Suncor Energy Inc. and Petro-Canada have announced an agreement to merge the two companies. Upon completion of the transaction, the parties have agreed the combined entity will operate corporately and trade under the Suncor name, while maintaining the strong brand presence and customer loyalty of Petro-Canada in refined products.

"This merger creates a made-in-Canada energy leader with the assets, cost structure and financial strength to compete globally," said Rick George, president and chief executive officer of Suncor and now the merged entity. "The combined portfolio boasts the largest oil sands resource position, a strong Canadian downstream brand, solid conventional exploration and production assets, and low-cost production from Canada's east coast and internationally."

Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement entered into between Suncor and Petro-Canada, the proposed merger will be effected by way of a Plan of Arrangement completed under the Canada Business Corporations Act. It will feature a common share exchange through which Petro-Canada common shareholders will effectively receive 1.28 common shares of the merged company for each common share of Petro-Canada they own and each Suncor common shareholder will receive one common share of the merged company for each common share of Suncor they own. The exchange ratio represents an approximate 25% premium for the Petro-Canada shares to the 30-day weighted-average trading price of such shares. On completion of the proposed transaction, Suncor's existing shareholders will own approximately 60% and Petro-Canada shareholders will own approximately 40% of the merged company.

For more information, visit www.suncor.com/default.aspx?cid=988.