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Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

    

News Release

 

General Inquiries: (877) 847-0008 www.constellationenergypartners.com

Investor Contact:  

Charles C. Ward

(877) 847-0009

  

Constellation Energy Partners Reports

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Results

HOUSTON—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Feb. 22, 2010—Constellation Energy Partners LLC (NYSE Arca: CEP) today reported fourth quarter and full year 2009 results.

The company produced 4,041 MMcfe for the fourth quarter 2009 for full year production of 17.1 Bcfe, which resulted in Adjusted EBITDA of $15.6 million for the fourth quarter and $67 million for the full year. Operating expenses, which include lease operating expenses, production taxes and general and administrative expenses, totaled $13.7 million for the quarter and $55.2 million for the full year.

“Last year was an important year for us,” said Stephen R. Brunner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Constellation Energy Partners. “We successfully addressed a number of significant challenges and, in the process, returned solid operating results that have enabled us to better position the company for the future.”

Average daily net production for the fourth quarter was 43.9 MMcfe, resulting in a daily average of 46.7 MMcfe for the full year. Operating costs, which include lease operating expenses, production taxes and general and administrative expenses, net of certain non-cash items, averaged $3.14 per Mcfe during the quarter, resulting in an average of $3.16 per Mcfe for the year.

On a GAAP basis, the company reported a net loss of $2.1 million for the fourth quarter 2009, which includes a net gain from mark-to-market activities of $18.6 million. For the full year, the company reported a net loss of $9 million, which includes a net gain from mark-to-market activities of $19.4 million.

 

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Liquidity Update

As of Dec. 31, 2009, outstanding debt under the company’s credit facility totaled $195 million and the company had a cash balance of $11.3 million. Since Dec. 31, 2009, the company has reduced debt by an additional $5 million, bringing the balance of outstanding debt under the credit facility to $190 million, which currently leaves the company with $15 million in available borrowing capacity.

Financial Outlook for 2010

“In 2010, our focus remains on debt reduction, which we intend to achieve with cash flow from operations through lower capital spending, a continuation of our distribution suspension, and cost containment,” said Brunner.

The company announced that it anticipates total capital spending for 2010 to range between $10 million and $12 million. Net production is forecast to range between 14.5 and 15.5 Bcfe for 2010, with operating costs expected to range between $52 million and $56 million for the year.

The company has hedged approximately 9.5 Bcfe of its Mid-Continent production in 2010 at an average price of $7.47 per Mcfe and an additional 2.4 Bcfe of production at an average price of $8.21 per Mcfe. The remainder of the company’s production for 2010 is subject to market conditions and pricing.

During the first quarter 2009, the company discontinued hedge accounting on all existing commodity derivatives and now accounts for derivatives using the mark-to-market accounting method. As a result, the company will recognize all future changes in the fair value of its derivatives as gains and losses in earnings.

Distribution Outlook

The company previously announced that it expects distributions will remain suspended until after such time that debt levels are reduced and market conditions again warrant resumption of capital spending at maintenance levels.

“We currently expect that our distribution will remain suspended through the fourth quarter of 2010 and that we will resume capital spending to maintain our production rates in 2011,” Brunner added.

 

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Management will continue to evaluate the company’s quarterly distribution, taking into account debt levels, liquidity, the provisions of the company’s credit and operating agreements, and business plans. All distributions are subject to approval by the company’s Board of Managers.

Conference Call Information

The company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (CST) on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010 to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2009 results.

To participate in the conference call, analysts, investors, media and the public in the U.S. may dial (888) 810-6805 shortly before 10:00 a.m. (CST). The international phone number is (517) 308-9398. The conference password is PARTNERS.

A replay will be available beginning approximately one hour after the end of the call by dialing (800) 944-1518 or (203) 369-3416 (international). A live audio webcast of the conference call, presentation slides and the earnings release will be available on Constellation Energy Partners’ Web site (www.constellationenergypartners.com) under the Investor Relations page. The call will also be recorded and archived on the site.

About the Company

Constellation Energy Partners LLC is a limited liability company focused on the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas properties, as well as related midstream assets.

SEC Filings

The company intends to file its 2009 Form 10-K on or about Feb. 24, 2010.

Non-GAAP Measures

We present Adjusted EBITDA in addition to our reported net income in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as net income (loss) adjusted by interest (income) expense; depreciation, depletion and amortization; write-off of deferred financing fees; impairment of long-lived assets; accretion of asset retirement obligation; (gain) loss on sale of assets; exploration costs; (gain) loss from equity investment; unit-based compensation programs; unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives; and realized (gain) loss on cancelled derivatives.

 

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Adjusted EBITDA is used as a quantitative standard by our management and by external users of our financial statements such as investors, research analysts and others to assess the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis; the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and support our indebtedness; and our operating performance and return on capital as compared to those of other companies in our industry, without regard to financing or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flows for the period, nor is it presented as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.

Maintenance capital expenditures are capital expenditures that we expect to make on an ongoing basis to maintain our asset base (including our undeveloped leasehold acreage) at a steady level over the long term. These expenditures include the drilling and completion of additional development wells to offset the expected production decline during such period from our producing properties, as well as additions to our inventory of unproved properties or proved reserves required to maintain our asset base.

Forward-Looking Statements

We make statements in this news release that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are largely based on our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based on currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. In addition, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that such statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements due to factors listed in the “Risk Factors” section in our SEC filings and elsewhere in those filings. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. We do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

 

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PRESS RELEASE

Constellation Energy Partners LLC

Operating Statistics

 

     Three Months Ended
Dec. 31,
    Twelve Months Ended
Dec. 31,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net Production:

        

Total production (MMcfe)

     4,041        4,442        17,061        17,384   

Average daily production (Mcfe/day)

     43,924        48,283        46,742        47,497   

Average Net Sales Price per Mcfe:

        

Net realized price, including hedges

   $ 7.00  (a)    $ 7.32  (a)    $ 7.06  (a)    $ 7.74  (a) 

Net realized price, excluding hedges

   $ 4.25  (b)    $ 4.57  (b)    $ 3.59  (b)    $ 7.71  (b) 

(a)    Excludes impact of mark-to-market losses and net of cost of sales.

       

(b)    Excludes all hedges, the impact of mark-to-market losses and net of cost of sales.

       

Net Proved Reserves:

        

Proved developed (Bcfe)

         112.1        158.4   

Proved undeveloped (Bcfe)

         19.1        74.0   

Total proved (Bcfe)

         131.2        232.4   

Net Wells Drilled and Completed

     —          26        60        115   

Net Recompletions

     —          11        17        43   

Developmental Dry Holes

     —          —          1        —     

Constellation Energy Partners LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

     Three Months Ended
Dec. 31,
    Twelve Months Ended
Dec. 31,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     ($ in thousands)     ($ in thousands)  

Oil and gas sales

   $ 28,903      $ 33,770      $ 123,126      $ 141,863   

Gain/(Loss) from mark-to-market activities

     18,581        17,389        19,410        21,376   
                                

Total revenues

     47,484        51,159        142,536        163,239   

Operating expenses:

        

Lease operating expenses

     8,292        8,556        33,535        36,257   

Cost of sales

     608        1,241        2,638        7,261   

Production taxes

     908        1,607        3,153        8,398   

General and administrative

     4,497        3,318        18,506        13,998   

Exploration costs

     373        172        855        414   

(Gain)/Loss on sale of equipment

     (14     (5     —          (301

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     28,202        45,579        76,286        77,919   

Accretion expense

     139        104        406        411   
                                

Total operating expenses

     43,005        60,572        135,379        144,357   

Other expenses:

        

Interest (income) expense, net

     6,584        3,221        16,303        11,817   

Other (income) expense

     6        (252     (123     (203
                                

Total expenses

     49,595        63,541        151,559        155,971   
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,111   $ (12,382   $ (9,023   $ 7,268   
                                

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 15,612      $ 18,187      $ 66,992      $ 75,285   
                                

EPS - Basic

   $ (0.11   $ (0.56   $ (0.40   $ 0.32   

EPS - Basic units outstanding

     23,099,947        22,351,827        22,664,895        22,370,426   

EPS - Diluted

   $ (0.11   $ (0.56   $ (0.40   $ 0.32   

EPS - Diluted units outstanding

     23,099,947        22,351,827        22,664,895        22,370,426   

 

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Constellation Energy Partners LLC

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     Dec. 31,
2009
   Dec. 31,
2008
     ($ in thousands)

Current assets

   $ 45,265    $ 52,231

Natural gas properties, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     612,625      662,519

Other assets

     50,427      44,099
             

Total assets

   $ 708,317    $ 758,849
             

Current liabilities

   $ 16,484    $ 19,506

Debt

     195,000      212,500

Other long-term liabilities

     12,129      6,754
             

Total liabilities

     223,613      238,760

Class D interests

     6,667      6,667

Common members’ equity

     449,670      463,295

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     28,367      50,127
             

Total members’ equity

     478,037      513,422
             

Total liabilities and members’ equity

   $ 708,317    $ 758,849
             

Constellation Energy Partners LLC

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

 

     Three Months Ended
Dec. 31,
    Twelve Months Ended
Dec. 31,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     ($ in thousands)     ($ in thousands)  

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA:

        

Net income

   $ (2,111   $ (12,382   $ (9,023   $ 7,268   

Add:

        

Interest expense/(income), net

     6,584        3,221        16,303        11,817   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     28,202        45,579        76,286        77,919   

Accretion of asset retirement obligation

     139        104        406        411   

(Gain)/loss on sale of asset

     (14     (5     —          (301

Exploration costs

     373        172        855        414   

Loss from mark-to-market activities

     (18,581     (17,389     (19,410     (21,376

Unit-based compensation programs

     1,020        49        1,308        322   

Unrealized (gain)/loss on natural gas derivatives/hedge ineffectiveness

     —          (1,162     267        (1,189
                                

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

   $ 15,612      $ 18,187      $ 66,992      $ 75,285   
                                

 

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     Three Months Ended
Sep. 30,
    Nine Months Ended
Sep. 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     ($ in thousands)     ($ in thousands)  

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA:

        

Net income

   $ (9,101   $ 26,939      $ (6,912   $ 19,650   

Add:

        

Interest expense/(income), net

     3,600        3,218        9,719        8,596   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     15,455        11,318        48,084        32,340   

Accretion of asset retirement obligation

     109        105        267        307   

(Gain)/loss on sale of asset

     —          (85     14        (296

Exploration costs

     276        103        483        241   

Loss from mark-to-market activities

     6,368        (21,976     (829     (3,987

Unit-based compensation programs

     136        118        288        273   

Unrealized (gain)/loss on natural gas derivatives/hedge ineffectiveness

     —          (831     267        (27
                                

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

   $ 16,843      $ 18,909      $ 51,381      $ 57,097   
                                

 

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(1) Our Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Our Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income and these measures may vary among other companies. Therefore, our Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus:

 

 

interest (income) expense;

 

 

depreciation, depletion and amortization;

 

 

write-off of deferred financing fees;

 

 

impairment of long-lived assets;

 

 

(gain) loss on sale of assets;

 

 

exploration costs;

 

 

(gain) loss from equity investment;

 

 

unit-based compensation programs;

 

 

accretion of asset retirement obligation;

 

 

unrealized (gain) loss on derivatives; and

 

 

realized loss (gain) on cancelled derivatives.

 

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