CALGARY, ALBERTA - Jan. 23, 2005 /CNW/ - Paramount Resources
Ltd. (TSX:POU) announces that it is amending its exchange offer and
consent solicitation (the "Notes Offer") for its senior unsecured notes
following negotiations with representatives of the noteholder committee
formed in response to the Notes Offer. The principal amendments are as
follows:
- the cash component of the consideration for each US$1,000 of 7 7/8%
Senior Notes due 2010 (the "2010 Notes") and 8 7/8% Senior Notes due
2014 (the "2014 Notes") will be US$138.05 and US$220.20, respectively;
and
- the terms of the new Paramount notes to be issued in exchange for the
2010 Notes and 2014 Notes will be changed so that:
- the maturity date will be January 31, 2013
- the interest rate will be 8.5% per year
- Paramount's obligations under the notes will be secured by
substantially all of the trust units held by Paramount immediately
following completion of its proposed trust spin-out transaction
- if, on September 30, 2005, noteholders owning more than 50% of the
notes so elect, Paramount will be required to increase the interest rate
to 10.5% per year commencing February 1, 2006 and, if so required,
Paramount will be entitled to redeem all of the notes at any time on or
before January 31, 2006 at par plus accrued and unpaid interest
Details of the amendments will be set forth in an amendment to
Paramount's prospectus supplement and solicitation statement for the
Notes Offer, which is expected to be sent to noteholders and filed with
securities regulatory authorities shortly. The amended Notes Offer will
be conditional upon Paramount obtaining requisite consents from the
lenders under its existing senior credit facilities, which Paramount
expects to obtain.
The offer expiration date for the Notes Offer has also been extended to
5:00 pm New York time on February 4, 2005.
Noteholders beneficially owning or controlling, directly or indirectly,
approximately 30% of the 2010 Notes and approximately 43% of the 2014
Notes have entered into agreements with Paramount pursuant to which they
have agreed to tender their notes to the amended Notes Offer. The notes
covered by the tender commitments together with the notes already
tendered under the offer exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the
minimum tender condition of the offer. Paramount intends to proceed with
the special meeting of securityholders necessary to approve its proposed
trust spin-out transaction, which is now anticipated to be held in late
March.
Paramount is a Canadian oil and natural gas exploration, development and
production company with operations focused in Western Canada.
Paramount's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under
the symbol "POU".
This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an
offer to participate in the Notes Offer.
Advisory Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, this press release contains
forward-looking statements relating to: the timing of the sending and
filing of the amendment to Paramount's prospectus supplement and
solicitation statement; Paramount obtaining the requisite consents from
the lenders under its existing senior credit facilities; and the
anticipated timing of the special meeting of securityholders. The reader
is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such
information, although considered reasonable by Paramount at the time of
preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Actual events may vary from
those provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks
and uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, but are not
limited to: the failure to obtain the requisite consents from the
lenders under its existing senior credit facilities; the failure to
obtain the minimum tender condition of the offer; general economic
conditions; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of
Paramount. There is no representation by Paramount that actual events
will be the same in whole or in part as those forecast.
