SOLD! to the big trust in the corner.Penn West Energy Trust and C1 Energy Ltd. announce a take-over bid for C1 Energy Ltd.
Thursday May 31, 9:39 pm ET
PENN WEST ENERGY TRUST (TSX - PWT.UN; NYSE - PWE) and C1 ENERGY LTD. (TSX - CTT) jointly announce a cash take-over bid for the shares of C1 Energy Ltd.
CALGARY, May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Penn West Energy Trust (the "Trust") and C1 Energy Ltd. ("C1") are pleased to announce that the Trust's wholly-owned subsidiary, Penn West Petroleum Ltd. ("Penn West"), has entered into an agreement with C1 pursuant to which Penn West will make an offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of C1 by way of a take-over bid. The consideration offered for each common share of C1 will be $0.20 cash. The Offer will be subject to a number of conditions, including its acceptance by holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding common shares of C1. The total purchase price offered by Penn West will total approximately $23 million, including the assumption of outstanding debt and working capital deficiency but prior to Penn West's closing costs. Certain of C1's assets are located in the Peace River Arch area of Alberta near Penn West's strategic Peace River Oil Sands project.
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The Board of Directors of C1 has unanimously approved the proposed transaction and has agreed to recommend that its shareholders accept the Offer. GMP Securities L.P. has provided a verbal fairness opinion to the Board of Directors of C1 indicating that, subject to its review of all formal documentation, the consideration to be received by C1 shareholders is fair from a financial point of view. The Board of Directors of C1 has agreed that it will not solicit or initiate discussions or negotiations with any third party concerning any sale of any material position or assets of C1, or any business combination involving C1, and C1 has granted Penn West the right to match any subsequent offer. C1 has agreed to pay Penn West a non-completion fee of $1 million in certain circumstances. Penn West anticipates mailing the Offer to all registered C1 shareholders on or before June 15, 2007 and the Offer will expire approximately 35 days thereafter. Certain major shareholders, senior management and directors have agreed to enter into lock-up agreements with Penn West to deposit and not withdraw their shares under the Offer, except in certain circumstances.
Forward-looking statements