4. INVESTMENT IN PINNACLE GAS RESOURCES, INC.

THE PINNACLE TRANSACTION

On June 23, 2003, pursuant to a Subscription and Contribution Agreement by and among the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, CCBM, Inc. ("CCBM"), Rocky Mountain Gas, Inc. ("RMG") and the Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity entities, named therein (the "CSFB Parties"), CCBM and RMG contributed their respective interests, having a estimated fair value of approximately $7.5 million each, in (1) leases in the Clearmont, Kirby, Arvada and Bobcat project areas and (2) oil and natural gas reserves in the Bobcat project area to a newly formed entity, Pinnacle Gas Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Pinnacle"). In exchange for the contribution of these assets, CCBM and RMG each received 37.5% of the common stock of Pinnacle ("Pinnacle Common Stock") as of the closing date and options to purchase Pinnacle Common Stock ("Pinnacle Stock Options"). CCBM no longer has a drilling obligation in connection with the oil and natural gas leases contributed to Pinnacle.

Simultaneously with the contribution of these assets, the CSFB Parties contributed approximately $17.6 million of cash to Pinnacle in return for the Redeemable Preferred Stock of Pinnacle ("Pinnacle Preferred Stock"), 25% of the Pinnacle Common Stock as of the closing date and warrants to purchase Pinnacle Common Stock ("Pinnacle Warrants"). The CSFB Parties also agreed to contribute additional cash, under certain circumstances, of up to approximately $11.8 million to Pinnacle to fund future drilling, development and acquisitions. The CSFB Parties currently have greater than 50% of the voting power of the Pinnacle capital stock through their ownership of Pinnacle Common Stock and Pinnacle Preferred Stock.

Immediately following the contribution and funding, Pinnacle used approximately $6.2 million of the proceeds from the funding to acquire an approximate 50% working interest in existing leases and acreage prospective for coalbed methane development in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming from Gastar Exploration, Ltd. Pinnacle also agreed to fund up to $14.9 million of future drilling and development costs on these properties on behalf of Gastar prior to December 31, 2005. The drilling and development work will be done under the terms of an earn-in joint venture agreement between Pinnacle and Gastar. The majority of these leases are part of, or adjacent to, the Bobcat project area. All of CCBM and RMG's interests in the Bobcat project area, the only producing coalbed methane property owned by CCBM prior to the transaction, were contributed to Pinnacle.

Prior to and in connection with its contribution of assets to Pinnacle, CCBM paid RMG approximately $1.8 million in cash as part of its outstanding purchase obligation on the coalbed methane property interests CCBM previously acquired from RMG. As of June 30, 2003, approximately $1.1 million remaining balance of CCBM's obligation to RMG is scheduled to be paid in monthly installments of approximately $52,805 through November 2004 and a balloon payment on December 31, 2004. The RMG note is secured solely by CCBM's interests in the remaining oil and natural gas leases in Wyoming and Montana. In connection with the Company's investment in Pinnacle, the Company received a reduction in the principal amount of the RMG note of approximately $1.5 million and relinquished the right to receive certain revenues related to the properties contributed to Pinnacle.

CCBM continues its coalbed methane business activities and, in addition to its interest in Pinnacle, owns direct interests in acreage in coalbed methane properties in the Castle Rock project area in Montana and the Oyster Ridge project area in Wyoming, which were not contributed to Pinnacle. CCBM and RMG will continue to conduct exploration and development activities on these properties as well as pursue other potential acquisitions. Other than indirectly through Pinnacle, CCBM currently has no proved reserves of, and is no longer receiving revenue from, coalbed methane gas.

As of December 31, 2003, on a fully diluted basis, assuming that all parties exercised their Pinnacle Warrants and Pinnacle Stock Options, the CSFB Parties, CCBM and RMG would have ownership interests of approximately 46.2%, 26.9% and 26.9%, respectively. In March 2004, the CSFB Parties contributed additional funds of $11.8 million into Pinnacle to continue funding the 2004 development program which will increase their ownership to 66.7% on a fully diluted basis should CCBM and RMG each elect not to exercise their available options. Assuming that CCBM and RMG exercise their Pinnacle Stock Options, the CSFB parties' ownership interest in Pinnacle would be 54.6% and CCBM and RMG each would own 22.7% on a fully diluted basis.

For accounting purposes, the transaction was treated as a reclassification of a portion of CCBM's investments in the contributed properties. The property contribution made by CCBM to Pinnacle is intended to be treated as a tax-deferred exchange as constituted by property transfers under section 351(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

The reclassification of investments in contributed properties resulting from the transaction with Pinnacle are reflected in accordance with the full cost method of accounting in the Company's balance sheet included in this Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

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