Edgar Filing: CONTANGO OPERATORS, INC

Form S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2014

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY*

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

1311

95-4079863

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 236-7400

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

John A. Thomas

Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

717 Texas Avenue, Site 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 236-7400

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

Copies to:

James M. Prince

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002-6760

(713) 758-2222

(713) 615-5962 (Fax)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

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

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

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

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	x	Accelerated filer	¨
Non-accelerated filer	¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller Reporting Company	¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered(1)	Amount to be Registered(1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Security(1)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)	Amount of Registration Fee
Primary Offering:
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Guarantee of Debt Securities
Secondary Offering:
Common Stock(2)	1,287,732
Total	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)

(1)	An indeterminate amount of securities may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fees.

(2)

All filing fees payable in connection with the registration of these securities were paid in connection with the filing of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-189302), which registered a total of 4,005,056 shares of Contango Common Stock, including the 1,287,732 shares being registered hereby.

*	The following subsidiaries of Contango Oil & Gas Company are co-registrants and are organized in the indicated states and have the indicated I.R.S. Employer Identification Number.

Crimson Exploration Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

20-3037840

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

20-4047764

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Contango Energy Company

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

20-4448270

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Contango Operators, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

20-1256887

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Contango Mining Company

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

27-1394738

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Conterra Company

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

30-0591866

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Contaro Company

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

90-0806205

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Contango Alta Investments, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

80-0711995

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

Contango Venture Capital Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

Delaware

20-1256887

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement consists of two prospectuses, covering the registration of:

•

Debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares and warrants of Contango Oil & Gas Company; and

•

Common stock of Contango Oil & Gas Company that may be sold in one or more secondary offerings by the selling stockholders.

PROSPECTUS

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Guarantee of Debt Securities of Contango Oil & Gas Company by:

Crimson Exploration Inc.

Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc.

Contango Energy Company

Contango Operators, Inc.

Contango Mining Company

Conterra Company

Contaro Company

Contango Alta Investments, Inc.

Contango Venture Capital Corporation

We may offer and sell the securities listed above from time to time in one or more classes or series and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering. Any debt securities we issue under this prospectus may be guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time securities are offered, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities being offered, including any guarantees by our subsidiary. The supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering.

We may sell these securities directly or through agents, underwriters or dealers, or through a combination of these methods. See “Plan of Distribution.” The prospectus supplement will list any agents, underwriters or dealers that may be involved and the compensation they will receive. The prospectus supplement will also show you the total amount of money that we will receive from selling the securities being offered, after the expenses of the offering.

You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

Investing in our securities involves risk. Please see “Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in the securities.

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol “MCF.”

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This prospectus is dated January 28, 2014.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page
About This Prospectus		1
The Company		1
About the Subsidiary Guarantors		1
Where You Can Find More Information		2
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		3
Risk Factors		5
Use of Proceeds		5
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		5
Description of Debt Securities		6
Description of Capital Stock		18
Description of Depositary Shares		21
Description of Warrants		23
Plan of Distribution		24
Legal Matters		26
Experts		26

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate and are not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation in that jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the offered securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement to “Contango,” “we” or “our” are to Contango Oil & Gas Company and its subsidiaries and all references to “Crimson” are to our subsidiaries, Crimson Exploration Inc. and Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc.

THE COMPANY

We are an independent energy company based in Houston, Texas, focused on the exploration, development, production and acquisition of natural gas and oil properties both onshore and offshore in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Our principal executive offices are located at 717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900, Houston, Texas 77002, and our phone number is (713) 236-7400. Our website is located at http://www.contango.com. We make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this prospectus.

For additional information as to our business, properties, and financial condition, please refer to the documents cited in “Where You Can Find More Information.”

ABOUT THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

If specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement respecting a series of debt securities, Crimson Exploration Inc., Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc., Contango Energy Company, Contango Operators, Inc., Contango Mining Company, Conterra Company, Contaro Company, Contango Alta Investments, Inc., Contango Venture Capital Corporation and any other of our future subsidiaries specified in the prospectus supplement (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) may jointly and severally, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee our payment obligations under any series of debt securities offered by this prospectus. Financial information concerning our Subsidiary Guarantors and non-guarantor subsidiaries, if any, will be included in our consolidated financial statements filed as a part of our periodic reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC.

For additional information as to our and our subsidiaries’ business, properties, and financial condition, please refer to the documents cited in “Where You Can Find More Information.”

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC (File No. 001-12108) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). You may read and copy any documents that are filed at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of these documents at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at its Washington address. Please call the SEC at l-800-SEC-0330 for further information. Our filings are also available to the public through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents previously filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents we filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference:

(a)

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on August 29, 2013;

(b)

Crimson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2013;

(c)

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on November 12, 2013;

(d)

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on August 12, 2013, August 13, 2013, August 14, 2013, August 23, 2013, September 9, 2013, October 2, 2013, November 12, 2013 (two reports) and November 18, 2013 and our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 16, 2013 (in each case excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01); and

(e)

The description of the our common stock which is contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-16317) filed with the SEC on January 16, 2001, including any amendments or reports we file for purposes of updating that description.

In addition, we incorporate by reference in this prospectus any future filings made by Contango with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) (excluding any information furnished and not filed with the SEC) after the date on which the registration statement that includes this prospectus was initially filed with the SEC and until all offerings under this shelf registration statement are terminated.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number:

Contango Oil & Gas Company

Attention: Corporate Secretary

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 236-7400

We also maintain a website at http://www.contango.com. However, the information on our website is not part of this prospectus.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, or filings with the SEC and our public releases may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words and phrases “should be”, “will be”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “goal” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements and express our expectations about future events. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may not occur. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated. Risks and uncertainties that could cause or contribute to such differences include, without limitation, those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in this prospectus and elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 and our subsequent SEC filings and those factors summarized below:

•

our financial position;

•

our business strategy, including outsourcing;

•

meeting our forecasts and budgets;

•

expectations regarding natural gas and oil markets in the United States.

•

natural gas and oil price volatility;

•

operational constraints, start-up delays and production shut-ins at both operated and non-operated production platforms, pipelines and natural gas processing facilities;

•

the risks associated with acting as the operator in drilling deep high pressure and temperature wells, including well blowouts and explosions;

•

the risks associated with exploration, including cost overruns and the drilling of non-economic wells or dry holes, especially in prospects in which we have made a large capital commitment relative to the size of our capitalization structure;

•

the timing and successful drilling and completion of natural gas and oil wells;

•

availability of capital and the ability to repay indebtedness when due;

•

availability and cost of rigs and other materials and operating equipment;

•

timely and full receipt of sale proceeds from the sale of our production;

•

the ability to find, acquire, market, develop and produce new natural gas and oil properties;

•

interest rate volatility;

•

uncertainties in the estimation of proved reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and timing of development expenditures;

•

operating hazards attendant to the natural gas and oil business including weather, environmental risks, accidental spills, blowouts and pipeline ruptures, and other risks;

•

downhole drilling and completion risks that are generally not recoverable from third parties or insurance;

•

potential mechanical failure or under-performance of significant wells, production facilities, processing plants or pipeline mishaps;

•

actions or inactions of third-party operators of our properties;

•

actions or inactions of third-party operators of pipelines or processing facilities;

•

the ability to find and retain skilled personnel;

•

strength and financial resources of competitors;

•

federal and state legislative and regulatory developments and approvals;

•

worldwide economic conditions;

•

the ability to construct and operate infrastructure, including pipeline and production facilities;

•

the continued compliance by us with various pipeline and gas processing plant specifications for the gas and condensate produced by us;

•

operating costs, production rates and ultimate reserve recoveries of our natural gas and oil discoveries;

•

expanded rigorous monitoring and testing requirements; and

•

ability to obtain insurance coverage on commercially reasonable terms.

Any of these factors and other factors contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any documents incorporated by reference could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results implied by these or any other forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Although we believe our estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. Our assumptions about future events may prove to be inaccurate. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are not guarantees of future performance, and we cannot assure you that those statements will be realized or the forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus.

We do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, including those included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and, if applicable, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock or debt securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from any sales of securities by us under this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things:

•

reduction or refinancing of debt or other corporate obligations;

•

additions to our working capital;

•

capital expenditures; and

•

potential future acquisitions.

Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings are defined as earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of net interest expense (inclusive of credit facility commitment fees) on all indebtedness and including capitalized interest expense, the amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts, and a reasonable estimation of interest associated with operating leases. The below ratios reflect only the historical financials of Contango for the periods presented and have not been adjusted to reflect the merger with Crimson on October 1, 2013.

Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2013

Years Ended June 30,

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

873.2

—

373.1

366.7

—

310.1

1	During the year ended June 30, 2013, the coverage ratio was less than 1:1. The Company would have needed to generate additional earnings of approximately $13.9 million during the year ended June 30, 2013 to achieve a coverage ratio of 1:1.

2	Fixed charges for the year ended June 30, 2010 were a gain of $0.3 million.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The Debt Securities will be either our senior debt securities (“Senior Debt Securities”) or our subordinated debt securities (“Subordinated Debt Securities”). The Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under separate indentures among us, the Subsidiary Guarantors of such Debt Securities, if any, and a trustee to be determined (the “Trustee”). Senior Debt Securities will be issued under a “Senior Indenture” and Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under a “Subordinated Indenture.” Together, the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are called “Indentures.”

The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The particular terms of each series that are offered by a prospectus supplement will be described in the prospectus supplement.

Unless the Debt Securities are guaranteed by our subsidiaries as described below, the rights of Contango Oil & Gas Company and our creditors, including holders of the Debt Securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter’s liquidation or reorganization, will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, except to the extent that we may ourself be a creditor with recognized claims against such subsidiary.

We have summarized selected provisions of the Indentures below. The summary is not complete. The form of each Indenture has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the Indentures for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.

General

The Indentures provide that Debt Securities in separate series may be issued thereunder from time to time without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the Debt Securities of any series. We will determine the terms and conditions of the Debt Securities, including the maturity, principal and interest, but those terms must be consistent with the Indenture. The Debt Securities will be our unsecured obligations.

The Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt (as defined) as described under “—Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities” and in the prospectus supplement applicable to any Subordinated Debt Securities. If the prospectus supplement so indicates, the Debt Securities will be convertible into our common stock.

If specified in the prospectus supplement respecting a particular series of Debt Securities, Crimson Exploration Inc., Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc., Contango Energy Company, Contango Operators, Inc., Contango Mining Company, Conterra Company, Contaro Company, Contango Alta Investments, Inc., Contango Venture Capital Corporation and any other of our future subsidiaries specified in the prospectus supplement (each a “Subsidiary Guarantor”) will fully and unconditionally guarantee (the “Subsidiary Guarantee”) that series as described under “—Subsidiary Guarantee” and in the prospectus supplement. Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be an unsecured obligation of the Subsidiary Guarantor. A Subsidiary Guarantee of Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated to the Senior Debt of the Subsidiary Guarantor on the same basis as the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated to our Senior Debt.

The Subsidiary Guarantors are wholly-owned by the Company, either directly or indirectly, and any guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors will be full and unconditional. The Company has no assets or operations independent of the Subsidiary Guarantors, and there are no significant restrictions upon the ability of the Subsidiary Guarantors to distribute funds to the Company. The Company has one other wholly-owned subsidiary that is inactive. Finally, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries do not have restricted assets that exceed 25% of net assets as of the most recent fiscal year end that may not be transferred to the Company in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends by such subsidiary without the consent of a third party.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the price or prices at which the Debt Securities to be issued will be offered for sale and will describe the following terms of such Debt Securities:

(1)

the title of the Debt Securities;

(2)

whether the Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities and, if Subordinated Debt Securities, the related subordination terms;

(3)

whether any Subsidiary Guarantor will provide a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Debt Securities;

(4)

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities;

(5)

each date on which the principal of the Debt Securities will be payable;

(6)

the interest rate that the Debt Securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the Debt Securities;

(7)

each place where payments on the Debt Securities will be payable;

(8)

any terms upon which the Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

(9)

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to redeem or otherwise repurchase the Debt Securities;

(10)

the portion of the principal amount, if less than all, of the Debt Securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of the Debt Securities;

(11)

whether the Debt Securities are defeasible;

(12)

any addition to or change in the Events of Default;

(13)

whether the Debt Securities are convertible into our common stock and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price or conversion rate and any adjustments thereto and the conversion period;

(14)

any addition to or change in the covenants in the Indenture applicable to the Debt Securities; and

(15)

any other terms of the Debt Securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.

Debt Securities, including any Debt Securities that provide for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof (“Original Issue Discount Securities”), may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to Debt Securities sold at an original issue discount may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, special United States federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any Debt Securities that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

The indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities will, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture with respect to each series of Subordinated Debt Securities, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our Senior Debt, including the Senior Debt Securities, and it may also be senior in right of payment to all of our Subordinated Debt. The prospectus supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities will summarize the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture applicable to that series including:

•

the applicability and effect of such provisions upon any payment or distribution respecting that series following any liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up, or any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings;

•

the applicability and effect of such provisions in the event of specified defaults with respect to any Senior Debt, including the circumstances under which and the periods during which we will be prohibited from making payments on the Subordinated Debt Securities; and

•

the definition of Senior Debt applicable to the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series and, if the series is issued on a senior subordinated basis, the definition of Subordinated Debt applicable to that series.

The prospectus supplement will also describe as of a recent date the approximate amount of Senior Debt to which the Subordinated Debt Securities of that series will be subordinated.

The failure to make any payment on any of the Subordinated Debt Securities by reason of the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture described in the prospectus supplement will not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities arising from any such failure to make payment.

The subordination provisions described above will not be applicable to payments in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities from a defeasance trust established in connection with any legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of the Subordinated Debt Securities as described under “—Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.”

Subsidiary Guarantee

If specified in the prospectus supplement, one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors will guarantee the Debt Securities of a series. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to the Subsidiary Guarantee of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Subject to the limitations described below and in the prospectus supplement, one or more of the Subsidiary Guarantors will jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantee the punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all our payment obligations under the Indentures and the Debt Securities of a series, whether for principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities or otherwise (all such obligations guaranteed by a Subsidiary Guarantor being herein called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Subsidiary Guarantors will also pay all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the applicable Trustee in enforcing any rights under a Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to a Subsidiary Guarantor.

In the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, a Subsidiary Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee will be subordinated in right of payment to the Senior Debt of such Subsidiary Guarantor on the same basis as the Subordinated Debt Securities are subordinated to our Senior Debt. No payment will be made by any Subsidiary Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee during any period in which payments by us on the Subordinated Debt Securities are suspended by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture.

Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited in amount to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the relevant Subsidiary Guarantor without rendering such Subsidiary Guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be a continuing guarantee and will:

(1)

remain in full force and effect until either (a) payment in full of all the applicable Debt Securities (or such Debt Securities are otherwise satisfied and discharged in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture) or (b) released as described in the following paragraph;

(2)

be binding upon each Subsidiary Guarantor; and

(3)

inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the applicable Trustee, the Holders and their successors, transferees and assigns.

In the event that (a) a Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary, (b) either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance occurs with respect to the series or (c) all or substantially all of the assets or all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor is sold, including by way of sale, merger, consolidation or otherwise, such Subsidiary Guarantor will be released and discharged of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, and no other person acquiring or owning the assets or Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor will be required to enter into a Subsidiary Guarantee. In addition, the prospectus supplement may specify additional circumstances under which a Subsidiary Guarantor can be released from its Subsidiary Guarantee.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

The Debt Securities of each series will be issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

At the option of the Holder, subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities of each series will be exchangeable for other Debt Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture and the limitations applicable to Global Securities, Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer (duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed) at the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for such purpose. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in that connection. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. The Security Registrar and any other transfer agent initially designated by us for any Debt Securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of each series.

If the Debt Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, we will not be required to (1) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Debt Security that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing or (2) register the transfer of or exchange any Debt Security so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Debt Security being redeemed in part.

Global Securities

Some or all of the Debt Securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more Global Securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of the Debt Securities they represent. Each Global Security will be registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, will be deposited with such Depositary or nominee or its custodian and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer thereof referred to below and any such other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the applicable Indenture.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Indentures or any Debt Security described in this prospectus, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee of such Depositary unless:

(1)

the Depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as required by the applicable Indenture, and in either case we fail to appoint a successor Depositary within 90 days;

(2)

an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities represented by such Global Security has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a written request from the Depositary to issue certificated Debt Securities;

(3)

subject to the rules of the Depositary, we shall have elected to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary; or

(4)

other circumstances exist, in addition to or in lieu of those described above, as may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

All certificated Debt Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the Depositary may direct.

As long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered holder of a Global Security, the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and Holder of such Global Security and the Debt Securities that it represents for all purposes under the Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have such Global Security or any Debt Securities that it represents registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Debt Securities in exchange for those interests and will not be considered to be the owners or Holders of such Global Security or any Debt Securities that is represents for any purpose under the Debt Securities or the applicable Indenture. All payments on a Global Security will be made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the Holder of the security. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of Debt Securities take physical delivery of such Debt Securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee (“participants”) and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. In connection with the issuance of any Global Security, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of Debt Securities represented by the Global Security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to participants’ interests) or any such participant (with respect to interests of Persons held by such participants on their behalf). Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a Global Security may be subject to various policies and procedures adopted by the Depositary from time to time. None of us, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustees or the agents of us, the Subsidiary Guarantors or the Trustees will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the Depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Security, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a Debt Security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to the Person in whose name such Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at our option payment of any interest on Debt Securities in certificated form may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Senior Indenture in The City of New York will be designated as sole Paying Agent for payments with respect to Senior Debt Securities of each series, and the corporate trust office of the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture in The City of New York will be designated as the sole Paying Agent for payment with respect to Subordinated Debt Securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents initially designated by us for the Debt Securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the Debt Securities of a particular series.

All money paid by us to a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the Holder of such Debt Security thereafter may look only to us for payment.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, we may not consolidate with or merge into, or transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to, any Person (a “successor Person”), and may not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

(1)

the successor Person (if not us) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction and assumes our obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indentures;

(2)

immediately before and after giving pro forma effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing; and

(3)

several other conditions, including any additional conditions with respect to any particular Debt Securities specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, are met.

The successor Person (if not us) will be substituted for us under the applicable Indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to such Indenture, and, except in the case of a lease, we will be relieved from any further obligations under such Indenture and the Debt Securities.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each of the following will constitute an Event of Default under the applicable Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series:

(1)

failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of that series when due, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

(2)

failure to pay any interest on any Debt Securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

(3)

failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Debt Security of that series, whether or not, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, such deposit is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Indenture;

(4)

failure to perform or comply with the provisions described under “—Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;

(5)

failure to perform any of our other covenants in such Indenture (other than a covenant included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of a series other than that series), continued for 60 days after written notice has been given by the applicable Trustee, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series, as provided in such Indenture;

(6)

any Debt of ourself, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor, is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by its holders because of a default and the total amount of such Debt unpaid or accelerated exceeds $20.0 million;

(7)

any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $20.0 million is entered against us, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor, remains outstanding for a period of 60 consecutive days following entry of such judgment and is not discharged, waived or stayed;

(8)

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting us, any Significant Subsidiary or, if a Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed the series, such Subsidiary Guarantor; and

(9)

if any Subsidiary Guarantor has guaranteed such series, the Subsidiary Guarantee of any such Subsidiary Guarantor is held by a final non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture) or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any Person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee (other than by reason of a release of such Subsidiary Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture).

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to Contango Oil & Gas Company described in clause (8) above) with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the applicable Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series by notice as provided in the Indenture may declare the principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any Debt Security that is an Original Issue Discount Debt Security, such portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Security) to be due and payable immediately, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. If an Event of Default with respect to Contango Oil & Gas Company described in clause (8) above with respect to the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Debt Securities of that series (or, in the case of any such Original Issue Discount Security, such specified amount) will automatically, and without any action by the applicable Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. After any such acceleration and its consequences, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default with respect to that series, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal (or other specified amount), have been cured or waived as provided in the applicable Indenture. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “—Modification and Waiver” below.

Subject to the provisions of the Indentures relating to the duties of the Trustees in case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Trustee will be under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders have offered to such Trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustees, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to such Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

No Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the applicable Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy thereunder, unless:

(1)

such Holder has previously given to the Trustee under the applicable Indenture written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of that series;

(2)

the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series have made written request, and such Holder or Holders have offered reasonable security or indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; and

(3)

the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding, and has not received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such request, within 60 days after such notice, request and offer.

However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on such Debt Security on or after the applicable due date specified in such Debt Security or, if applicable, to convert such Debt Security.

We will be required to furnish to each Trustee annually a statement by certain of our officers, to their knowledge, as to whether or not we are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the applicable Indenture and, if so, specifying all such known defaults.

Modification and Waiver

We may modify or amend an Indenture without the consent of any holders of the Debt Securities in certain circumstances, including:

(1)

to evidence the succession under the Indenture of another Person to us or any Subsidiary Guarantor and to provide for its assumption of our or such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations to holders of Debt Securities;

(2)

to make any changes that would add any additional covenants of us or the Subsidiary Guarantors for the benefit of the holders of Debt Securities or that do not adversely affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of Debt Securities in any material respect;

(3)

to add any additional Events of Default;

(4)

to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;

(5)

to secure the Debt Securities;

(6)

to establish the form or terms of any series of Debt Securities;

(7)

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee;

(8)

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

(9)

to add Subsidiary Guarantors; or

(10)

in the case of any Subordinated Debt Security, to make any change in the subordination provisions that limits or terminates the benefits applicable to any Holder of Senior Debt.

Other modifications and amendments of an Indenture may be made by us, the Subsidiary Guarantors, if applicable, and the applicable Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby:

(1)

change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Security;

(2)

reduce the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

(3)

reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Debt Security payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

(4)

change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any Debt Security;

(5)

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due on or any conversion right with respect to any Debt Security;

(6)

modify the subordination provisions in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, or modify any conversion provisions, in either case in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities;

(7)

except as provided in the applicable Indenture, release the Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(8)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture;

(9)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults;

(10)

modify such provisions with respect to modification, amendment or waiver; or

(11)

following the making of an offer to purchase Debt Securities from any Holder that has been made pursuant to a covenant in such Indenture, modify such covenant in a manner adverse to such Holder.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive compliance by us with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable Indenture. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable Indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the Indenture which cannot be amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security of such series.

Each of the Indentures provides that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities have given or taken any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under such Indenture as of any date:

(1)

the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of maturity to such date;

(2)

if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Debt Security is not determinable (for example, because it is based on an index), the principal amount of such Debt Security deemed to be Outstanding as of such date will be an amount determined in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security;

(3)

the principal amount of a Debt Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the United States-dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security, of the principal amount of such Debt Security (or, in the case of a Debt Security described in clause (1) or (2) above, of the amount described in such clause); and

(4)

certain Debt Securities, including those owned by us, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of our other Affiliates, will not be deemed to be Outstanding.

Except in certain limited circumstances, we will be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the applicable Indenture, in the manner and subject to the

limitations provided in the Indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the Trustee will be entitled to set a record date for action by Holders. If a record date is set for any action to be taken by Holders of a particular series, only persons who are Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of that series on the record date may take such action. To be effective, such action must be taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Debt Securities within a specified period following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be 180 days or such other period as may be specified by us (or the Trustee, if it set the record date), and may be shortened or lengthened (but not beyond 180 days) from time to time.

Satisfaction and Discharge

Each Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding Debt Securities of any series issued thereunder, when:

(1)

either:

(a) all outstanding Debt Securities of that series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Debt Securities that have been replaced or paid and Debt Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all outstanding Debt Securities of that series that have been not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and in any case we have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds money in an amount sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay the entire indebtedness of such Debt Securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date;

(2)

we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of that series; and

(3)

we have delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of that series have been satisfied.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

To the extent indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect, at our option at any time, to have our obligations discharged under provisions relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, which we call “legal defeasance,” or relating to defeasance of certain restrictive covenants applied to the Debt Securities of any series, or to any specified part of a series, which we call “covenant defeasance”.

Legal Defeasance. The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the legal defeasance provisions applied to any series of Debt Securities, we and, if applicable, each Subsidiary Guarantor will be discharged from all our obligations, and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, with respect to such Debt Securities (except for certain obligations to convert, exchange or register the transfer of Debt Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in trust) upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities of money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other things:

(1)

we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has

been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and legal defeasance were not to occur;

(2)

no Event of Default or event that with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with respect to any Event of Default described in clause (8) under “—Events of Default,” at any time until 121 days after such deposit;

(3)

such deposit and legal defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument (other than the applicable Indenture) to which we are a party or by which we are bound;

(4)

in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, at the time of such deposit, no default in the payment of all or a portion of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, no event of default shall have resulted in the acceleration of any Senior Debt and no other event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting after notice or the lapse of time, or both, the acceleration thereof; and

(5)

we have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit shall not cause the Trustee or the trust so created to be subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Covenant Defeasance. The Indentures provide that, upon our exercise of our option (if any) to have the covenant defeasance provisions applied to any Debt Securities, we may fail to comply with certain restrictive covenants (but not with respect to conversion, if applicable), including those that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the occurrence of certain Events of Default, which are described above in clause (5) (with respect to such restrictive covenants) and clauses (6), (7) and (9) under “Events of Default” and any that may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, will not be deemed to either be or result in an Event of Default and, if such Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to subordination will cease to be effective, in each case with respect to such Debt Securities. In order to exercise such option, we must deposit, in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities, money or U.S. Government Obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants) to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities on the respective Stated Maturities in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and such Debt Securities. Such covenant defeasance may occur only if we have delivered to the applicable Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance were not to occur, and the requirements set forth in clauses (2), (3), (4) and (5) above are satisfied. If we exercise this option with respect to any series of Debt Securities and such Debt Securities were declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations so deposited in trust would be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities at the time of their respective Stated Maturities but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such Debt Securities upon any acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. In such case, we would remain liable for such payments.

If we exercise either our legal defeasance or covenant defeasance option, any Subsidiary Guarantee will terminate.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Shareholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator, shareholder, member, partner or trustee of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary

Guarantor under the Debt Securities, the Indentures or any Subsidiary Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Debt Security, each Holder shall be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. The waiver and release shall be a part of the consideration for the issue of the Debt Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Notices

Notices to Holders of Debt Securities will be given by mail to the addresses of such Holders as they may appear in the Security Register.

Title

We, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Trustees and any agent of us, the Subsidiary Guarantors or a Trustee may treat the Person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of the Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security may be overdue) for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

Governing Law

The Indentures and the Debt Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

The Trustee

We will enter into the Indentures with a Trustee that is qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and with any other Trustees chosen by us and appointed in a supplemental indenture for a particular series of Debt Securities. We may maintain a banking relationship in the ordinary course of business with our Trustee and one or more of its affiliates.

Resignation or Removal of Trustee. If the Trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee must either eliminate its conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable Indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor Trustee under the applicable Indenture in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Indenture.

The Trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

Limitations on Trustee if It Is Our Creditor. Each Indenture will contain certain limitations on the right of the Trustee, in the event that it becomes our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.

Certificates and Opinions to Be Furnished to Trustee. Each Indenture will provide that, in addition to other certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by other provisions of an Indenture, every application by us for action by the Trustee must be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to such action have been complied with by us.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following descriptions are summaries of material terms of our common stock, preferred stock, certificate of incorporation and bylaws. This summary is qualified by reference to our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the designations of our preferred stock, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and by the provisions of applicable law.

We are authorized to issue 50.0 million shares of common stock, par value $0.04 per share, and 5.0 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.04 per share. As of January 24, 2014 there were 19,363,711 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding (including 292,632 shares of restricted common stock issued to our employees, executive officers, and members of our board of directors, pursuant to our 2009 Equity Compensation Plan) and held by approximately 284 record owners.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share with respect to each matter presented to our stockholders on which the holders of common stock are entitled to vote. Because holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can elect all of the members of the board of directors standing for election, subject to the rights, powers and preferences of any outstanding series of preferred stock. No share of common stock affords any preemptive rights or is convertible, redeemable, assessable or entitled to the benefits of any sinking or repurchase fund.

Subject to the prior rights of holders of preferred stock, if any, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be lawfully declared from time to time by our board of directors. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of common stock will be entitled to receive such assets as are available for distribution to our stockholders after there shall have been paid or set apart for payment the full amounts necessary to satisfy any preferential or participating rights to which the holders of each outstanding series of preferred stock are entitled by the express terms of the series.

The shares of our common stock presently outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, and any shares issued by us pursuant to this prospectus will be fully paid and non-assessable when issued. Our common stock trades on the NYSE MKT under the symbol “MCF.”

Preferred Stock

Our Board has the authority to issue preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. Our preferred stock is senior to our common stock regarding liquidation. At present, we have no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

Outstanding Options

At January 24, 2014, we had outstanding options for the purchase of approximately 135,107 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $25.70 to $60.33 per share, including employee stock. If we issue additional options, existing stockholders’ percentage ownership of us may be further diluted.

Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter, or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interests, including attempts that might result in a premium being paid over the market price for the shares held by stockholders.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that (unless, as a general matter, a preferred stock designation provides otherwise for that series of preferred stock):

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permit us to issue, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, additional shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting the series and the designation of the series, the voting powers (if any) of the shares of the series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional, and other special rights, if any, and any qualification, limitations or restrictions of the shares of such series;

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require special meetings of the stockholders to be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, by resolution of a majority of the board of directors, or the holder or holders of one-half of all the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereat;

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require business at special meetings to be limited to the stated purpose or purposes of that meeting;

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require that stockholder action be taken at a meeting rather than by written consent, unless approved by our board of directors;

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until October 1, 2014, require that the board of directors be composed of three Crimson Directors (as defined in our bylaws) and five Contango Directors (as defined in our bylaws);

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until October 1, 2014, require a super majority vote of the board of directors, including at least one Crimson Director, to (i) increase or decrease the number of directors on the board of directors, (ii) remove the Chairman and select any replacement of the Chairman, (iii) terminate the President and Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer and select any replacement of such officer, (iv) designate or replace any member, or modify the authority, of the Investment Committee, or (v) amend any provision affecting items (i) through (iv) above;

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require that stockholders follow certain procedures, including advance notice procedures, to bring certain matters before an annual meeting or to nominate a director for election; and

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permit directors to fill vacancies in our board of directors.

The foregoing provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change of control. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and in the policies formulated by the board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management.

Business Combinations. After this offering, we will be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner.

Section 203 defines a “business combination” as a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholders. Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or, in some cases, within three years prior, did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. Under Section 203, a business combination between us and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless:

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our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholders becoming an interested stockholder prior to the date the person attained the status;

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upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and issued employee stock plans, under which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held under the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

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the business combination is approved by our board of directors on or subsequent to the date the person became an interested stockholder and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66²⁄₃% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

This statutory provision has an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, including discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock. With approval of our stockholders, we could amend our certificate of incorporation in the future to elect not to be governed by the anti-takeover law.

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we decide to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us (the “Bank Depositary”). Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.

We have summarized selected provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts. The summary is not complete. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC via a Current Report on Form 8-K prior to our offering of the depositary shares, and you should read such documents for provisions that may be important to you.

Dividends and Other Distributions

If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the Bank Depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares. However, if the Bank Depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the Bank Depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the Bank Depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the Bank Depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the Bank Depositary may determine.

Voting the Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the Bank Depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) may instruct the Bank Depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The Bank Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action which the Bank Depositary deems necessary in order to enable the Bank Depositary to do so. The Bank Depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the Bank Depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the Bank Depositary or us only if (1) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or (2) there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts.

Charges of Bank Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the Bank Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement to be for their accounts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the Bank Depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the Bank Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

Miscellaneous

The Bank Depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the Bank Depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Neither the Bank Depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the Bank Depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and neither of us will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. Further, both of us may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary

The Bank Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the Bank Depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor Bank Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor Bank Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock and/or preferred stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the warrant agreements.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants for the terms of and information relating to the warrants, including, where applicable:

(1) the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and the price at which such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

(2) the date on which the right to exercise the warrants commences and the date on which such right expires (the “Expiration Date”);

(3) United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the warrants;

(4) the amount of the warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

(5) any other terms of the warrants.

Warrants will be offered and exercisable for United States dollars only. Warrants will be issued in registered form only. Each warrant will entitle its holder to purchase such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at such exercise price as is in each case set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. The exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of events described in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the Expiration Date (or such later date to which we may extend such Expiration Date), unexercised warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any warrants, holders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of common stock, including the right to receive payments of any dividends on the common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell securities described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement through underwriters, through broker-dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more investors.

We will prepare a prospectus supplement for each offering that will disclose the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents, the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale, any underwriting discounts, and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers, or agents.

We will fix a price or prices of our securities at:

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market prices prevailing at the time of any sale under this registration statement;

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prices related to market prices; or

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negotiated prices.

We may change the price of the securities offered from time to time.

If we use underwriters or dealers in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account, and they may resell these securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise disclosed in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement if any of the securities are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We may sell the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of the securities for which this prospectus is delivered, and disclose any commissions payable by us to the agent or the method by which the commissions can be determined, in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. We may use electronic media, including the internet, to sell offered securities directly.

We may offer our common stock into an existing trading market on the terms described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. Underwriters, dealers, and agents who participate in any at-the-market offerings will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

We may agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers, and agents who participate in the distribution of securities against certain liabilities to which they may become subject in connection with the sale of the securities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may be customers of, may engage in transactions with and may perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

A prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by the underwriters. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders.

The aggregate maximum compensation the underwriters will receive in connection with the sale of any securities under this prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part will not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds from the sale.

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

In connection with offerings of securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers, or dealers may engage in transactions that stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers, or dealers may over-allot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers, or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution of the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

EXPERTS

Contango

The audited consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Contango Oil & Gas Company incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Certain estimates of proved oil and gas reserves for Contango incorporated by reference herein were based in part upon reports by W.D. Von Gonten & Co. and William M. Cobb & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum engineering firms. These estimates are included and incorporated herein in reliance on the authority of such firms as experts in such matters.

Crimson

The audited consolidated financial statements and schedule, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Crimson Exploration Inc. incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Certain estimates of proved oil and gas reserves for Crimson incorporated by reference herein were based in part upon reports by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum engineering firms. These estimates are included and incorporated herein in reliance on the authority of such firms as experts in such matters

PROSPECTUS

CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

1,287,732 shares of Common Stock

This prospectus relates to 1,287,732 shares of our common stock held by the selling stockholders.

The securities to be offered and sold using this prospectus are currently issued and outstanding shares of our common stock. These shares of common stock may be offered and sold by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus or in any supplement to this prospectus from time to time in accordance with the provisions set forth under “Plan of Distribution.”

The selling stockholders named in this prospectus or in any supplement to this prospectus may sell the shares offered by this prospectus from time to time on any exchange on which the shares are listed on terms to be negotiated with buyers. The selling stockholders named in this prospectus acquired the shares in connection with our merger with Crimson Exploration Inc. in October 2013. The selling stockholders may also sell the shares in private sales or through dealers or agents. The selling stockholders may sell the shares at prevailing market prices or at prices negotiated with buyers. The selling stockholders will be responsible for any underwriting discounts and commissions due to brokers, dealers or agents. We will be responsible for all other offering expenses.

A supplement to this prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.

Investing in our securities involves risk. Please see “Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in the securities.

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol “MCF.” On January 27, 2014, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE MKT was $43.45 per share.

This prospectus is dated January 28, 2014.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page
About This Prospectus		1
The Company		1
Where You Can Find More Information		2
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		3
Risk Factors		5
Use of Proceeds		5
Description of Capital Stock		6
Plan of Distribution		9
The Selling Stockholders		11
Legal Matters		13
Experts		13

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling stockholders named in this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities the selling stockholders may offer. To the extent appropriate, we may provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of the offering. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

THE COMPANY

For additional information as to our business, properties, and financial condition, please refer to the documents cited in “Where You Can Find More Information.”

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

(a)

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on August 29, 2013;

(b)

Crimson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on March 15, 2013;

(c)

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on November 12, 2013;

(d)

(e)

In addition, we incorporate by reference in this prospectus any future filings made by Contango with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) (excluding any information furnished and not filed with the SEC) after the date on which the registration statement that includes this prospectus was initially filed with the SEC (including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) and until all offerings under this shelf registration statement are terminated.

Contango Oil & Gas Company

Attention: Corporate Secretary

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 2900

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 236-7400

We also maintain a website at http://www.contango.com. However, the information on our website is not part of this prospectus.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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our financial position;

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our business strategy, including outsourcing;

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meeting our forecasts and budgets;

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expectations regarding natural gas and oil markets in the United States.

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natural gas and oil price volatility;

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operational constraints, start-up delays and production shut-ins at both operated and non-operated production platforms, pipelines and natural gas processing facilities;

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the risks associated with acting as the operator in drilling deep high pressure and temperature wells, including well blowouts and explosions;

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the timing and successful drilling and completion of natural gas and oil wells;

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availability of capital and the ability to repay indebtedness when due;

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availability and cost of rigs and other materials and operating equipment;

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timely and full receipt of sale proceeds from the sale of our production;

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the ability to find, acquire, market, develop and produce new natural gas and oil properties;

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interest rate volatility;

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uncertainties in the estimation of proved reserves and in the projection of future rates of production and timing of development expenditures;

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operating hazards attendant to the natural gas and oil business including weather, environmental risks, accidental spills, blowouts and pipeline ruptures, and other risks;

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downhole drilling and completion risks that are generally not recoverable from third parties or insurance;

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potential mechanical failure or under-performance of significant wells, production facilities, processing plants or pipeline mishaps;

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actions or inactions of third-party operators of our properties;

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actions or inactions of third-party operators of pipelines or processing facilities;

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the ability to find and retain skilled personnel;

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strength and financial resources of competitors;

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federal and state legislative and regulatory developments and approvals;

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worldwide economic conditions;

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the ability to construct and operate infrastructure, including pipeline and production facilities;

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the continued compliance by us with various pipeline and gas processing plant specifications for the gas and condensate produced by us;

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operating costs, production rates and ultimate reserve recoveries of our natural gas and oil discoveries;

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expanded rigorous monitoring and testing requirements; and

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ability to obtain insurance coverage on commercially reasonable terms.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, including those included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and, if applicable, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock offered under this prospectus. Any proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock under this prospectus will be received by the selling stockholders.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

We are authorized to issue 50.0 million shares of common stock, par value $0.04 per share, and 5.0 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.04 per share. As of January 24, 2014, there were 19,363,711 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding (including 292,632 shares of restricted common stock issued to our employees, executive officers, and members of our board of directors, pursuant to our 2009 Equity Compensation Plan) and held by approximately 284 record owners.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Outstanding Options

Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that (unless, as a general matter, a preferred stock designation provides otherwise for that series of preferred stock):

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require special meetings of the stockholders to be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President by resolution of a majority of the board of directors, or the holder or holders of one-half of all the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereat;

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require business at special meetings to be limited to the stated purpose or purposes of that meeting;

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require that stockholder action be taken at a meeting rather than by written consent, unless approved by our board of directors;

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until October 1, 2014, require that the board of directors be composed of three Crimson Directors (as defined in our bylaws) and five Contango Directors (as defined in our bylaws);

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require that stockholders follow certain procedures, including advance notice procedures, to bring certain matters before an annual meeting or to nominate a director for election; and

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permit directors to fill vacancies in our board of directors.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been advised by the selling stockholders as to any plan of distribution. Distributions of the common stock by the selling stockholders, or by its partners, pledgees, donees (including charitable organizations), transferees or other successors in interest, may from time to time be offered for sale either directly by such individual, or through underwriters, dealers or agents or on any exchange on which the common stock may from time to time be traded, in the over-the-counter market, or in independently negotiated transactions or otherwise. The methods by which the common stock may be sold include:

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a block trade (which may involve crosses) in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

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purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;

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exchange distributions and/or secondary distributions;

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sales in the over-the-counter market;

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underwritten transactions;

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short sales;

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broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares of common stock at a stipulated price per share;

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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

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privately negotiated transactions;

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a combination of any such methods of sale; and

•

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

Such transactions may be effected by the selling stockholders at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may effect such transactions by selling the common stock to underwriters or to or through broker-dealers, and such underwriters or broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts or commissions from the selling stockholders and may receive commissions from the purchasers of the common stock for whom they may act as agent. The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any underwriter, broker-dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving sales of common stock against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. We have agreed to register the shares for sale under the Securities Act and to indemnify the selling stockholders and each person who participates as an underwriter in the offering of common stock against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

In connection with sales of the common stock under this prospectus, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, who may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders also may sell shares of common stock short and deliver them to close out the short positions, or loan or pledge the shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell them.

The selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of the common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. To the extent any of the selling stockholders are broker-dealers, they are, according to SEC interpretation, “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. If any selling stockholder is deemed to be an underwriter, such selling stockholder may be subject to certain statutory liabilities under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The selling stockholders have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares. Upon our notification by a selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with an underwriter or broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution, secondary distribution or a purchase by an underwriter or broker-dealer, we will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing certain material information, including: the number of shares being offered, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents, the public offering price, any underwriting discounts, and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers, or agents.

To the extent required, this prospectus may be supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. Instead of selling the shares of common stock under this prospectus, the selling stockholders may sell the shares of common stock in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, or pursuant to other available exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

There can be no assurances that the selling stockholders will sell any or all of the common stock offered under this prospectus.

THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

This prospectus covers the offering for resale of up to 1,287,732 shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders identified below. No offer or sale may occur unless this prospectus has been declared effective by the SEC, and remains effective at the time such selling stockholders offer or sell such common stock. We are required to update this prospectus to reflect material developments in our business, financial position and results of operations.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the selling stockholders’ beneficial ownership of our common stock as of January 24, 2014. The information presented below is based solely on our review of information provided by the selling stockholders.


Name of Selling Stockholder	Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned		Percentage of Common Stock Beneficially Owned			Number of Shares of Common Stock That May be Sold(1)		Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After Offering
OCM GW Holdings, LLC(2)		1,287,611		6.6	%		1,287,611		0
OCM Crimson Holdings, LLC(2)		121		*			121		0

*	Less than 1%.

(1)

Because the selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the common stock registered hereby, we cannot estimate the number or percentage of common stock that the selling stockholders will hold upon completion of the offering. Accordingly, the information presented in this table assumes that the selling stockholders will sell all of their common stock registered pursuant hereto.

(2)

Representatives of this security holder have advised us that this security holder is an affiliate of a U.S. registered broker-dealer; however, this security holder acquired the shares of our common stock in the ordinary course of business and, at the time of the acquisition, had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any party to distribute the shares of our common stock held by this security holder. OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III, L.P. (“POF III”) is the managing member of OCM GW Holdings, LLC (“OCM GW”), and, therefore, has investment and voting control over the securities held by OCM GW. OCM Principal Opportunities Fund III GP, L.P. (“POF III GP”) is the general partner of POF III, Oaktree Fund GP I, L.P. (“GP I”) is the general partner of POF III GP, Oaktree Capital I, L.P. (“Capital I”) is the general partner of GP I, OCM Holdings I, LLC (“Holdings I”) is the general partner of Capital I, Oaktree Holdings LLC (“Holdings”) is the managing member of Holdings I, Oaktree Capital Group, LLC (“OCG”) is the managing member of Holdings, and Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP, LLC (“OCGH GP”) is the duly appointed manager of OCG. OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV, L.P. (“POF IV”) is the managing member of OCM Crimson Holdings, LLC (“OCM Crimson”) and, therefore, has investment and voting control over the securities held by OCM Crimson. OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV GP, L.P. (the “POF IV GP”) is the general partner of POF IV, OCM Principal Opportunities Fund IV GP, Ltd. (“POF IV Ltd.”) is the general partner of POF IV GP, GP I is the sole stockholder of POF IV Ltd., Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (“Management”) is the sole director of POF IV Ltd., Oaktree Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings Inc.”) is the general partner of Management, and OCG is the sole shareholder of Holdings Inc. POF III, POF III GP, GP I, Capital I, Holdings I, Holdings, OCG, OCGH GP, POF IV, POF IV GP, POF IV Ltd., Management and Holdings, Inc. expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by OCM GW and OCM Crimson, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein.

Selling security holders who are registered broker-dealers are “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. In addition, selling security holders who are affiliates of registered broker-dealers are “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act if such selling security holder (a) did not acquire its shares of common stock in the ordinary course of business or (b) had an agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common shares. To our knowledge, no selling security holder who is a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer received any securities as underwriting compensation.

Any prospectus supplement reflecting a sale of common stock hereunder will set forth, with respect to the selling stockholders:

•

the name of the selling stockholders;

•

the nature of the position, office or other material relationship which the selling stockholders will have had within the prior three years with us or any of our affiliates;

•

the number of shares of common stock owned by the selling stockholders prior to the offering;

•

the amount or number of shares of common stock to be offered for the selling stockholders’ account; and

•

the amount and (if one percent or more) the percentage of common stock to be owned by the selling stockholders after the completion of the offering.

Registration Rights Agreement

In connection with the execution of the merger agreement which provided for the acquisition of Crimson by Contango, we concurrently entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with OCM GW Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and OCM Crimson Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, the selling stockholders, dated as of April 29, 2013. The filing of this prospectus is pursuant to our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

All expenses incurred with the registration of the common stock owned by the selling stockholders will be borne by us.

Relationships with the Selling Stockholders

Prior to our merger with Crimson, three members of the board of directors of Crimson were employees of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., an affiliate of the selling stockholders. Currently, one member of our board of directors, Mr. B. James Ford, is an employee of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. Mr. Ford is a Managing Director of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Legal counsel to any underwriters may pass upon legal matters for such underwriters.

EXPERTS

Contango

Crimson

Certain estimates of proved oil and gas reserves for Crimson incorporated by reference herein were based in part upon reports by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum engineering firm. These estimates are included and incorporated herein in reliance on the authority of such firm as experts in such matters.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby. The amounts set forth below are estimates.


Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee	$	*
Legal fees and expenses		75,000
Accounting fees and expenses		20,000
Printing expenses		20,000
Miscellaneous		10,000

TOTAL	$	125,000

*	Applicable Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees have been deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933 and are not estimable at this time.

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Contango Oil & Gas Company Crimson Exploration Inc.

Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc.

Contango Energy Company

Contango Operators, Inc.

Contango Mining Company

Conterra Company

Contaro Company

Contango Alta Investments, Inc.

Contango Venture Capital Corporation

Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) allows a corporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or to its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for certain unlawful dividends and stock repurchases or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that in the case of any action other than one by or in the right of the corporation, a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity on behalf of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that in the case of an action by or in the right of a corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be

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made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity on behalf of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted under standards similar to those set forth in the preceding paragraph, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any action or claim as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent a court determines that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of each of Contango, Crimson Exploration Inc., Crimson Exploration Operating, Inc., Contango Energy Company, Contango Operators, Inc., Contango Mining Company, Conterra Company, Contaro Company, Contango Alta Investments, Inc. and Contango Venture Capital Corporation provide for indemnification of the respective officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Applicable law permits indemnification for all matters (including those asserted in derivative actions) except for those determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.

Contango has obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance with respect to liabilities arising out of certain matters, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

Item 16.

Exhibits.

The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement:


Exhibit Number	Description

1.1*	—	Form of Underwriting Agreement.

2.1	—	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 29, 2013, by and among Contango Oil & Gas Company, Contango Acquisition, Inc. and Crimson Exploration Inc. (included as Annex A to the joint proxy/prospectus forming a part of this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference)

3.1	—	Certificate of Incorporation of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit to Contango’s report on Form 8-K, dated December 1, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2000)

3.2	—	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit 3.1 to Contango’s report on Form 8-K, dated October 2, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2013)

3.3	—	Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit to Contango’s report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 2002, dated November 14, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission)

4.1	—	Facsimile of common stock certificate of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit to Contango’s Form 10-SB Registration Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 1998)

4.2	—	Form of Senior Indenture.

4.3	—	Form of Subordinated Indenture.

4.4*	—	Form of Warrant Agreement.

4.5*	—	Form of Warrant Certificate.

4.6*	—	Form of Debt Securities.

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Exhibit Number	Description

4.7*	—	Form of Depositary Agreement.

4.8*	—	Form of Depositary Receipt.

5.1	—	Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.

12.1	—	Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

23.1	—	Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for Contango.

23.2	—	Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for Crimson.

23.3	—	Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

23.4	—	Consent of W.D. Von Gonten & Co.

23.5	—	Consent of William M. Cobb & Associates, Inc.

23.6	—	Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1	—	Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).

25.1**	—	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Senior Indenture.

25.2**	—	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Subordinated Indenture.

*	To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K of the registrant.

**	To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.

Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by registrants pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by a Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of an undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by an undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about an undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by an undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(8) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)2 of the Act.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on January 28, 2014.


CONTANGO OIL & GAS COMPANY

By:		/s/ E. Joseph Grady
		E. Joseph Grady
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints E. Joseph Grady and Sergio Castro, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign on his behalf individually and in each capacity stated below any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Allan D. Keel Allan D. Keel	President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	January 28, 2014

/s/ E. Joseph Grady E. Joseph Grady	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	January 28, 2014

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya Yaroslava Makalskaya	Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)	January 28, 2014

/s/ B.A. Berilgen B.A. Berilgen	Director	January 28, 2014

/s/ B. James Ford B. James Ford	Director	January 28, 2014

/s/ Brad Juneau Brad Juneau	Director	January 28, 2014

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Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Lon McCain Lon McCain	Director	January 28, 2014

/s/ Charles M. Reimer Charles M. Reimer	Director	January 28, 2014

/s/ Joseph J. Romano Joseph J. Romano	Director	January 28, 2014

/s/ Steven L. Schoonover Steven L. Schoonover	Director	January 28, 2014

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SIGNATURES


CRIMSON EXPLORATION, INC.

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Allan D. Keel and E. Joseph Grady, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign on his behalf individually and in each capacity stated below any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents and either of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each of the registrants has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on January 28, 2014.


CRIMSON EXPLORATION OPERATING, INC.

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES


CONTANGO ENERGY COMPANY

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES


CONTANGO OPERATORS, INC.

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES


CONTANGO MINING COMPANY

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer
Allan D. Keel		(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
E. Joseph Grady		(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting
Yaroslava Makalskaya		Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES


CONTERRA COMPANY

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer
Allan D. Keel		(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
E. Joseph Grady		(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting
Yaroslava Makalskaya		Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES


CONTARO COMPANY

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer
Allan D. Keel		(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
E. Joseph Grady		(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting
Yaroslava Makalskaya		Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES


CONTANGO ALTA INVESTMENTS, INC.

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer
Allan D. Keel		(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
E. Joseph Grady		(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting
Yaroslava Makalskaya		Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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SIGNATURES


CONTANGO VENTURE CAPITAL CORPORATION

By:		/s/ Allan D. Keel
		Allan D. Keel
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on January 28, 2014.


Signature		Title

/s/ Allan D. Keel Allan D. Keel		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ E. Joseph Grady E. Joseph Grady		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Yaroslava Makalskaya		Vice President, Chief Accounting
Yaroslava Makalskaya		Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit Number	Description

1.1*	—	Form of Underwriting Agreement.

2.1	—	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 29, 2013, by and among Contango Oil & Gas Company, Contango Acquisition, Inc. and Crimson Exploration Inc. (included as Annex A to the joint proxy/prospectus forming a part of this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference)

3.1	—	Certificate of Incorporation of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit to Contango’s report on Form 8-K, dated December 1, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 15, 2000)

3.2	—	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit 3.1 to Contango’s report on Form 8-K, dated October 2, 2013, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2013)

3.3	—	Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit to Contango’s report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 2002, dated November 14, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission)

4.1	—	Facsimile of common stock certificate of Contango Oil & Gas Company (filed as an exhibit to Contango’s Form 10-SB Registration Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 1998)

4.2	—	Form of Senior Indenture.

4.3	—	Form of Subordinated Indenture.

4.4*	—	Form of Warrant Agreement.

4.5*	—	Form of Warrant Certificate.

4.6*	—	Form of Debt Securities.

4.7*	—	Form of Depositary Agreement.

4.8*	—	Form of Depositary Receipt.

5.1	—	Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.

12.1	—	Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

23.1	—	Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for Contango

23.2	—	Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for Crimson

23.3	—	Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.

23.4	—	Consent of W.D. Von Gonten & Co.

23.5	—	Consent of William M. Cobb & Associates, Inc.

23.6	—	Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1	—	Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).

25.1**	—	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Senior Indenture.

25.2**	—	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Subordinated Indenture.

*	To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K of the registrant.

**	To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.

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