EEX and Newfield Announce Merger Plans

EEX

EEX Corporation has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Newfield Exploration Company.

Under the agreement, each share of EEX common stock would receive 0.05703 shares of Newfield common stock. EEX's common shareholders will also have the option to elect to receive units in a new trust in lieu of Newfield stock. Approximately 42.5 million trust units will be available. For each unit that an EEX shareholder elects to receive, the number of shares of Newfield common stock that the shareholder would otherwise receive will be reduced by 0.00054 of one share. The trust will own overriding royalty interests in future production from defined intervals generally below 20,000 feet from certain Gulf of Mexico lease blocks in which EEX owns or may acquire an interest. There is no production currently associated with the royalty interests.

The holders of EEX's preferred stock, each of whom has signed a voting agreement to vote its shares in favor of the merger, will receive a total of 4.7 million shares of Newfield common stock in the merger.

Tom Hamilton, Chairman and President, Chief Executive Officer, said, "This merger combines two strong onshore U.S. production companies and will provide significant economies of scale in their operation. The combined companies will have the strong balance sheet necessary to realize the potential value represented by EEX's Llano area assets and Gulf of Mexico deep prospect exploration inventory. In addition to the Newfield shares, the royalty trust arrangement provides the EEX shareholders an opportunity to realize incremental value from the exploration potential of our deep shelf program."

This merger is structured to be a tax-free reorganization under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, except to the extent of cash paid in lieu of fractional shares and units in the royalty trust.

The merger is subject to the approval of EEX's shareholders, certain regulatory approvals and other conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2002. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as financial advisors and have provided fairness opinions to EEX in this transaction.

EEX has also entered into a new $250 million secured revolving credit agreement with its banks that replaces the current agreement under which EEX was in default. This new bank agreement expires March 31, 2003.

EEX Corporation is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company with activities currently focused in Texas, Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.


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