FOREST OIL CORP
POS AM, 1998-11-03
CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS
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<PAGE>

                                                     Registration No. 333-16125
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                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                           ----------------------
   
                               POST-EFFECTIVE
                              AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                  FORM S-3
    
                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           ----------------------

                           FOREST OIL CORPORATION
               (Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


            NEW YORK                                           25-0484900
  (State or other jurisdiction                              (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)


                          1600 BROADWAY, SUITE 2200
                            DENVER, COLORADO 80202
                                (303) 812-1400
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
        including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                              DANIEL L. MCNAMARA
                       CORPORATE COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                            FOREST OIL CORPORATION
                          1600 BROADWAY, SUITE 2200
                            DENVER, COLORADO 80202
                                (303) 812-1400
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                    including area code, of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:

   
                                 ALAN P. BADEN
                             VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.
                             2300 FIRST CITY TOWER
                                  1001 FANNIN
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
    


                           ----------------------
   
     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From 
time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered 
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the 
following box. / /
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered 
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities 
Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend 
or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. /X/
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering 
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following 
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier 
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /____________
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) 
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act 
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement 
for the same offering. / /____________
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 
434, please check the following box. / /
    
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE 
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT 
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION 
STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 
COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

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<PAGE>
   
The information contained in this Prospectus is not complete and may be 
amended. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  A final Prospectus Supplement 
and Prospectus will be delivered to purchasers of these securities.  This 
Prospectus is not an offer to sell nor is it seeking an offer to buy these 
securities in any state in which the offer or sale is not permitted.
    
<PAGE>

   

                    SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 3, 1998

PROSPECTUS

[LOGO]

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                            FOREST OIL CORPORATION




                                -------------




                                 $250,000,000


                               Debt Securities
                               Preferred Stock
                               Common Stock




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                WE WILL PROVIDE SPECIFIC TERMS OF THESE SECURITIES
                            IN SUPPLEMENTS TO THIS PROSPECTUS.
YOU SHOULD READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SUPPLEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU INVEST.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------




THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY STATE SECURITIES 
COMMISSION, NOR HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS DETERMINED THAT THIS PROSPECTUS IS 
ACCURATE OR COMPLETE.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL 
OFFENSE.


This prospectus is dated __________ __, 1998


    

<PAGE>

   

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with 
the SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process.  Under this shelf process, 
we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in 
one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $250,000,000.  This 
prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may 
offer.  Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement 
that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering.  The 
prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in 
this prospectus.  You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus 
supplement together with additional information described under the heading 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and 
other information with the SEC.  Our SEC filings are available to the public 
over the Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.  You may also 
read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference rooms in 
Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois.  Please call the 
SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms.

     The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file 
with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by 
referring you to those documents.  The information incorporated by reference 
is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later 
with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.  We 
incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings 
made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities.

     -    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997;

     -    Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998
          and June 30, 1998;

     -    Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 7, 1998, January 12, 1998,
          January 28, 1998, February 3, 1998, April 8, 1998 and June 25, 1998;
          and on Form 8-KA dated February 3, 1998; and

     -    The description of the Company's common stock contained in Form 8-A
          dated October 20, 1997.

     You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or 
telephoning us at the following address:



                                     -2-

    

<PAGE>

   

          Daniel L. McNamara
          Corporate Counsel and Secretary
          Forest Oil Corporation
          1600 Broadway
          Suite 2200
          Denver, Colorado 80202
          (303) 812-1400

     You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or 
provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.  We have not 
authorized anyone else to provide you with different information.  We are not 
making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not 
permitted.  You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or 
any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on 
the front of those documents.


                                  THE COMPANY

     Forest Oil Corporation and its subsidiaries are engaged in the 
acquisition, exploration, development, production and marketing of natural 
gas and crude oil in North America.  Forest was incorporated in New York in 
1924, the successor to a company formed in 1916, and has been a publicly held 
company since 1969.  We are active in several of the major exploration and 
producing areas in and offshore the United States and in Canada.  Forest's 
principal reserves and producing properties are located in the United States 
in the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma, and in Canada in Alberta 
and the Northwest Territories.  We operate from production offices located in 
Lafayette, Louisiana, Denver, Colorado, and Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Our 
corporate headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado, where our address is 
1600 Broadway, Suite 2200, Denver, Colorado 80202 (telephone: (303) 812-1400).

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     The net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities will be used 
for the acquisition of oil and gas properties, capital expenditures, the 
repayment of subordinated debentures or other debt, repayments of borrowings 
under revolving credit agreements, or for other general corporate purposes.


                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     A description of Forest's ratio of earnings to fixed charges or earnings 
to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, as applicable, on a 
consolidated basis, will appear in an applicable Prospectus Supplement.


                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     The Debt Securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations.  
The Debt Securities will be either Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated 
Debt Securities.

                                     -3-

    

<PAGE>

   

     The Debt Securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures 
between us and a Trustee.  The Trustee for each Series of Debt Securities 
will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.  Senior Debt 
Securities will be issued under a "Senior Indenture" and Subordinated Debt 
Securities will be issued under a "Subordinated Indenture".  Together the 
Senior Indentures and the Subordinated Indentures are called "Indentures."

     We have summarized selected provisions of the Indentures below.  The 
summary is not complete.  The forms of the Indentures have been filed as 
exhibits to the registration statement and you should read the Indentures for 
provisions that may be important to you.  In the Summary below, we have 
included references to section numbers of the applicable Indentures so that 
you can easily locate these provisions.  Capitalized terms used in the 
summary have the meanings specified in the Indentures.

GENERAL

     The Debt Securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations.  The 
Senior Debt Securities will rank equally with all of our other senior and 
unsubordinated debt.  The Subordinated Debt Securities will have a junior 
position to all of our Senior Debt.

     A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture relating to any 
series of Debt Securities being offered will include specific terms relating 
to the offering.  These terms will include some or all of the following:

     -    The title and type of the Debt Securities;

     -    The total principal amount of the Debt Securities;

     -    The percentage of the principal amount at which the Debt Securities
          will be issued and any payments due if the maturity of the Debt
          Securities is accelerated;

     -    If convertible into common stock, the terms on which such Debt
          Securities are convertible.  

     -    The dates on which the principal of the Debt Securities will be
          payable;

     -    The interest rate which the Debt Securities will bear and the interest
          payment dates for the Debt Securities;

     -    Any optional redemption periods;

     -    Any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to
          repurchase or otherwise redeem the Debt Securities;

     -    Any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified
          event occurs;

     -    Any changes to or additional Events of Defaults or covenants;



                                     -4-

    

<PAGE>

   

     -    Any special tax implications of the Debt Securities, including
          provisions for Original Issue Discount Securities, if offered; and

     -    Any other terms of the Debt Securities.

     None of the Indentures limits the amount of Debt Securities that may be 
issued.  Each Indenture allows Debt Securities to be issued up to the 
principal amount that may be authorized by us and may be in any currency or 
currency unit designated by us.

     If so provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we may issue the 
Debt Securities at a discount below their principal amount and you would pay 
less than the entire principal amount of the Debt Securities upon declaration 
of acceleration of their maturity ("Original Issue Discount Securities").   
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe all material U.S. Federal 
income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to the Original 
Issue Discount Securities.

     Debt Securities of a series may be issued in registered, bearer, coupon 
or global form.  (SECTIONS 2.01 & 2.02.)

DENOMINATIONS

     The prospectus supplement for each issuance of Debt Securities will 
state whether the securities will be issued in registered form of $1,000 each 
or multiples thereof or bearer form of $1,000 each.

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

     The Senior Debt Securities will be unsecured senior obligations and will 
rank equally with all other Senior Indebtedness (as defined below).  However, 
the Senior Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all 
our secured Indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing 
such Indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to all our 
Subsidiaries' indebtedness and all our Subsidiaries' mandatory redemption 
preferred stock.  Except as provided in the applicable Senior Indenture or 
specified in any Authorizing Resolution and/or supplemental indenture 
relating to a Series of Senior Debt Securities to be issued, no Senior 
Indenture will limit the amount of additional Indebtedness which may rank 
equally with the Senior Debt Securities or the amount of Indebtedness, 
secured or otherwise, which may be incurred or preferred stock which may be 
issued by any of the Company's Subsidiaries.  

     "Senior Indebtedness" is defined to include all notes or other unsecured 
evidences of indebtedness, including guarantees of Forest for money borrowed, 
that are not expressed to be subordinate or junior in right of payment to any 
other indebtedness of Forest.

                                     -5-

    

<PAGE>

   

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

     Under the Subordinated Indenture, payment of the principal, interest and 
any premium on the Subordinated Indebtedness Securities will generally be 
subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of 
all Senior Indebtedness. The Subordinated Indenture provides that no payment 
of principal, interest and any premium on the Subordinated Debt Securities 
may be made in the event:

     -    of any insolvency, bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving Forest
          or any of its significant properties, or

     -    we fail to pay the principal, interest, any premium or any other
          amounts on any Senior Indebtedness when due.

     The Subordinated Indenture will not limit the amount of Senior 
Indebtedness that we may incur.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE

     Each Indenture generally permits a consolidation or merger between us 
and another corporation.  They also permit the sale by us of all or 
substantially all of our property and assets.  If this happens, the remaining 
or acquiring corporation shall assume all of our responsibilities and 
liabilities under the Indentures including the payment of all amounts due on 
the Debt Securities and performance of the covenants in the Indentures.

     We are only permitted to consolidate or merge with or into any other 
corporation or sell all or substantially all of our assets according to the 
terms and conditions of the Indentures.  The remaining or acquiring 
corporation will be substituted for us in the Indentures with the same effect 
as if it had been an original party to the Indenture.  Thereafter, the 
successor corporation may exercise our rights and powers under any Indenture, 
in our name or in its own name.  Any act or proceeding required or permitted 
to be done by our Board of Directors or any of our officers may be done by 
the board or officers of the successor corporation.  (SECTIONS 6.01 & 6.02.)

MODIFICATION OF INDENTURES

     Under each Indenture our rights and obligations and the rights of the 
holders may be modified  with the consent of the holders of a majority in 
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt  Securities of each series 
affected by the modification.  No modification of the principal or interest 
payment terms, and no modification reducing the percentage required for 
modifications, is effective against any holder without its consent.  
(SECTIONS 10.01 & 10.02.)

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     "Event of Default" when used in an Indenture, will mean any of the 
following:

     -    failure to pay the principal or any premium on any Debt Security when
          due;


                                     -6-

    

<PAGE>

   

     -    failure to deposit any sinking fund payment when due;

     -    failure to pay interest on any Debt Security for 30 days;

     -    failure to perform any other covenant in the Indenture that continues
          for 60 days after being given written notice;

     -    certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
          Company; or

     -    any other Event of Default included in any Indenture or supplemental
          indenture.  (SECTION 7.01.)

     An Event of Default for a particular series of Debt Securities does not 
necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of Debt 
Securities issued under the Indentures.  (SECTION 8.05.)

     If an Event of Default for any series of Debt Securities occurs and 
continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal 
amount of the Debt Securities of the series may declare the entire principal 
of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.  
If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority of 
the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series can void 
the declaration.  (SECTION 7.02.)

     Other than its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated 
to exercise any of its rights or powers under any Indenture at the request, 
order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee 
reasonable indemnity.  (SECTION 8.02.)  If they provide this reasonable 
indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series 
of Debt Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any 
proceeding or any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any power 
conferred upon the Trustee, for any series of Debt Securities.  (SECTION 
7.05.)

COVENANTS

     Under the Indentures, we will:

     -    pay the principal, interest and any premium on the Debt Securities
          when due;

     -    maintain a place of payment;

     -    deliver a report to the Trustee at the end of each fiscal year
          reviewing the Company's obligations under the Indentures; and

     -    deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due
          date for any principal, interest or any premium.

     Any additional covenants will be described in a Prospectus Supplement.

                                     -7-
    
<PAGE>

   

PAYMENT AND TRANSFER

     Principal, interest and any premium on fully registered securities will 
be paid at designated places.  Payment will be made by check mailed to the 
persons in whose names the Debt Securities are registered on days specified 
in the Indentures or any Prospectus Supplement.  Debt Securities payments in 
other forms will be paid at a place designated by us and specified in a 
Prospectus Supplement.  (SECTIONS 5.01 AND 5.02)

     Fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the 
corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency 
maintained by us for such purposes, without the payment of any service charge 
except for any tax or governmental charge.

CONVERSION RIGHTS

     The Debt Securities may be convertible into common stock, according to 
the terms and conditions of the Prospectus Supplement.  Such terms will 
include the conversion price, the conversion period, provisions as to whether 
conversion will be at the option of the holders of such series of Debt 
Securities or at our option, the events requiring an adjustment of the 
conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of the 
redemption of such series of Debt Securities. 


GLOBAL SECURITIES

     The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the 
form of one or more global certificates that will be deposited with a 
depositary identified in a Prospectus Supplement.  Unless it is exchanged in 
whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive form, a global certificate 
may generally be transferred only as a whole unless it is being transferred 
to certain nominees of the depositary.

     Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement, The Depository 
Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC") will act as depositary.  Beneficial 
interests in global certificates will be shown on, and transfers of global 
certificates will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its 
participants.

DEFEASANCE

     We will be discharged from our obligations on the Debt Securities of any 
series at any time if we deposit with the Trustee sufficient cash or 
government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any 
other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the Debt 
Securities of the series.  If this happens, the holders of the Debt 
Securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the 
Indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of Debt Securities 
and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated Debt Securities.  (SECTION 9.01.)

     Under Federal income tax law as of the date of this Prospectus, a 
discharge may be treated as an exchange of the related Debt Securities.  Each

                                     -8-

    

<PAGE>

   

holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference 
between the holder's cost or other tax basis for the Debt Securities and his 
allocable share of amounts deposited with the Trustee pursuant to the 
preceding paragraph.  Holders might be required to include as income a 
different amount than would be includable without the discharge.  Prospective 
investors are urged to consult their own tax advisers as to the consequences 
of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than 
the Federal income tax law.

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     As of September 30, 1998, our authorized capital stock was 210,000,000 
shares.  Those shares consisted of: (a) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, 
none of which were outstanding; and (b) 200,000,000 shares of common stock, 
of which 44,646,542 shares were outstanding.

COMMON STOCK

LISTING

     Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock 
Exchange under the symbol "FST".  Any additional common stock we issue will 
also be listed on the NYSE.

DIVIDENDS

     Common shareholders may receive dividends when declared by the Board of 
Directors.  Dividends may be paid in cash, stock or other form.  In certain 
cases, common shareholders may not receive dividends until we have satisfied 
our obligations to any preferred shareholders.

FULLY PAID

     All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and 
non-assessable. Any additional common stock we issue will also be fully paid 
and non-assessable.

VOTING RIGHTS

     Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of 
directors and other matters.  Common shareholders are not entitled to 
preemptive or cumulative voting rights.

OTHER RIGHTS

     We will notify common shareholders of any shareholders' meetings 
according to applicable law.  If we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our 
business, either voluntarily or not, common shareholders will share equally 
in the assets remaining after we pay our creditors and preferred shareholders.


                                     -9-

    

<PAGE>

   

PREFERRED STOCK

     The following description of the terms of the preferred stock sets forth 
certain general terms and provisions of our authorized preferred stock.  If 
we offer preferred stock, the specific designations and rights will be 
described in the Prospectus Supplement and a description will be filed with 
the SEC.

     Our Board of Directors can, without approval of shareholders, issue one 
or more series of preferred stock.  The Board can also determine the number 
of shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each 
series including the dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, 
redemption rights and any liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued 
series of preferred stock, the number of shares constituting each series and 
the terms and conditions of issue.  In some cases, the issuance of preferred 
stock could delay a change in control of the Company and make it harder to 
remove present management.  Under certain circumstances, preferred stock 
could also restrict dividend payments to holders of our common stock.

     The preferred stock will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.


                            ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS

     Certain provisions in the our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and 
By-laws and our shareholders' rights plan, may have the effect of 
encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral 
takeover proposals to negotiate with the Board of Directors rather than 
pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts.

     CLASSIFIED BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

     Our By-laws provide that the Board of Directors is divided into four 
classes as nearly equal in number as possible, with each class having not 
less than three members, whose four year terms of office expire at different 
times in annual succession.  A staggered board makes it more difficult for 
shareholders to change the majority of the directors and instead promotes a 
continuity of existing management.

     BLANK CHECK PREFERRED STOCK.

     Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 
blank check preferred stock.  The Board of Directors can set the voting 
rights, redemption rights, conversion rights and other rights relating to 
such preferred stock and could issue such stock in either private or public 
transactions.  In some circumstances, the blank check preferred stock could 
be issued and have the effect of preventing a merger, tender offer or other 
takeover attempt which the Board of Directors opposes.

     SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHTS PLAN.

     Our Board of Directors has adopted a shareholders' rights plan, pursuant 
to which each share of common stock includes a preferred stock purchase right 
(the "Rights").  After the Rights become exercisable, each holder may 
purchase 1/100th of a share of a newly issued series

                                     -10-

    

<PAGE>

   

of the preferred stock at a purchase price of $30 per 1/100th of a preferred 
share, subject to adjustment. The Rights expire on October 29, 2003 unless 
extended or redeemed earlier.  The Rights will become exercisable (unless 
previously redeemed or the expiration date of the rights has occurred) 
following a public announcement that a person or group (an "Acquiring 
Person") has acquired 20% or more of the common stock or has commenced (or 
announced an intention to make) a tender offer or exchange offer for 20% or 
more of the common stock.  In certain circumstances each holder of Rights 
(other than an Acquiring Person) would have the right to receive, upon 
exercise (i) shares of common stock having a value significantly in excess of 
the exercise price of the Rights, or (ii) shares of common stock of an 
acquiring company having a value significantly in excess of the exercise 
price of the Rights.


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     We may sell the offered securities (a) through agents; (b) through 
underwriters or dealers; or (c) directly to one or more purchasers, including 
existing shareholders in a rights offering.

BY AGENTS

     Offered securities may be sold through agents designated by us.  The 
agents agree to use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for 
the period of their appointment.

BY UNDERWRITERS

     If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be 
acquired by the underwriters for their own account.  The underwriters may 
resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated 
transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices 
determined at the time of sale.  The obligations of the underwriters to 
purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions.  The 
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities of the series 
offered if any of the securities are purchased. Any initial public offering 
price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to 
dealers may be changed from time to time.

DIRECT SALES; RIGHTS OFFERINGS

     Offered securities may also be sold directly by us.  In this case, no 
underwriters or agents would be involved.  We may sell offered securities 
upon the exercise of rights which may be issued to our securityholders.

GENERAL INFORMATION

     Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of 
the offered securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act 
of 1933 (the "Act"), and any discounts or commissions received by them from 
us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be 
treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Act.  Any 
underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation described in 
a prospectus supplement.


                                     -11-

    

<PAGE>

   

     We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents to 
indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under 
the Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, 
dealers or agents may be required to make.

     Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or 
perform services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their 
businesses.


                                 LEGAL MATTERS

     Our legal counsel, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas, will pass 
upon certain legal matters in connection with the offered securities.  Any 
underwriters will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by 
their own legal counsel.

                                    EXPERTS

     KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified accountants, have audited 
our financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus.  These 
financial statements are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon 
their report and upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

     The audited statement of oil and gas revenue and direct operating and 
production expenses of Forest Oil Corporation's interest in certain oil and 
gas producing properties for the year ended December 31, 1997, which appears 
in Form 8-K/A of Forest Oil Corporation dated February 3, 1998, incorporated 
by reference in this Prospectus, has been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, 
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect 
thereto, and is incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the 
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said
reports.

                                      -12-

    
<PAGE>

                                   PART II

                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

    The expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, in 
connection with the offering are as follows (all amounts except for the 
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee are estimated):

<TABLE>
 <S>                                                                      <C>
 Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee.........................   $ 75,758
 Printing and engraving expenses.......................................    100,000
 Legal fees and expenses...............................................    125,000
 Accounting fees and expenses..........................................    100,000
 Blue sky qualification fees and expenses..............................      1,000
 Miscellaneous.........................................................     98,242
                                                                          --------
    Total..............................................................    500,000
                                                                          --------
                                                                          --------
</TABLE>


ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    Sections 721 through 725 of the Business Corporation Law of the State of 
New York (the "BCL"), in which Forest Oil Corporation is incorporated, permit 
New York corporations, acting through their boards of directors, to extend 
broad protection to their directors, officers and other employees by way of 
indemnity and advancement of expenses. These sections (1) provide that the 
statutory indemnification provisions of the BCL are not exclusive, provided 
that no indemnification may be made to or on behalf of any director or 
officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or 
officer establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the 
result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of 
action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial 
profit or other advantage to which he was not entitled, (2) establish 
procedures for indemnification and advancement of expenses that may be 
contained in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws, or, when authorized 
by either of the foregoing, set forth in a resolution of the shareholders or 
directors or an agreement providing for indemnification and advancement of 
expenses, (3) apply a single standard for statutory indemnification for 
third-party and derivative suits by providing that indemnification is 
available if the director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose 
which he reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, 
and, in criminal actions, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct 
was unlawful, (4) eliminate the requirement for mandatory statutory 
indemnification that the indemnified party be "wholly" successful and (5) 
provide for the advancement of litigation expenses upon receipt of an 
undertaking to repay such advance if the director or officer is ultimately 
determined not to be entitled to indemnification. Section 726 of the BCL 
permits the purchase of insurance to indemnify a corporation or its officers 
and directors to the extent permitted. Essentially, the amended BCL allows 
corporations to provide for indemnification of directors, officers and 
employees except in those cases where a judgment or other final adjudication 
adverse to the indemnified party establishes that the acts were committed in 
bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or that the 
indemnified party personally gained a financial profit or other advantage to 
which he was not legally entitled.

    Article IX of the By-laws of Forest Oil Corporation contains very broad 
indemnification provisions which permit the Company to avail itself of 
the amended BCL to extend broad protection to its directors, officers and 
employees by way of indemnity and advancement of expenses. It sets out the 
standard under which the Company will indemnify directors and officers, 
provides for reimbursement in such instances, for the advancement or 
reimbursement for expenses reasonably incurred in defending an action, and 
for the extension of indemnity to persons other than directors and officers. 
It also establishes the manner of handling indemnification when a lawsuit is 
settled. It is not intended that this By-law is an exclusive method of 
indemnification.


                                    II-1

<PAGE>

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

    (a) Exhibits:

   
<TABLE>
        <S>    <C>  <C>
        *1.1   --   Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Debt 
                    Securities (including form of Terms Agreement).
        *1.2   --   Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Equity 
                    Securities (including form of Terms Agreement).
         3.1   --   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Forest Oil 
                    Corporation dated October 14, 1993, incorporated herein 
                    by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil 
                    Corporation for the quarter ended September 30, 1993 
                    (File No. 0-4597).
         3.2   --   Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of 
                    Incorporation dated as of July 20, 1995, incorporated 
                    herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(a) to Form 10-Q for 
                    Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 
                    1995 (File No. 0-4597).
         3.3   --   Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of 
                    Incorporation dated as of July 26, 1995, incorporated 
                    herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(b) to Form 10-Q for 
                    Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 
                    1995 (File No. 0-4597).
         3.4   --   Restated By-Laws of Forest Oil Corporation as of May 9, 
                    1990, Amendment No. 1 to By-Laws dated as of April 2, 
                    1991. Amendment No. 2 to By-Laws dated as of May 8, 1991, 
                    Amendment No. 3 to By-Laws dated as of July 30, 1991, 
                    Amendment No. 4 to By-Laws dated as of January 17, 1992, 
                    Amendment No. 5 to By-Laws dated as of March 18, 1993 and 
                    Amendment No. 6 to By-Laws dated as of September 14, 
                    1993, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) 
                    to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter 
                    ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
         3.5   --   Amendment No. 7 to By-Laws dated as of December 3, 1993, 
                    incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(ii)(a) to 
                    Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended 
                    December 31, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
         3.6   --   Amendment No. 8 to By-Laws dated as of February 24, 1994, 
                    incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(ii)(b) to 
                    Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended 
                    December 31, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
         3.7   --   Amendment No. 9 to By-Laws dated as of May 15, 1995, 
                    incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(ii)(c) to 
                    Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter 
                    ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
         3.8   --   Amendment No. 10 to By-Laws dated as of July 27, 1995, 
                    incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(ii)(d) to 
                    Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter 
                    ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
         4.9   --   Rights Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and 
                    Mellon Securities Trust Company, as Rights Agent dated as 
                    of October 14, 1993, incorporated herein by reference to 
                    Exhibit 4.3 to From 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the
                    quarter ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
         4.10  --   Amendment No. 1 dated as of July 27, 1995 to Rights 
                    Agreement dated as of October 14, 1993 between Forest Oil 
                    Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, 
                    incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.5 of 
                    Form 8-K for Forest Oil Corporation dated October 11, 1995 
                    (File No. 0-4597).
         4.11  --   Amendment No. 2 dated as of June 25, 1998 to Rights 
                    Agreement dated as of October 14, 1993 between Forest Oil 
                    Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, 
                    incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of 
                    Form 8-K for Forest Oil Corporation dated June 25, 1998 
                    (File No. 0-4597).
        *4.12  --   Form of Indenture for the Senior Debt Securities.
        *4.13  --   Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit No. 
                   4.12).
        *4.14  --   Form of Indenture for the Subordinated Debt Securities.
        *4.15  --   Form of Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit 
                    No. 4.14).
        *5     --   Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., as to the legality of 
                    the securities being registered.
      **23.1   --   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
       *23.2   --   Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 
                    No. 5).
      **23.3   --   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
       *24     --   Powers of Attorney (included on the original signature 
                    pages hereof).
</TABLE>

* Previously filed.
**Filed herewith.

    

                                     II-2

<PAGE>

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of 
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of 
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this 
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement 
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such 
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE 
offering thereof.

    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities 
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons 
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions described under Item 
15 above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion 
of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against 
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, 
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such 
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or 
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the 
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such 
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities 
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel 
the matter has been seen settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court 
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it 
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will 
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

        (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
    made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

            (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the 
        Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any fact or events arising after 
        the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent 
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the 
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set 
        forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 
        any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the 
        total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which 
        was registered) any any deviation from the low or high end of the 
        estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of 
        prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in 
        the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 
        a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the 
        "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective Registration 
        Statement;

            (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan 
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration 
        Statement or any material change to such information in the 
        Registration Statement;

        PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if 
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by 
those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant 
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are 
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement;

        (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 
    Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be 
    deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities 
    offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall 
    be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof; and


                                    II-3

<PAGE>

        (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective 
    amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at 
    the termination of the offering.

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for 
the purpose of determining the eligibility of the applicable trustee to act 
under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 
("Act") in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission under 
Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.




                                     II-4

<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it 
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this 
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, 
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on 
October 30, 1998.

                                             FOREST OIL CORPORATION
                                                  (Registrant)


                                             By:     /s/ Daniel L. McNamara
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Daniel L. McNamara
                                                Secretary

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in 
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                                 DATE
<S>                                  <C>                                        <C>

 Robert S. Boswell*                  President and Chief Executive              October 30, 1998
(Robert S. Boswell)                  Officer


 David H. Keyte*                     Executive Vice President and Chief         October 30, 1998
(David H. Keyte)                     Financial Officer (Principal 
                                     Financial Officer)


 Joan C. Sonnen*                     Controller (Principal Accounting           October 30, 1998
(Joan C. Sonnen)                     Officer)


 Philip F. Anschutz*                 Director                                   October 30, 1998
(Philip F. Anschutz)


 Robert S. Boswell*                  Director                                   October 30, 1998
(Robert S. Boswell)



- ------------------------             Director
William L. Britton


 Cortlandt S. Dietler*               Director                                  October 30, 1998
(Cortlandt S. Dietler)


 William L. Dorn*                    Director                                  October 30, 1998
(William L. Dorn)


 Jordan L. Haines*                   Director                                  October 30, 1998
(Jordan L. Haines)

</TABLE>

                                                     II-5

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                                 DATE
<S>                                  <C>                                        <C>

 James H. Lee*                       Director                                   October 30, 1998
(James H. Lee)


                                     Director                                   October 30, 1998
- -------------------
J.J. Simmons III


 Craig D. Slater*                    Director                                   October 30, 1998
(Craig D.Slater)


 Drake S. Tempest*                   Director                                   October 30, 1998
(Drake S. Tempest)


 Michael B. Yanney*                  Director                                   October 30, 1998
(Michael B. Yanney)


*By /s/ Daniel L. McNamara                                                      October 30, 1998
   ------------------------------
   Daniel L. McNamara
   (as attorney-in-fact for
   each of the persons indicated)

</TABLE>

                                                  II-6








<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.1



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Forest Oil Corporation:



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on 
Form S-3 (no. 333-16125) of Forest Oil Corporation of our report dated 
February 10, 1998, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Forest Oil 
Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the 
related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash 
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1997, 
which report appears in the December 31, 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K of 
Forest Oil Corporation and to the reference to our firm under the heading 
"Experts" in the registration statement.

                                   KPMG Peat Marwick LLP



Denver, Colorado
October 29, 1998





                                     II-7


<PAGE>

   

                                                                   Exhibit 23.3

                 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we consent to the incorporation by 
reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (no. 333-16125) of Forest 
Oil Corporation of our report dated February 12, 1998 relating to the 
statement of oil and gas revenue and direct operating and production expenses 
of Forest Oil Corporation's interest in certain oil and gas producing 
properties for the year ended December 31, 1997, which report appears in Form 
8-K/A of Forest Oil Corporation dated February 3, 1998, and to the reference 
to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the above referenced Registration 
Statement.

                                                 /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana
November 2, 1998
    



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