EXHIBIT 5.
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P R E S S R E L E A S E
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[LOGO - HARVEST ENERGY TRUST]
HARVEST ENERGY TRUST - NEWS RELEASE
(HTE.UN - TSX; HTE - NYSE)
HARVEST ENERGY TRUST ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF C$260 MILLION PRODUCING
PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND NEW CREDIT FACILITY
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CALGARY, AUGUST 2, 2005 (TSX: HTE.UN, NYSE: HTE) - Harvest Energy Trust (the
"Trust" or "Harvest") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously
announced acquisition of crude oil producing properties in the Hay River area of
north eastern British Columbia for $238 million, after closing adjustments.
The following outlines the highlights of the acquisition and benefits to Harvest
stakeholders:
o High quality property with a significant original oil in place (OOIP)
accumulation, estimated to be approximately 180 million barrels with
cumulative recoveries to date of 5.6%, consistent with Harvest's
targeted acquisition strategy;
o 5,200 barrels of oil production per day (bopd) of medium gravity oil
(24(degree) API);
o 19.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe) of proved plus probable
(P+P) reserves (6% natural gas) (17.2 MMBoe after royalties) as
determined by independent petroleum engineers;
o Favourable acquisition parameters of $45,800 per boepd of current
production, $13.15 per boe of P+P reserves;
o Recycle ratio of 2.8 times based on the independent engineering
assessment. Recycle ratio measures return on investment and is the
ratio of the netback received from production divided by the
acquisition cost per boe;
o Reserve life index (RLI) of 10.4, increasing Harvest's overall RLI to
approximately 8.4;
o Area operating costs for 2005 estimated to be $7.75 per barrel;
o 100% working interest and operated;
o Significant inventory of property enhancement projects including infill
drilling, fluid handling optimization and future natural gas oriented
exploration and development opportunities;
o Approximately 54,000 net undeveloped acres of land; and,
o On a pro forma basis, Harvest's total production will be approximately
40,000 boepd.
RESERVES:
The table below summarizes the acquired reserves (gross and net of royalties) as
at April 1, 2005. The reserves were evaluated by Sproule Associates Ltd.
("Sproule") in accordance with National Instrument 51-101.
NATURAL GAS
OIL (MBBL) (MMCF) MBOE
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Gross of Royalties
Proved Producing 12,893 6,512 13,979
Total Proved 15,335 6,512 16,420
Proved plus Probable 18,518 7,566 19,779
Net of Royalties
Proved Producing 11,354 5,464 12,264
Total Proved 13,435 5,464 14,346
Proved plus Probable 16,143 6,346 17,200
Press Release
Harvest Energy Trust Page 2 of 2 August 2, 2005
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The property is situated in northern B.C. Development to date has consisted of
multiple-leg horizontal producing and injection wells and potential exists for
additional infill wells. Pressure support is provided by a natural gas cap,
which the independent engineering assumes will start to be produced in 2016. 74
drilling locations have been identified, but will be subject to further analysis
and economic evaluation.
Following from this acquisition, Harvest has approved a revised capital budget
for 2005 of $110 million.
The acquisition was financed with a new revolving credit facility (the "New
Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks. The New Credit Facility increases
Harvest's borrowing capacity from $325 million to $400 million and will bear
interest at the prime rate plus an applicable margin as determined by the
Trust's debt to cash flow ratio. The New Credit Facility is secured by a $750
million principal amount fixed and floating charge debenture over substantially
all of the Trust's assets. The New Credit Facility is scheduled to mature in
July 2006 subject to a one-year extension and a semi-annual review of the
borrowing base.
The amount drawn on this facility was partially repaid with funds from the $250
million bought deal financing which closed earlier today. Pursuant to this
financing, Harvest issued 6,505,600 Subscription Receipts at a price of $26.90
per subscription receipt for gross proceeds of $175 million and $75 million
principal amount of 6.5% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures due
December 2010. With the closing of the acquisition, holders of subscription
receipts will receive one Trust Unit for each subscription receipt held,
effective at 5:00 p.m. (Calgary time) today. Subscription receipt holders will
be entitled to receive the September 15th distribution payment if they continue
to hold their Trust Units until the record date for August distributions.
Investors who hold their subscription receipts through brokers or other
intermediaries need not take any action in order to receive the Trust Units to
which they are entitled.
The Subscription Receipts and the Trust Units issuable upon conversion thereof
as well as the Debentures have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent
registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This
news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction.
Harvest Energy Trust is a Calgary-based energy trust actively managed to deliver
stable monthly cash distributions to its Unitholders through its strategy of
acquiring, enhancing and producing crude oil, natural gas and natural gas
liquids. Harvest trust units are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)
under the symbol "HTE.UN" and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the
symbol "HTE". Please visit Harvest's website at www.harvestenergy.ca for
additional corporate information and a recent corporate presentation.
INVESTOR & MEDIA CONTACTS:
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JACOB ROORDA
President CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE:
Harvest Energy Trust
- -------------------------- 2100, 330 - 5th Avenue S.W.
DAVID RAIN Calgary, AB Canada T2P 0L4
Vice President & CFO
PHONE: (403) 265-1178
- -------------------------- TOLL FREE: (866) 666-1178
CINDY GRAY Fax: (403) 265-3490
Investor Relations & EMAIL: information@harvestenergy.ca
Communications Advisor WEBSITE: www.harvestenergy.ca
gray@harvestenergy.ca
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ADVISORY: Certain information regarding Harvest Energy Trust and Harvest
Operations Corp. including management's assessment of future plans and
operations, may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable
securities law and necessarily involve risks associated with oil and gas
development, production, marketing and transportation such as loss of market,
volatility of prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates,
environmental risks, competition from other producers and ability to access
sufficient capital from internal and external sources; as a consequence, actual
results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking
statements.