CALGARY, ALBERTA--(MARKET WIRE)--Apr 21, 2008 -- Paramount Energy Trust (Toronto:
PMT-UN.TO -
News) ("PET" or the "Trust")
confirmed today that its distribution to be paid on May
15, 2008 in respect of income received by PET for the month
of April 2008, for Unitholders of record on April 30, 2008,
will be $0.10 per Trust Unit. The ex-distribution date is
April 28, 2008. The April 2008 distribution brings cumulative
distributions paid since the inception of the Trust in February
2003 to $12.324 per Trust Unit.
The Trust also confirms that there will continue to be no
Trust Units available under the Optional Cash Payments component
of its Distribution Reinvestment Plan ("DRIP"). The Distribution
Reinvestment component of the DRIP will continue to be active.
Natural gas prices remain highly volatile largely around
uncertainty regarding weather and its effect on natural
gas demand and storage. PET will continue to actively manage
its risk management program. Financial and physical forward
sales arrangements at the AECO and NYMEX trading hubs as
at April 18, 2008 are as follows:
Current
% of Forward
Volumes at Budget Price
Type of AECO (2) Production Price (4)
contract (GJ/d) (3) ($/GJ) ($/GJ) Term
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Financial 84,500 7.44 May 2008
Physical 5,500 7.00 May 2008
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Period total
AECO, net (1) 90,000 7.41 9.06 May 2008
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Financial
NYMEX 10,000 7.70 US$ May 2008
Physical
NYMEX 5,000 6.68 US$ May 2008
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Period total
NYMEX,
net (1) 15,000 7.36 US$ 10.63 US$ May 2008
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Period total,
net (1) 105,000 48% May 2008
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Financial 82,000 7.41 June - October 2008
Physical 5,500 7.00 June - October 2008
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Period total
AECO, net (1) 87,500 7.38 9.30 June - October 2008
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Financial
NYMEX 10,000 7.70 US$ June - October 2008
Physical
NYMEX 5,000 6.68 US$ June - October 2008
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Period total
NYMEX,
net (1) 15,000 7.36 US$ 10.89 US$ June - October 2008
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Period total,
net (1) 102,500 47% June - October 2008
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November 2008 -
Financial 96,000 7.85 March 2009
November 2008 -
Physical 2,500 8.22 March 2009
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Period total, November 2008 -
net (1) 98,500 45% 7.88 9.96 March 2009
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Financial 12,500 7.35 April - October 2009
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Period total,
net (1) 12,500 6% 7.35 8.22 April - October 2009
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(1) Weighted average prices are calculated by netting the volumes of the
financial and physical sold/bought contracts together and measuring the
net volume at the weighted average "sold" price for the financial and
physical contracts. Included in the November 2008 - March 2009 volume
summary is a collar to sell forward 5,000 GJ/d at a floor price of $7.00
per GJ at AECO and a ceiling price of $8.00 per GJ. The ceiling price
is used in the weighted average price calculation.
(2) All transactions at AECO unless identified specifically as a NYMEX
transaction.
(3) Includes actual and gas over bitumen deemed projected production
volumes.
(4) Average AECO monthly index for May through December 2008 as at April 18,
2008 is $9.37 per GJ.PET monitors the market drivers with respect to natural
gas prices and will proactively manage the Trust's forward
price exposure. Based on current natural gas prices, PET
expects to maintain monthly distributions at the current
level for the foreseeable future. Incorporating PET's current
hedging portfolio and the forward market for natural gas
prices into the Trust's production, operations and cash
flow forecasts for 2008, the current level of distribution
annualized would result in an average payout ratio of approximately
48 percent for 2008 and bank debt at year end of approximately
$275 million. The Trust continues to focus on what we believe
is a sustainable distribution model that balances short
term cash returns to our Unitholders and long term value
creation through capital reinvestment. PET reviews distributions
on a monthly basis. Future distributions are subject to
change as dictated by changes in commodity price markets,
operations and future business development opportunities.
Forward-looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking information.
Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of
levels of cash distributions, payout ratios and year-end
bank debt estimates, are assumptions regarding natural gas
prices, production, royalties and expenses which, although
considered reasonable by PET at the time of preparation,
may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements
are based on certain assumptions that involve a number of
risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future
performance. Actual results could differ materially as a
result of changes in PET's plans, changes in commodity prices,
general economic, market, regulatory and business conditions
as well as production, development and operating performance
and other risks associated with oil and gas operations.
There is no guarantee by PET that actual results achieved
will be the same as those forecast herein. Additional information
on these and other factors that could affect the Trust is
included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory
authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website
(www.sedar.com) and at
PET's website (www.paramountenergy.com).
Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in
this news release are made as of the date hereof and PET
does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or
revise any of the included forward-looking information or
statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required
by applicable securities law.
Non-GAAP Measures
This news release contains financial measures that may not
be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in Canada ("GAAP"). Readers are referred to advisories
and further discussion on non-GAAP measures contained in
the "Significant Accounting Policies and Non-GAAP Measures"
section of the Trust's Management's Discussion and Analysis.
Mcf equivalent (Mcfe) may be misleading, particularly if
used in isolation. In accordance with National Instrument
51-101 ("NI 51-101"), an Mcfe conversion ratio for oil of
1 Bbl: 6 Mcf has been used, which is based on an energy
equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the
burner tip and does not necessarily represent a value equivalency
at the wellhead.
Paramount Energy Trust is a natural gas-focused Canadian
energy trust. PET's Trust Units and Convertible Debentures
are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols
"PMT.UN", "PMT.DB", "PMT.DB.A", "PMT.DB.B", and "PMT.DB.C"
respectively. Further information with respect to PET can
be found at its website at www.paramountenergy.com.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved
the information contained herein.