Constellation Energy Partners Reports Solid First Quarter Performance

BALTIMORE, May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Energy Partners LLC (NYSE Arca: CEP) today reported first quarter 2007 earnings in line with company expectations, and revised its annual forecast to incorporate the acquisition of coalbed methane properties in the Cherokee Basin in Kansas and Oklahoma.

The company produced 1,227 MMcf during the quarter, resulting in Adjusted EBITDA of $7.2 million and net income of $2.3 million on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. It revised its 2007 forecast from a range of $31 million to $34.2 million of Adjusted EBITDA to a range of $40 million to $44 million of Adjusted EBITDA. CEP's 2007 production forecast was revised from a range of 4,800 to 5,300 MMcfe to a range of 7,000 to 7,900 MMcfe to reflect the current net production of 7.9 MMcfe per day of the newly acquired Cherokee Basin properties.

"We delivered first quarter results in line with expectations and established a strong foundation for solid 2007 performance," said Felix Dawson, chief executive officer. "Drilling performance continues to be on track and we have successfully completed our acquisition of coalbed methane properties in the Cherokee Basin. This acquisition fits in well with our strengths and has the desired characteristics for properties in our portfolio.

"We believe we are in a strong position to deliver on our commitments through the year," said Dawson. "We've displayed the capabilities that enable quick execution on acquisition opportunities which are accretive to distributable cash flow. Our complementary relationship with Constellation Energy enhances CEP's growth outlook. In addition to the potential for drop- down acquisitions from Constellation Energy's growing upstream portfolio, we continue to leverage the expertise and resources of Constellation Energy's talented and experienced upstream gas team.

"Based on our solid performance, our strong working relationship with Constellation Energy and our view of the marketplace," Dawson said, "we're confident CEP is on a course to become a leader in the E&P MLP sector."

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) 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; (gain) loss from equity investment; accretion of asset retirement obligation; unrealized (gain) loss on natural gas derivatives; and realized (gain) loss on cancelled natural gas derivatives.

Adjusted EBITDA is used by management to indicate (prior to the establishment of any cash reserves by our board of managers) the cash distributions we expect to pay our unitholders. Specifically, this financial measure indicates to investors whether or not we are generating cash flow at a level that can sustain or support an increase in our quarterly distribution rates. Adjusted EBITDA is also 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.

We also provide our forecast in terms of Adjusted EBITDA. We are unable to reconcile our forecast to GAAP net income or operating income because we do not predict the future impact of adjustments to net income (loss), such as (gains) losses on gas derivatives and equity investments or asset impairments, due to the difficulty of doing so.

SEC Filings

CEP intends to file its Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2007, on or about May 9, 2007.

Forward-Looking Statements

We make statements in this news release that are considered forward- looking statements within the meaning of 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.

Conference Call Information

Constellation Energy Partners will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on May 9, 2007, to review its first quarter 2007 results.

To participate, analysts, investors, media and the public may dial (888) 322-9245 shortly before 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The international phone number is (773) 756-0253. The conference password is PARTNERS.

A replay will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call by dialing (866) 463-4964 or (203) 369-1401 (international).

A live audio webcast of the conference call, presentation slides and the earnings press release will be available on the Investor Relations page of Constellation Energy Partners' Web site ( http://www.constellationenergypartners.com/ ). The call will also be recorded and archived on the site.

CEP was formed -- and is partly owned -- by Constellation Energy , a Fortune 200 energy company with 2006 annual revenues of $19.3 billion.

Constellation Energy Partners LLC ( http://www.constellationenergypartners.com/ ) is a limited liability company focused on the acquisition, development and exploitation of oil and natural gas properties, as well as related midstream assets.

First Quarter 2007 Summary Statistics Constellation Energy Partners LLC Operating Statistics Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 2006 Net Production: Total production (MMcf) 1,227 1,110 Average daily production (Mcf/day) 13,633 12,333 Average Sales Price per Mcf: Net realized price, including hedges $9.22(a) $8.78 Net realized price, excluding hedges $6.97 $8.78 (a) Excludes impact of mark-to-market losses Wells Drilled and Completed 8 9 Constellation Energy Partners LLC Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 2006 ($ in thousands) Gas sales $11,307 $9,747 Loss from mark-to-market activities (2,782) - Total Revenues $8,525 $9,747 Operating expenses: Lease operating expenses 1,595 1,912 Production taxes 459 576 General and administrative 1,619 1,095 Loss on sale of equipment 95 - Depreciation, depletion and amortization 1,959 1,745 Accretion expense 36 36 Total operating expenses 5,763 5,364 Other expenses: Interest (income) / expense, net 508 (49) Total expenses 6,271 5,315 Net income $2,254 $4,432 Adjusted EBITDA $7,237 $6,164 EPS - Basic $0.20 $0.39 EPS - Basic Units Outstanding 11,320,300 11,320,300 EPS - Diluted $0.20 $0.39 EPS - Diluted Units Outstanding 11,320,300 11,320,300 Constellation Energy Partners LLC Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, December 31, 2007 2006 ($ in thousands) Current assets $27,345 $26,087 Natural gas properties, net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization 174,361 171,639 Other assets 3,726 5,971 Total assets $205,432 $203,697 Current liabilities $9,585 $9,007 Debt 32,000 22,000 Other long-term liabilities 3,803 2,730 Total liabilities 45,388 33,737 Class D Interests 8,000 8,000 Common members' equity 148,711 148,847 Accumulated other comprehensive income 3,333 13,113 Total members' equity 152,044 161,960 Total liabilities and members' equity $205,432 $203,697 Constellation Energy Partners LLC Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 2006 ($ in thousands) Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA: Net income $2,254 $4,432 Add: Interest expense/(income), net 508 (49) Depreciation, depletion and amortization 1,959 1,745 Accretion of asset retirement obligation 36 36 Loss on sale of asset 95 - Loss from mark-to-market activities 2,782 - Unrealized gain on natural gas derivatives (397) - Adjusted EBITDA $7,237 $6,164 Maintenance capital expenditures (1) $1,238 $1,238 (1) 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.