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Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

 

OR

 

o     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

 

27-6522024

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

 

Trust Company, N.A., Trustee

 

 

Global Corporate Trust

 

 

919 Congress Avenue

 

 

Austin, Texas

 

78701

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

1-800-852-1422
(Registrant’s 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

Accelerated filer o

 

 

Non-accelerated filer x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company o

 

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 November 14, 2011, 13,203,750 Common Units and 4,401,250 Subordinated Units of Beneficial Interest in ECA Marcellus Trust I were outstanding.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I – Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

3

Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Trust Corpus as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010

3

Statement of Distributable Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and the Three Months and Inception to Date Ended September 30, 2010

4

Statement of Trust Corpus as of September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010

5

Notes to Financial Statements

6

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

11

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

19

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

20

 

 

PART II- Other Information

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

20

Item 6. Exhibits

21

SIGNATURES

22

EXHIBIT INDEX

23

APPENDIX A

 

Glossary of Certain Terms

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

ECA Marcellus Trust I

Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Trust Corpus

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

508,664

 

$

398,324

 

Royalty income receivable

 

9,292,292

 

6,885,434

 

Hedge proceeds receivable

 

1,808,948

 

2,032,620

 

Floor price contracts

 

4,518,360

 

4,858,920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty interest in gas properties

 

352,100,000

 

352,100,000

 

Accumulated amortization

 

(38,382,927

)

(14,854,467

)

Net royalty interest in gas properties

 

313,717,073

 

337,245,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

329,845,337

 

$

351,420,831

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND TRUST CORPUS:

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Floor premiums payable

 

$

4,957,920

 

$

4,957,920

 

Distributions payable to unitholders

 

11,083,258

 

8,809,013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust corpus; 13,203,750 common units and 4,401,250 subordinated units authorized, issued and outstanding

 

313,804,159

 

337,653,898

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Trust Corpus

 

$

329,845,337

 

$

351,420,831

 

 

See notes to the unaudited financial statements.

 

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ECA Marcellus Trust I

Statement of Distributable Income

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Inception to Date

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

Ended September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royalty income

 

$

27,106,577

 

$

10,039,723

 

$

9,292,292

 

$

6,288,329

 

Hedge proceeds

 

5,870,544

 

3,443,911

 

2,135,108

 

1,629,368

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds to Trust

 

$

32,977,121

 

$

13,483,634

 

$

11,427,400

 

$

7,917,697

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expense

 

(1,547,969

)

(658,638

)

(344,355

)

(658,638

)

Interest income

 

660

 

 

213

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available for distribution prior to cash reserves and incentive calculation

 

$

31,429,812

 

$

12,824,996

 

$

11,083,258

 

$

7,259,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash reserves withheld by Trustee

 

 

(500,000

)

 

160,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income available for distribution prior to incentive calculation

 

$

31,429,812

 

$

12,324,996

 

$

11,083,258

 

$

7,419,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incentive distribution to ECA

 

 

58,688

 

 

 

Floor cost reimbursement distribution to ECA as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Premium

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

 

58,688

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributable income available to unitholders

 

$

31,429,812

 

$

12,207,620

 

$

11,083,258

 

$

7,419,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributable income per unit (13,203,750 common units and 4,401,250 subordinated units authorized and outstanding)

 

$

1.785

 

$

0.693

 

$

0.630

 

$

0.421

 

 

See notes to the unaudited financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

ECA Marcellus Trust I

Statement of Trust Corpus

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months

 

Inception to Date

 

 

 

Ended

 

Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

September 30, 2010

 

Trust Corpus, Beginning of Period

 

$

337,653,898

 

$

352,100,010

 

Cash reserves

 

 

500,000

 

Distributed to ECA

 

(10

)

 

Distributable income

 

31,429,812

 

12,207,620

 

Distributions paid or payable to unitholders

 

(31,410,521

)

(12,207,620

)

Amortization of royalty interest in gas properties

 

(23,528,460

)

(8,384,621

)

Amortization of floor price contracts

 

(340,560

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trust Corpus, End of Period

 

$

313,804,159

 

$

344,215,389

 

 

See notes to the unaudited financial statements.

 

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ECA MARCELLUS TRUST I

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(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 ECA 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 ECA’s 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 ECA’s 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 ECA’s interest in the PUD Wells. Approximately 50% of the estimated natural gas production attributable to the Trust’s royalty interests has been hedged with a combination of floors and swaps through March 31, 2014 (the “Hedge Arrangement”). 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 ECA’s 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 Trust’s 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 Trust’s cash receipts in respect of the royalties are determined after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes associated with the PDP and PUD Royalty Interests, and the Trust’s cash available for distribution includes cash receipts from its hedging contracts and is reduced by Trust administrative expenses and expenses incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity.  Post-production costs 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.  Additionally, in the event that electric compression is utilized in lieu of gas as fuel in the compression process, the Trust will be charged for the electric usage as provided for in the Trust conveyance documents.

 

Generally, the percentage of production proceeds to be received by the Trust with respect to a well equals the product of (i) the percentage of proceeds to which the Trust is entitled under the terms of the conveyances (90% for

 

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the Producing Wells and 50% for the PUD Wells) multiplied by (ii) ECA’s net revenue interest in the well. ECA on average owns an 81.53% net revenue interest in the Producing Wells. Therefore, the Trust is 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 ECA’s 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 ECA’s working interest in a PUD well is less than 100%, the Trust’s 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.  ECA’s 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 ECA’s right to receive incentive distributions and to recoup the reimbursement amount will terminate, at the end of the fourth full calendar quarter following ECA’s 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.”

 

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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 and nine months ended September 30, 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 Trust’s 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

 

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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 FASB ASC Topic 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 Royalty Interest in Gas Properties and Trust Corpus.  No impairment in the Underlying Properties has been recognized since inception of the Trust.   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 Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 September 30, 2011, the amount of unrecorded accrued interest payable to ECA was $685,000.

 

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 quarters ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 totaled $2,135,108 and $1,629,368, respectively.  Hedge proceeds for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and from inception to date period ended September 30, 2010 totaled $5,870,544 and $3,443,911, respectively.  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.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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 ECA’s 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 September 30, 2011, ECA had received partial releases of the Drilling Support Lien in the amount of approximately $53.95 million reducing the Drilling Support Lien to approximately $37.05 million.  However, after giving effect to the total number of wells drilled as of September 30, 2011 (45.25 wells, calculated as provided in the Development Agreement) the maximum amount of the Drilling Support Lien would be reduced to approximately $11.82 million.

 

Secondary Offering:

 

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 up to 360,723 Common Units to cover over-allotments, if any.   Pursuant to this agreement ECA sold 2,525,000 Common Units in a secondary public offering and an additional 181,175 Common Units pursuant to the overallotment option during the quarter ended June 30, 2011.  ECA also conveyed an additional 114,600 Common Units to certain employees of ECA in May 2011.  As of September 30, 2011, ECA held a total of 180,958 Common Units and 4,401,250 subordinated units of the Trust.

 

NOTE 7.  Subsequent Events

 

As of November 10, 2011, ECA had received partial releases of the Drilling Support Lien in the amount of approximately $60.09 million reducing the Drilling Support Lien to approximately $30.91 million.

 

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Item 2.           Management’s 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 Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and also at www.businesswire.com/cnn/ect.htm.

 

Results of Trust Operations

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 and Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

Distributable income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased to $11.1 million from $7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010.  This increase was primarily the result of a $3.0 million increase in royalty income, a $0.5 million increase in hedge proceeds, and a $0.3 million decrease in general and administrative expenses, offset by a $0.1 million decrease in cash reserves released by the Trustee.

 

Royalty income increased from $6.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as a result of an increase in production, partially offset by a decrease in the average realized price and an increase in post production costs.

 

Production increased 57% from 1,619 MMcf for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to 2,538 MMcf for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increased production was primarily a result of an increase in the number of wells online and producing during the quarter ended September 30, 2011, partially offset by natural production declines in wells.  A total of thirty-eight wells (14 PDP and 24 actual PUD wells (30.83 Equivalent PUD Wells as calculated as described in the Prospectus)) were online and producing as of September 30, 2011, while there were a total of sixteen wells (14 PDP and 2 actual PUD wells (2.35 Equivalent PUD Wells as calculated as described in the Prospectus)) online and producing as of September 30, 2010.  Of the twenty-four PUD Wells, seven (8.95 Equivalent PUD Wells) of these wells were brought online during the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  Four wells (4.94 Equivalent PUD Wells) were brought online in late July and three (4.01 Equivalent PUD Wells) were brought online at the end of August. Subsequently, these seven wells (8.95 Equivalent PUD Wells) had an average daily production rate, net to the Trust, of 6,880 Mcf per day for September 2011. The average gross initial per well production for the first thirty days of production for these seven wells (8.95 Equivalent PUD Wells) was 2,296 Mcf per day.  The production effect of the increase in the number of wells online and producing was partially mitigated during the current quarter due to the curtailment on the Texas Eastern Transmission Pipeline for approximately forty-five days while the pipeline was undergoing unscheduled repairs.  As a result of this curtailment, an estimated 250,000 Mcf of production, net to the Trust, was shut-in for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

 

The average price realized for the three months ended September 30, 2011 declined $0.39 per Mcf to $4.50 per Mcf as compared to $4.89 per Mcf for the three months ended September 30, 2010.  This decrease was the result of a decrease in the average sales price for gas production, the average price for hedged volumes, and an increase in post production costs.  The average sales price, before the effects of hedges and post production costs, declined from $4.52 per Mcf for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to $4.40 per Mcf for the three months ended September 30, 2011.  This decrease in price was primarily the result of a decline in the weighted average monthly closing NYMEX price for the current quarter to $4.18 per MMbtu compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2010 weighted average monthly closing NYMEX price of $4.31 per MMbtu.

 

Hedged volumes for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 totaled 1,095,000 Mmbtu consisting of 690,000 Mmbtu covered by a fixed price swap at a price of $6.82 per Mmbtu and 405,000 Mmbtu covered by a $5.00 per

 

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MMbtu floor price contract resulting in an average hedge price of approximately $6.15 per Mmbtu.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2010 hedged volumes totaled 690,000 Mmbtu which volumes were all covered by a $6.75 per Mmbtu fixed price swap. While this resulted in an increase in total hedge proceeds received by the Trust for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, the average hedge price per Mmbtu declined from $6.75 per Mmbtu for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 to $6.15 per Mmbtu for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  This resulted in the average hedge proceeds received for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 being $0.84 per Mcf compared to $1.01 per Mcf for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.  Post production costs, which consisted of a gathering fee together with a charge for electric used in lieu of gas for compression on the gathering system and firm transportation charges on interstate gas pipelines, averaged $0.74 per Mcf for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 as compared to an average of $0.64 per Mcf for the prior year’s comparable quarter.  Post production costs were higher than the previous year’s quarter as a result of firm transportation charges on the Columbia Gas Transmission, L.L.C. interstate pipeline system beginning in August 2011, resulting in an average $0.11 per Mcf increase in costs from the comparable quarter in 2010.  This was partially offset by an average $0.01 per Mcf decline in the charge for electric usage from the quarter ended September 30, 2010 to the current quarter.

 

General and administrative expenses paid by the Trust were $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to $0.6 million for the prior year’s comparable quarter.  Expenses were higher in the prior year as a result of higher professional fees and stock exchange fees related to the initial operation and registration of the Trust.  For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, the Trustee released a cash reserve of $0.1 million that was previously established for use in paying the current and future liabilities of the Trust as they became due.  This cash reserve release increased the Trust’s distributable income for the prior period.  The cash reserve was unchanged during the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

 

ECA has drilled an additional fourteen PUD Wells (18.43 Equivalent PUD Wells) as of October 30, 2011.  Of these fourteen PUD Wells (18.43 Equivalent PUD Wells) additional wells, three wells (3.51 Equivalent PUD Wells) were turned online and producing while eleven wells (14.92 Equivalent PUD Wells) were undergoing or awaiting Completion operations.  To date, ECA has drilled a total of thirty-eight actual PUD Wells (49.26 Equivalent PUD Wells calculated as described in the Prospectus).   These 49.26 Equivalent PUD Wells drilled count toward the 52 equivalent PUD Wells ECA has committed to drill.

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and Inception (April 1, 2010) to Date Period Ended September 30, 2010

 

Distributable income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased to $31.4 million from $12.2 million for the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010.  This increase was primarily the result of a $17.1 million increase in royalty income, a $2.4 million increase in hedge proceeds, a $0.5 million reduction in cash reserves established by the Trustee and a $0.1 million combined reduction in incentive distributions and interest paid to ECA.  These increases were partially offset by a $0.9 million increase in general and administrative expenses.  Furthermore, the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010 included only six months of results for the Trust as the effective date for the formation of the Trust was April 1, 2010.

 

Royalty income increased from $10.0 million for the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010 to $27.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as a result of an increase in production, partially offset by a decrease in the average realized price and an increase in post production costs.

 

Production increased 176% from 2,587 MMcf for the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010 to 7,148 MMcf for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increased production was a result of an increase in the number of wells in line and producing as well as having a full nine months of production during the period ended September 30, 2011.  A total of thirty-eight wells (14 PDP and 24 actual PUD wells (30.83 Equivalent PUD Wells as calculated as described in the Prospectus)) were online and producing as of September 30, 2011, while there were a total of sixteen wells (14 PDP and 2 actual PUD wells (2.35 Equivalent PUD Wells as calculated as described in the Prospectus)) online and producing during the period ended September 30, 2010.   Of the twenty-four PUD Wells (30.83 Equivalent PUD Wells), eighteen of these wells (23.98 Equivalent PUD Wells) were brought online during the period ended September 30, 2011.  Two wells (2.80 Equivalent PUD Wells) were brought online in January, two in March (2.80 Equivalent PUD Wells), six (8.03 Equivalent PUD Wells) in April, one well (1.40 Equivalent PUD

 

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Wells) was brought online in mid May, four wells (4.94 Equivalent PUD Wells) were brought online in late July and three wells (4.01 Equivalent PUD Wells) were brought online at the end of August.  Subsequently, these eighteen wells (23.98 Equivalent PUD Wells) had an average daily production rate, net to the Trust, of 17,024 Mcf per day for September 2011. The average gross initial per well production for the first thirty days of production for these twenty-four wells (30.83 Equivalent PUD Wells) was 2,916 Mcf per day.  The production effect of the increase in the number of wells online and producing was partially mitigated during the current period due to the curtailment on the Texas Eastern Transmission Pipeline for approximately forty-five days while the pipeline was undergoing unscheduled repairs.  As a result of this curtailment, an estimated 250,000 Mcf of production, net to the Trust, was shut-in for the period ended September 30, 2011.

 

The average price realized for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 declined $0.60 per Mcf to $4.61 per Mcf as compared to $5.21 per Mcf for the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010.  This decrease was the result of a decrease in the average price for hedged volumes, an increase in post production costs and a slight decrease in the weighted average monthly closing NYMEX price.

 

Hedged volumes for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 totaled 2,821,500 Mmbtu consisting of 1,357,500 Mmbtu covered by a fixed price swap at a price of $6.75, 690,000 Mmbtu covered by a fixed price swap at a price of $6.82 and 774,000 Mmbtu covered by a $5.00 per Mmbtu floor price contract resulting in an average hedge price of approximately $6.29 per Mmbtu.  For the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010 hedged volumes totaled 1,372,500 Mmbtu which volumes were all covered by a $6.75 per Mmbtu fixed price swap.  While this resulted in an increase in total hedge proceeds received by the Trust for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the average hedge price per Mmbtu declined from $6.75 per Mmbtu for the period ended September 30, 2010 to $6.29 per Mmbtu for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  This resulted in the average hedge proceeds received for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 being $0.82 per Mcf compared to $1.33 per Mcf for the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010.  Post production costs, which consisted of a gathering fee together with a charge for electric used in lieu of gas for compression on the gathering system and firm transportation charges on interstate gas pipelines, averaged $0.68 per Mcf for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to an average of $0.60 per Mcf for the prior year’s comparable period.  Post production costs were higher than the previous year’s period as a result of firm transportation charges on the Columbia Gas Transmission, L.L.C. interstate pipeline system beginning in August 2011, resulting in an average $0.04 per Mcf increase in costs from the comparable period in 2010.  Also contributing to the increase in cost was an average $0.04 per Mcf increase in the charge for electric usage from the period ended September 30, 2010 to the current period as a result of increased use of electric compression.

 

General and administrative expenses paid by the Trust were $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and $0.7 million for the inception to date period ended September 30, 2010.   The expenses are higher in the current period primarily as a result of only having six months of applicable expenses in the comparable prior period.  For the period ended September 30, 2010, the Trustee established a cash reserve of $0.5 million for use in paying the current and future liabilities of the Trust as they became due.  This cash reserve reduced the Trust’s distributable income for the period.  The cash reserve was unchanged during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

ECA has drilled an additional fourteen PUD Wells (18.43 Equivalent PUD Wells) as of October 30, 2011.  Of these fourteen PUD Wells (18.43 Equivalent PUD Wells) additional wells, three wells (3.51 Equivalent PUD Wells) were turned online and producing while eleven wells (14.92 Equivalent PUD Wells) were undergoing or awaiting Completion operations.  To date, ECA has drilled a total of thirty-eight actual PUD Wells (49.26 Equivalent PUD Wells calculated as described in the Prospectus).   These 49.26 Equivalent PUD Wells drilled count toward the 52 equivalent PUD Wells ECA has committed to drill.

 

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 “Trustee’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” regarding the financial position, business strategy,

 

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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 Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 ECA’s 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

 

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natural gas attributable to ECA’s 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 ECA’s 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 Trust’s 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 September 30, 2011, ECA had drilled 45.25 of the PUD Wells, calculated as provided in the Development Agreement.  The Trust is not responsible for any costs related to the drilling of development wells or any other development or operating costs. The Trust’s cash receipts in respect of the royalties are determined after deducting post-production costs and any applicable taxes associated with the PDP and PUD Royalty Interests.  The Trust’s cash available for distribution includes cash receipts from the Hedge Contracts and is reduced by Trust administrative expenses and expenses incurred as a result of being a publicly traded entity. Post-production costs 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 is 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) ECA’s 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 ECA’s 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 ECA’s working interest in a PUD Well is less than 100%, the Trust’s 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 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;

 

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·                  the reimbursement by the Trust, if any, of ECA’s 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. ECA’s 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.  As of September 30, 2011, the accrued interest on this approximately $5.0 million was $685,000.

 

The subordinated units will automatically convert into common units on a one-for-one basis and ECA’s right to receive incentive distributions and to recoup the Reimbursement Amount will terminate, at the end of the fourth full calendar quarter following ECA’s 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.

 

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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 was 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

 

 

Pursuant to IRC Section 1446, withholding tax on income effectively connected to a United States trade or business allocated to foreign partners should be made at the highest marginal rate.  Under Section 1441, withholding tax on fixed, determinable, annual, periodic income from United States sources allocated to foreign partners should be made at 30% of gross income unless the rate is reduced by treaty.  This release is intended to be a qualified notice to nominees and brokers as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b) by ECA Marcellus Trust I, and while specific relief is not specified for Section 1441 income, this disclosure is intended to suffice.  Nominees and brokers should withhold 35% of the distribution made to foreign partners.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Trust has no source of liquidity or capital resources other than cash flows from the Royalties and the Hedge Arrangements. Other than Trust administrative expenses, including any reserves established by the Trustee for future liabilities, the Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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

 

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to be received are insufficient to cover the Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 FASB ASC Topic 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.

 

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Amortization of the Royalty Interests in gas properties is calculated on a units-of-production basis, whereby the Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 Trust’s 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 has no continuing obligation with respect to the natural gas

 

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floor price contracts. However, ECA will be the Trust’s 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 SEC’s 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 Trust’s 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 Trustee’s 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 Trust’s independent reserve engineers.  See Item 1A “Risk Factors” and “Management’s 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 September 30, 2011, there has been no change in the Trustee’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Trustee’s 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.

 

PART II-OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

Risk factors relating to the Trust are contained in the Item 1A of the Trust’s 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 nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

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 Trust’s 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*

 

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.

10.11*

 

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.

10.12*

 

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.

10.13

 

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 Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2010 (File No. 001-34800)).

10.14

 

Underwriting Agreement dated as of April 12, 2011, 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 Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2011 (File No. 001-34800)).

31

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32

 

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 Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2010 (File No. 001-34800).

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

 

 

ECA MARCELLUS TRUST I

 

 

 

By:

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST

 

 

COMPANY, N.A., trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ MIKE ULRICH

 

 

Mike Ulrich

 

 

Vice President

 

Date: November 14, 2011

 

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.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

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 Trust’s 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*

 

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.

10.11*

 

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.

10.12*

 

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.

10.13

 

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 Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2010 (File No. 001-34800)).

10.14

 

Underwriting Agreement dated as of April 12, 2011, 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 Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2011 (File No. 001-34800)).

31

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32

 

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 Trust’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2010 (File No. 001-34800).

 

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