PHELK Petroleum Helicopters - Non-Voting Common Stock (MM)

Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. ("PHI") (Nasdaq:PHEL) (Nasdaq:PHELK) announced today the successful completion of its public offering of 4,250,000 shares of its non-voting common stock pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and declared effective on March 31, 2005. PHI sold 4,250,000 million shares at a price of $25.00 per share to the public and received approximately $99 million, net of expenses. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 637,500 shares of non-voting common stock from PHI, subject to certain conditions. PHI intends to use substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering toward the expansion of its aircraft fleet. In addition, PHI will use a portion of the net proceeds to repay the indebtedness outstanding under its revolving credit facility, a significant portion of which was incurred to purchase new aircraft. UBS Investment Bank was the sole book-running manager and joint lead manager with Lehman Brothers Inc. for the offering. Howard Weil Incorporated and Simmons and Company International acted as co-managers for the offering. A copy of the prospectus supplement and related base prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from UBS Investment Bank, Attn: Prospectus Department, 25th Floor, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10019, Phone: (212) 821-3884, or from any of the other underwriters. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the stability of the capital markets, and other factors and uncertainties inherent in providing helicopter transportation and related services discussed in PHI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. PHI provides helicopter transportation and related services to customers in the oil and gas industry and for air medical programs. PHI's non-voting common stock and voting common stock are traded on The Nasdaq National Market System.