OPTI Canada Announces Pricing of First Lien Senior Secured Notes

TSX: OPC

CALGARY , Nov. 16 /CNW/ - OPTI Canada Inc ("OPTI" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to issue and sell US$425 million face value of 9.0% First Lien Senior Secured Notes due December 15, 2012 (the "Notes") at a price of 97.0%, resulting in a yield to maturity of approximately 10.2%. The Notes have been resold through a syndicate of investment banks to certain institutional investors pursuant to applicable securities law exemptions. The closing of the Notes financing is anticipated to occur November 20, 2009 and is subject to the finalization of definitive documentation and other customary closing conditions.

Using the November 16, 2009 , Bank of Canada noon exchange rate of US$0.9560 = C$1.00, the net proceeds to OPTI from the sale of the Notes will be approximately C$419 million, after deducting certain fees and expenses related to the transaction. The purpose of the private offering is to establish sufficient liquidity through the ramp-up period of the Long Lake Project and flexibility for the company to proceed with its previously announced review of strategic alternatives. A portion of the net proceeds will be used to repay OPTI's existing revolving credit facility, with the remainder of the proceeds used to fund the Long Lake Project and for general corporate purposes.

Moody's Investor Service (Moody's) and Standard and Poor's (S&P) have rated the Notes as B2 and B+, respectively.

ABOUT OPTI

OPTI Canada Inc. is a Calgary , Alberta-based company with a 35% working interest in the Long Lake Project, which is operated by Nexen Inc. The first phase of the Project consists of 72,000 barrels per day of SAGD (steam assisted gravity drainage) oil production integrated with an OPTI-operated upgrading facility, using OPTI's proprietary OrCrudea process and commercially available hydrocracking and gasification. Through gasification, this configuration substantially reduces the exposure to and the need to purchase natural gas. The Project is expected to produce 58,500 bbl/d of products, primarily 39 degree API Premium Sweet Crude with low sulphur content, making it a highly desirable refinery feedstock. OPTI's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol OPC.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States . Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from OPTI and that will contain detailed information about OPTI and management, as well as financial statements.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to: the closing date of the offering; the use of proceeds received from the offering; OPTI's operations; anticipated financial performance; business prospects, expansion plans and strategies; OPTI's plans and expectations concerning the use and performance of the OrCrude(TM) process and other related technologies; the cost, development and operation of the Long Lake Project and OPTI's relationship with Nexen Inc. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "potential," "could" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information because it is possible that expectations, predictions, forecasts, projections and other forms of forward-looking information will not be achieved by OPTI. By its nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties. A change in any one of these factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Although OPTI believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, OPTI can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by OPTI and described in the forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. In addition to other assumptions identified herein, we have made assumptions regarding, among other things: market costs and other variables affecting operating costs of the Project; the ability of the Long Lake joint venture partners to obtain equipment, services and supplies, including labour, in a timely and cost-effective manner; the availability and costs of financing; oil prices and market price for the PSC(TM) output of the OrCrude(TM) Upgrader; foreign currency exchange rates and hedging risks; government regulations and royalty regimes; the degree of risk that governmental approvals may be delayed or withheld; other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this document or in OPTI's other filings with Canadian securities authorities.

Readers should be aware that the list of factors, risks and uncertainties set forth above are not exhaustive. Readers should refer to OPTI's current Annual Information Form, which is available at www.sedar.com, for a detailed discussion of these factors, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and OPTI undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws or regulatory policies.

%CIK: 0001177446

For further information: OPTI Canada Inc., [phone]