on or before March 31, 2015.
The table below sets forth the subordination and incentive thresholds for each calendar quarter through the first quarter of 2015. The effective date of the Trust is April 1, 2010, meaning it has received the proceeds of production attributable to the PDP Royalty Interest from that date even though the PDP Royalty Interest was not conveyed to the Trust until July 7, 2010.
|
|
Subordination |
|
Target |
|
Incentive |
| |||
|
|
Threshold |
|
Distribution |
|
Threshold |
| |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
2010: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Second Quarter |
|
$ |
0.181 |
|
$ |
0.227 |
|
$ |
0.272 |
|
Third Quarter |
|
0.334 |
|
0.417 |
|
0.501 |
| |||
Fourth Quarter |
|
0.478 |
|
0.597 |
|
0.716 |
| |||
2011: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
First Quarter |
|
0.446 |
|
0.558 |
|
0.669 |
| |||
Second Quarter |
|
0.451 |
|
0.564 |
|
0.676 |
| |||
Third Quarter |
|
0.550 |
|
0.688 |
|
0.825 |
| |||
Fourth Quarter |
|
0.565 |
|
0.706 |
|
0.847 |
| |||
2012: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
First Quarter |
|
0.574 |
|
0.717 |
|
0.861 |
| |||
Second Quarter |
|
0.602 |
|
0.752 |
|
0.903 |
| |||
Third Quarter |
|
0.624 |
|
0.780 |
|
0.937 |
| |||
Fourth Quarter |
|
0.701 |
|
0.876 |
|
1.051 |
| |||
2013: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
First Quarter |
|
0.756 |
|
0.945 |
|
1.135 |
| |||
Second Quarter |
|
0.754 |
|
0.942 |
|
1.131 |
| |||
Third Quarter |
|
0.701 |
|
0.876 |
|
1.052 |
| |||
Fourth Quarter |
|
0.659 |
|
0.824 |
|
0.989 |
| |||
2014: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
First Quarter |
|
0.610 |
|
0.763 |
|
0.915 |
| |||
Second Quarter |
|
0.589 |
|
0.736 |
|
0.883 |
| |||
Third Quarter |
|
0.571 |
|
0.713 |
|
0.856 |
| |||
Fourth Quarter |
|
0.549 |
|
0.687 |
|
0.824 |
| |||
2015: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
First Quarter |
|
0.519 |
|
0.649 |
|
0.779 |
| |||
Results of Trust Operations
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
The Trusts distributable income was $9,232,406 for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This amount was less than the projected cash available for distribution determined in establishing the target distributions described in the Prospectus by approximately $583,000.
Net proceeds to the Trust for the quarter of $9.8 million were $0.4 million less than the projected amount of $10.2 million. The lower than projected proceeds were primarily a result of the average price realized for the quarter of $4.69 per Mcf being $1.13 per Mcf lower than the projected price of $5.82 per Mcf. This was partially offset by production volumes being 340 Mmcf higher than projected. Twenty four wells (14 Producing Wells and 10 PUD Wells) were online and producing at the end of the quarter, which was one less than projected in the Prospectus.
The average price realized for the quarter was lower than projected primarily as a result of two factors. The weighted average closing NYMEX price for the quarter of $4.10 per Dth was $1.49 per Dth lower than the assumed NYMEX price of $5.59 per Dth utilized in the projections. This was partially offset by the hedge proceeds received for the quarter being $1.1 million greater than projected due to the lower NYMEX price. Additionally, the post production costs averaged $0.64 per Dth for the quarter as compared to the projected cost of $0.52 per Dth. Post production costs were higher than projected due to the utilization of electric compression versus gas compression
which resulted in a charge for electric usage, in lieu of gas used as fuel, which is a chargeable cost and properly allocated to the Trust, as provided for in the Trust conveyance documents.
Total production for the quarter of 2,097 MMcf was 340 MMcf higher than projected. This is primarily the result of better than projected average well production volumes. Twenty four wells (14 Producing Wells and 10 PUD Wells) were online and producing at the end of the quarter, which was one well less than projected. Of the ten PUD Wells, four of these wells were brought online during the quarter ended March 31, 2011. Two wells were brought online in early January and two in the last five days of March. Subsequently, these four wells had an average daily production rate, net to the Trust, of 4,736 Mcf per day for April 2011. The average gross initial per well production for the first thirty days of production for these four wells was 2,946 Mcf per day which is 30% above the rate forecasted by the Ryder Scott reserve report described in the Prospectus for the same time period.
General and administrative expenses paid by the Trust were $602,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This amount was $191,000 higher than projected expenses due to higher than the projected costs for professional services and the payment of two quarters ($75,000) of Trustee Fees during the quarter.
ECA has drilled an additional sixteen PUD Wells as of May 9, 2011. Of these sixteen additional wells, six wells were turned online and producing while ten wells were undergoing or awaiting Completion operations. To date, ECA has drilled a total of twenty six actual PUD Wells. However, the average horizontal lateral distance for these twenty six wells (as measured from the midpoint of the curve to the end of the lateral) was 3,744 feet and represents a total of 33.20 net PUD Wells drilled, calculated as described in the Prospectus. These 33.20 net PUD Wells drilled count toward the 52 equivalent PUD Wells ECA has committed to drill.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Trust has no source of liquidity or capital resources other than cash flows from the Royalties. Other than Trust administrative expenses, including any reserves established by the Trustee for future liabilities, the Trusts only use of cash is for distributions to Trust unitholders, including, if applicable, incentive distributions to ECA and, if applicable, expense reimbursements to ECA. Administrative expenses include payments to the Trustee and the Delaware Trustee as well as a quarterly fee of $15,000 to ECA pursuant to the Administrative Services Agreement. Each quarter, the Trustee determines the amount of funds available for distribution. Available funds are the excess cash, if any, received by the Trust from the Royalties and other sources (such as interest earned on any amounts reserved by the Trustee) that quarter, over the Trusts expenses for that quarter, subject in all cases to the subordination and incentive provisions described above. Available funds are reduced by any cash the Trustee determines to hold as a reserve against future expenses or liabilities. The Trustee may borrow funds required to pay expenses or liabilities if the Trustee determines that the cash on hand and the cash to be received are insufficient to cover the Trusts expenses or liabilities. If the Trustee borrows funds, the Trust unitholders will not receive distributions until the borrowed funds are repaid.
Payments to the Trust in respect of the Royalties are based on the complex provisions of the various Conveyances held by the Trust, copies of which are filed as exhibits to this report, and reference is hereby made to the text of the Conveyances for the actual calculations of amounts due to the Trust.
The Trust does not have any transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or persons that could materially affect the Trusts liquidity or the availability of capital resources.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Significant Accounting Policies
The financial statements of the Trust differ from financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) because certain cash reserves may be established for contingencies, which would not be accrued in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Amortization of the investment in overriding royalty interests calculated on a unit-of-production basis is charged directly to Trust Corpus. This comprehensive basis of accounting other than GAAP corresponds to the
accounting permitted for royalty Trusts by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as specified by FASB ASC Topic 932 Extractive Activities Oil and Gas: Financial Statements of Royalty Trusts.
Income determined on the basis of GAAP would include all expenses incurred for the period presented. However, the Trust serves as a pass-through entity, with expenses for depreciation, depletion, and amortization, interest and income taxes being based on the status and elections of the Trust unitholders. General and administrative expenses, production taxes or any other allowable costs will only be charged to the Trust when cash has been paid for those expenses. In addition, the royalty interest is not burdened by field and lease operating expenses. Thus, the statement purports to show distributable income, defined as income of the Trust available for distribution to the Trust unitholders before application of those additional unitholders additional expenses, if any, for depreciation, depletion, and amortization, interest and income taxes. The revenues are reflected net of existing royalties and overriding royalties and have been reduced by gathering/post-production expenses.
Revenue and Expenses:
The Trust serves as a pass-through entity, with items of depletion, interest income and expense, and income tax attributes being based upon the status and election of the unitholders. Thus, the Statements of Distributable Income purport to show Income available for distribution before application of those unitholders additional expenses, if any, for depletion, interest income and expense, and income taxes.
The Trust uses the accrual basis to recognize revenue, with royalty income recorded as reserves are extracted from the Underlying Properties and sold. Expenses are recognized when paid.
Royalty Interest in Gas Properties:
The Royalty Interests in gas properties are assessed to determine whether their net capitalized cost is impaired, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable, pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification 360, Property, Plant and Equipment (ASC 360). The Trust will determine if a write down is necessary to its investment in the Royalty Interests in gas properties to the extent that total capitalized costs, less accumulated amortization, exceed undiscounted future net revenues attributable to proved gas reserves of the Underlying Properties. The Trust will then provide a write down to the extent that the net capitalized costs exceed the fair value of the investment in net profits interests attributable to proved gas reserves of the Underlying Properties. Any such write down would not reduce Distributable Income, although it would reduce Trust Corpus.
Significant dispositions or abandonment of the Underlying Properties are charged to Royalty Interests and the Trust Corpus.
Amortization of the Royalty Interests in gas properties is calculated on a units-of-production basis, whereby the Trusts cost basis in the properties is divided by Trust total proved reserves to derive an amortization rate per reserve unit. Such amortization does not reduce Distributable Income, rather it is charged directly to Trust Corpus. Revisions to estimated future units-of-production are treated on a prospective basis beginning on the date significant revisions are known.
The conveyance of the Royalty Interests to the Trust was accounted for as a purchase transaction. The $352,100,000 reflected in the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus as Royalty Interests in Gas Properties represents 17,605,000 Trust units valued at $20.00 per unit. The carrying value of the Trusts investment in the Royalty Interests is not necessarily indicative of the fair value of such Royalty Interests.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Hedge Contracts
The primary asset of and source of income to the Trust is the Royalties, which generally entitle the Trust to receive varying portions of the net proceeds from gas production from the Underlying Properties. Consequently, the Trust is exposed to market risk from fluctuations in gas prices. Through March 31, 2014, however, the Royalties are subject to the hedge contracts described below, which are expected to reduce the Trusts exposure to natural gas price volatility.
The hedge contracts consist of natural gas derivative floor price contracts and a back-to-back swap agreement ECA entered into with the Trust to provide the Trust with the benefit of certain contracts previously entered into between ECA and third parties that equate to approximately 50% of the estimated natural gas to be produced by the Trust properties from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2014. The swap contracts relate to approximately 7,500 MMBtu per day at a weighted average price of $6.78 per MMBtu for the period commencing as of April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012. The price of any floor price hedging contract is $5.00 per MMBtu.
The following table sets forth the volumes of natural gas covered by the natural gas hedging contracts and the floor price for each quarter during the term of the contracts.
|
|
Swap Volume |
|
Swap Price |
|
Floor Volume |
|
Floor Price |
| ||
|
|
(MMBtu) |
|
(MMBtu) |
|
(MMBtu) |
|
(MMBtu) |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Second Quarter 2010 |
|
682,500 |
|
$ |
6.75 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Third Quarter 2010 |
|
690,000 |
|
$ |
6.75 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Fourth Quarter 2010 |
|
690,000 |
|
$ |
6.75 |
|
225,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
First Quarter 2011 |
|
675,000 |
|
$ |
6.75 |
|
159,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
Second Quarter 2011 |
|
682,500 |
|
$ |
6.75 |
|
210,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
Third Quarter 2011 |
|
690,000 |
|
$ |
6.82 |
|
405,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
Fourth Quarter 2011 |
|
690,000 |
|
$ |
6.82 |
|
384,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
First Quarter 2012 |
|
682,500 |
|
$ |
6.82 |
|
369,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
Second Quarter 2012 |
|
682,500 |
|
$ |
6.82 |
|
516,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
Third Quarter 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,305,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
| |
Fourth Quarter 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,362,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
| |
First Quarter 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,395,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
| |
Second Quarter 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,380,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
| |
Third Quarter 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,278,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
| |
Fourth Quarter 2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,188,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
| |
First Quarter 2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,092,000 |
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
The Trusts counterparties under the natural gas floor price contracts are Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. and BP Energy Company, and its counterparty under the back-to-back swap agreement is ECA, whose counterparties are also Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. and BP Energy Company. In the event that any of the counterparties to the natural gas hedging contracts default on their obligations to make payments to the Trust, the cash distributions to the Trust unitholders would likely be materially reduced as the hedge payments are intended to provide additional cash to the Trust during periods of lower natural gas prices. ECA will have no continuing obligation with respect to the natural gas floor price contracts. However, ECA will be the Trusts counterparty under the back-to-back swap agreement and will have continuing obligations with respect to this agreement.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Trustee maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated by ECA to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee of the Trust, and its employees who participate in the preparation of the Trusts periodic reports as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trustee carried out an evaluation of the Trustees disclosure controls and procedures. Mike Ulrich, as Trust Officer of the Trustee, has concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures of the Trust are effective.
Due to the contractual arrangements of the Trust Agreement and the conveyances, the Trustee relies on (i) information provided by ECA, including historical operating data, plans for future operating and capital expenditures, reserve information and information relating to projected production, and (ii) conclusions and reports
regarding reserves by the Trusts independent reserve engineers. See Item 1A Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, for a description of certain risks relating to these arrangements and reliance on information.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. During the quarter ended March 31, 2011, there has been no change in the Trustees internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trustees internal control over financial reporting relating to the Trust. The Trustee notes for purposes of clarification that it has no authority over, and makes no statement concerning, the internal control over financial reporting of ECA.
Risk factors relating to the Trust are contained in the Item 1A of the Trusts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. No material change to such risk factors has occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2011.
The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed as part of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Exhibit Number |
|
Description |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
Certificate of Trust of ECA Marcellus Trust I (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-165833)) |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of ECA Marcellus Trust I, dated July 7, 2010, by and among Energy Corporation of America, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, and Corporation Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2010 (File No. 001-34800)) |
|
|
|
10.1* |
|
Perpetual Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PDP), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
|
|
|
10.2* |
|
Perpetual Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PUD), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
|
|
|
10.3* |
|
Private Investor Conveyance, dated July 7, 2010, by and among ECA Marcellus Trust I and certain private investors named therein |
|
|
|
10.4* |
|
Assignment of Royalty Interest, dated effective April 1, 2010, from Eastern Marketing Corporation to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
|
|
|
10.5* |
|
Term Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PDP), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to Eastern Marketing Corporation. |
|
|
|
10.6* |
|
Term Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PUD), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to Eastern Marketing Corporation. |
|
|
|
10.7* |
|
Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee |
|
|
|
10.8* |
|
Development Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
|
|
|
10.9* |
|
Swap Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and ECA Marcellus Trust I. |
|
|
|
10.10* |
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Drilling Support Lien Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. |
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10.11* |
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Royalty Interest Lien Agreement, dated July 7 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
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10.12* |
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Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and among ECA Marcellus Trust I, Energy Corporation of America, and certain affiliates of Energy Corporation of America. |
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10.13 |
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Underwriting Agreement dated as of June 30, 2010, by and among Energy Corporation of America, ECA Marcellus Trust I, and the underwriters named therein (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2010 (File No. 001-34800)). |
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31 |
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Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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32 |
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Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
*Exhibit previously filed with the SEC and incorporated herein by reference to the exhibit of like designation filed with the Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2010 (File No. 001-34800).
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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ECA MARCELLUS TRUST I | |
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By: |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST |
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COMPANY, N.A., trustee |
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By: |
/s/ MIKE ULRICH |
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Mike Ulrich |
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Vice President |
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Date: May 13, 2011 |
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The registrant, ECA Marcellus Trust I, has no principal executive officer, principal financial officer, board of directors or persons performing similar functions. Accordingly, no additional signatures are available, and none have been provided. In signing the report above, the Trustee does not imply that it has performed any such function or that such function exists pursuant to the terms of the Trust agreement under which it serves.
Exhibit |
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Description |
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3.1 |
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Certificate of Trust of ECA Marcellus Trust I (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-165833)) |
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3.2 |
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Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of ECA Marcellus Trust I, dated July 7, 2010, by and among Energy Corporation of America, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, and Corporation Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2010 (File No. 001-34800)) |
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10.1* |
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Perpetual Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PDP), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
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10.2* |
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Perpetual Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PUD), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
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10.3* |
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Private Investor Conveyance, dated July 7, 2010, by and among ECA Marcellus Trust I and certain private investors named therein |
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10.4* |
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Assignment of Royalty Interest, dated effective April 1, 2010, from Eastern Marketing Corporation to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
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10.5* |
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Term Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PDP), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to Eastern Marketing Corporation. |
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10.6* |
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Term Overriding Royalty Interest Conveyance (PUD), dated effective April 1, 2010, from Energy Corporation of America to Eastern Marketing Corporation. |
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10.7* |
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Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee |
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10.8* |
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Development Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
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10.9* |
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Swap Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and ECA Marcellus Trust I. |
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10.10* |
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Drilling Support Lien Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. |
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10.11* |
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Royalty Interest Lien Agreement, dated July 7 2010, by and between Energy Corporation of America and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. |
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10.12* |
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Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 7, 2010, by and among ECA Marcellus Trust I, Energy Corporation of America, and certain affiliates of Energy Corporation of America. |
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10.13 |
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Underwriting Agreement dated as of June 30, 2010, by and among Energy Corporation of America, ECA Marcellus Trust I, and the underwriters named therein (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2010 (File No. 001-34800)). |
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31 |
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Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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32 |
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Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
*Exhibit previously filed with the SEC and incorporated herein by reference to the exhibit of like designation filed with the Trusts Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2010 (File No. 001-34800).
EXHIBIT 31
CERTIFICATION
I, Mike Ulrich, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ECA Marcellus Trust I, for which The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., acts as Trustee;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, distributable income and changes in Trust corpus of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), or for causing such controls and procedures to be established and maintained, for the registrant and I have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such controls and procedures to be designed under my supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
c) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. I have disclosed, based on my most recent evaluation, to the registrants auditors:
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves any persons who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
In giving the foregoing certifications in paragraphs 4 and 5, I have relied to the extent I consider reasonable on information provided to me by Energy Corporation of America.
Date: May 13, 2011 |
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/s/ MIKE ULRICH |
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Mike Ulrich |
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Vice President |
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The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.. |
EXHIBIT 32
Via EDGAR
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re:
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the Quarterly Report of ECA Marcellus Trust I (the Trust) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), the undersigned, not in its individual capacity but solely as the trustee of the Trust, certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to its knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Trust.
The above certification is furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1350) and is not being filed as part of the Form 10-Q or as a separate disclosure document.
Date: May 13, 2011 |
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/s/ MIKE ULRICH |
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Mike Ulrich |
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Vice President |
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The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. |