Montana Exploration Corp. Announces Assignment and Proposed Extension and Amendment of Credit Facilities and Issuance of Warrants

TSX-V SYMBOL: MTZ

CALGARY, March 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Montana Exploration Corp. ("MTZ" or the "Company") announces that Rioco Partners, Ltd. ("Rioco"), a limited partnership controlled by a director and the largest shareholder of the Company, has assumed the entire balance of the credit facility from the Company's principal lender, a Canadian chartered bank (the "Bank"), through the payment of approximately $2.4 million. Rioco has assumed the indebtedness to provide the Company with financial flexibility as it puts in place a business plan to pursue Shaunavon oil prospects on the Company's 270,000 net acre position in Montana.

The Company has agreed with Rioco to extend the term of the facility to March 1, 2014. In consideration for the extension of the credit facility and the elimination of bank covenants, Rioco will be issued 4,375,000 warrants, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.27 for a period of 24 months from the extension of the credit facility, and the credit facility will be amended to permit the conversion of the principal amount owed under the credit facility to common shares of the Company at conversion rate of $0.27.

The proposed issuance of warrants and conversion of the principal amount owing under the credit facility to common shares of the Company is subject to the Company receiving regulatory approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "propose", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "intend", "forecast", "target", "project", "guidance", "may", "will", "should", "could", "estimate", "predict" or similar words suggesting future outcomes or language suggesting an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to the Company entering into agreement with Rioco amending and extending the credit facility.

Forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release are based on our current beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. Although we consider these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to us, they may prove to be incorrect.

By their very nature, the forward-looking statements included in this press release involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations and anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the volatility of oil and gas prices; production and development costs and capital expenditures; the imprecision of reserve estimates and estimates of recoverable quantities of oil, natural gas and liquids; the Company's ability to replace and expand oil and gas reserves; environmental claims and liabilities; incorrect assessments of value when making acquisitions; increases in debt service charges; the loss of key personnel; the marketability of production; defaults by third party operators; unforeseen title defects; fluctuations in foreign currency and exchange rates; inadequate insurance coverage; compliance with environmental laws and regulations; changes in tax and royalty laws; the Company's ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital; and the Company's ability to obtain equipment in a timely manner to carry out development activities. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this document and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Don Foulkes, President
Telephone: [phone] (ext 248)
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

Charles Selby, Chairman & CEO
Telephone: [phone] (ext 247)
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]