FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORP
POS AM, 1998-03-31
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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          AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 31, 1998
                                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 333-45469

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                         ------------------------------

                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

                                    FORM S-2

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         ------------------------------

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           DELAWARE                      1311                    95-4114732
      (State of other         (Primary Standard Industrial    (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of incorporation  Classification Code Number)   Identification No.)
      or organization)

                         515 WEST GREENS ROAD, SUITE 720
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77067
                                 (281) 872-1170
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                              DEAN W. DRULIAS, ESQ.
                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                         515 WEST GREENS ROAD, SUITE 720
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77067
                                 (281) 872-1170
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:

                               JOHN W. MENKE, ESQ.
                       BOYER, EWING & HARRIS INCORPORATED
                                THE COASTAL TOWER
                         NINE GREENWAY PLAZA, SUITE 3100
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77046
                                 (713) 871-2025

                  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED
                SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as practicable after
                 this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                         ------------------------------

         If any of the  securities  being  registered  on  this  Form  are to be
offered  on a  delayed  or  continuous  basis  pursuant  to Rule 415  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. [ X ]

         If the  registrant  elects  to  deliver  its  latest  annual  report to
security holders, or a complete and legible facsimile thereof,  pursuant to Item
11(a)(1) of this Form, check the following box. [ ]

         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 delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ] 

                         ------------------------------



<PAGE>

                      FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION
                                 EXCHANGE OFFER
                      SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PROSPECTUS DATED
                                FEBRUARY 12, 1998



         Fortune  Natural  Resources  Corporation  ("Fortune" or the  "Company")
hereby  amends its  Prospectus  dated  February 12, 1998,  pursuant to which the
Company  made an offer to the holders of its public  warrants  and certain  unit
purchase  warrants  as  defined in such  Prospectus  (collectively  "Old  Public
Warrants") to exchange such Old Public  Warrants for New Warrants.  The purposes
of the amendment are to extend the expiration  date of the Exchange Offer and to
report the sale of the Company's  interest in a major property.  This supplement
must be read in conjunction  with the  Prospectus,  a copy of which was recently
forwarded to each warrantholder.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein
have the meaning set forth in the Prospectus.


EXTENSION OF EXPIRATION DATE

         The Expiration Date of the Exchange Offer,  which was previously set to
expire at 5:00 P.M. New York City time on March 31, 1998,  has been  extended to
5:00 P.M. New York City time on April 15, 1998,  unless further  extended by the
Company.  As of about mid-day on March 31, 1998,  1,752,513 Old Public  Warrants
have been tendered to the Company in connection  with the Exchange  Offer.  This
represents 89% of the total Old Public Warrants subject to the Exchange Offer.

         All other terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer remain the same as
set forth in the Prospectus.

         To the extent any warrantholder has previously  tendered any Old Public
Warrants in the  Exchange  Offer,  the  tendering  Warrantholder  is entitled to
rescind his or her tender by written  notice to the Exchange  Agent as set forth
in "The Exchange Offer - Withdrawal Rights" in the Prospectus. If such tender is
not  rescinded  by 5:00 P.M.,  New York City time,  April 15,  1998,  it will be
deemed accepted.





                 THESE SECURITIES INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                      SEE "RISK FACTORS" IN THE PROSPECTUS.

          THIS EXCHANGE OFFER EXPIRES AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME,
                                 APRIL 15, 1998.


  THE DATE OF THIS SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO THE PROSPECTUS IS ______________, 1998.


                                       S2-1
<PAGE>

SALE OF EAST BAYOU SORREL

         On March 31, 1998, Fortune Natural Resources Corporation  ("Fortune" or
"the  Company")  sold its  interest in the East Bayou  Sorrel  field,  Iberville
Parish,  Louisiana  to National  Energy  Group,  Inc.  for cash in the amount of
$4,695,000.  The  properties  sold  consisted of the  Company's  interest in the
Schwing  #1 and  #2  wells  and  all of the  Company's  leases,  facilities  and
interests  in the East Bayou  Sorrel  area of mutual  interest,  as such area is
defined in the East Bayou  Sorrel  operating  agreement.  The sale is  effective
April 1, 1998. The sale closed on March 31, 1998, whereupon the Company received
$4,535,000, which is net of ordinary closing adjustments.

         The Company's interest in the two productive wells at East Bayou Sorrel
were pledged to secure the Company's Credit Facility with Credit  Lyonnais.  The
total  balance  outstanding  under the  Credit  Facility  prior to this sale was
$550,000. Concurrently with closing the sale of the East Bayou Sorrel field, the
Company paid down the  outstanding  balance of the Credit  Facility by $540,000.
The Company plans to reinvest the remaining proceeds from the sale of East Bayou
Sorrel into its exploration,  development and property  acquisition  activities,
including,  for example, future anticipated exploration and development wells at
its Espiritu Santo Bay and LaRosa 3D seismic exploration projects.

         The Schwing #1 and #2 wells began  producing from permanent  production
facilities in January 1997 and June 1997, respectively. Although both wells have
been shut-in since March 13, 1998 pending the repair of  production  facilities,
they accounted for a significant portion of the Company's operations during 1997
and proved  reserves as of December  31,  1997.  A third well in the field,  the
Schwing #3, which spud October 9, 1997 was temporarily  plugged and abandoned on
March 5, 1998 pending further evaluation of the well's potential.  The Company's
share of this well is estimated to cost  approximately $1 million as a result of
difficult drilling conditions and mechanical problems encountered while drilling
and attempting to complete the well. Selected financial information attributable
to the Company's interest in the East Bayou Sorrel field as reported in its 1997
operating and financial results is as follows:

                                                           Year Ended
                                                       December 31, 1997
                                                       -----------------
       Production
           Oil (Bbls)                                          55,000
           Gas (Mcf)                                           78,000

       Oil and Gas Revenues                             $   1,241,000
       Production and Operating Expense                       205,000
       Provision for Depletion, Depreciation
          and Amortization*                                   430,000

                                                    As of December 31, 1997
                                                    -----------------------
       Estimated Net Reserve Quantities
       of Total Proved Reserves
           Oil (Bbls)                                         152,000
           Gas (Mcf)                                          204,000

         This  represents  32% and 30% of the Company's oil and gas revenues and
equivalent  oil  production  and 23% of the  Company's  estimated  quantities of
equivalent  proved oil  reserves  as of December  31,  1997.  Consequently,  the
Company's revenues and cash flow from operations will decrease  significantly in
1998  unless the  production  is replaced  through  successful  exploration  and
development activities or through the acquisition of producing properties.



*   Represents   the  estimated   reduction  in   depreciation,   depletion  and
    amortization  expense  reported  by the  Company  in 1997  that  would  have
    resulted  from  excluding  the  East  Bayou  Sorrel  production  and  proved
    reserves.


                                       S2-2
<PAGE>

RECENT STOCK AND OLD PUBLIC WARRANT PRICE

         Since  January 1, 1998,  the high and low closing  prices of the Common
Stock  and the Old  Public  Warrants  of the  Company  on the AMEX  have been as
follows:
                                                                     Old Public
                                                 Common Stock        Warrants
                                                --------------  ----------------
                                                 High     Low     High     Low

         1998
         First quarter through March 30, 1998   $2 5/8  $1 3/8  $  7/16  $  3/16


         On March 30,  1998,  the closing  price of the Common Stock on the AMEX
was $1.94 per share and the Old Public Warrants was $0.25 per warrant.


                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The following  documents  filed by the Company with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the "Commission")  pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934  (the  "Exchange  Act")  (File No.  1-12334)  are  incorporated  in this
Prospectus by reference and are made a part hereof:

1.   Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1997,  filed on
     March 3, 1998.

2.   Current report on Form 8-K filed March 31, 1998.

         The Company  will  provide  without  charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered,  upon oral or written request,  a copy of any or all of
the  documents  incorporated  herein by reference  (other than  exhibits to such
documents,  unless such exhibits are  specifically  incorporated by reference in
such  documents).  Written or telephone  requests  should be directed to Fortune
Natural Resources  Corporation,  515 West Greens Road, Suite 720, Houston, Texas
77067. Attention: Dean W. Drulias, General Counsel (telephone (281) 872-1170).


                                       S2-3
<PAGE>

ITEM 16.   EXHIBITS

         Number       Description

          10.1        Assignment and Bill of Sale dated March 31, 1998,  between
                      Fortune Natural Resources  Corporation and National Energy
                      Group,  Inc.  (incorporated  by reference to  Registrant's
                      Form 8-K filed on March 31, 1998).

          10.2        Letter  Agreement  dated March 31, 1998,  between  Fortune
                      Natural  Resources  Corporation and National Energy Group,
                      Inc.  (incorporated by reference to Registrant's  Form 8-K
                      filed on March 31, 1998).

          23.1*       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP



- ----------------
*Filed herewith


                                       S2-4
<PAGE>



                                   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-2 and has  duly  authorized  this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly  authorized,  in the City of Houston,
State of Texas, on March 31, 1998.

                                  FORTUNE NATURAL RESOURCES CORPORATION


                                  By:  /s/  Tyrone J. Fairbanks
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       Tyrone J. Fairbanks
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  By:  /s/  J. Michael Urban
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       J. Michael Urban
                                       Vice President and Chief Financial
                                       and Accounting Officer


         In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by
the following person in the capacities and on the dates stated.

          Name                           Title                        Date

/s/ Tyrone J. Fairbanks
- ----------------------------
    Tyrone J. Fairbanks          Chief Executive Officer 
                                   and Director                   March 31, 1998


/s/ Dean W. Drulias
- ----------------------------
    Dean W. Drulias              Executive Vice President, 
                                   General Counsel, Corporate 
                                   Secretary and Director         March 31, 1998

    Graham S. Folsom*
- ----------------------------
    Graham S. Folsom             Director                         March 31, 1998


 William T. Walker, Jr.*
- ----------------------------
 William T. Walker, Jr.          Director                         March 31, 1998


      Barry Feiner*
- ----------------------------
      Barry Feiner               Director                         March 31, 1998



- ----------------------------
       Gary Gelman               Director                         March 31, 1998


   D. R. Shaughnessy*
- ----------------------------
   D. R. Shaughnessy             Director                         March 31, 1998


*By: /s/ Tyrone J. Fairbanks
     -----------------------
     Tyrone J. Fairbanks
     (Attorney-in-fact)


                                       S2-5
<PAGE>



                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS





The Board of Directors
Fortune Natural Resources Corporation:


     We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference in the
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-2 (No. 333-45469) dated March 31, 1998.





/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
- -------------------------

Houston, Texas
March 31, 1998





                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



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