CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - 12/15/09) - Baytex Energy Trust ("Baytex") (TSX:BTE.UN - News) (NYSE:BTE - News) announces that a cash distribution of $0.18 per trust unit in respect of December operations will be paid on January 14, 2010 to unitholders of record on December 31, 2009. The ex-distribution date is December 29, 2009.

The U.S. dollar equivalent distribution amount is approximately US$0.1699 per trust unit assuming a U.S. to Canadian dollar exchange rate of 0.9440. The actual U.S. dollar equivalent distribution for unitholders who hold through a brokerage firm will be based on the exchange rate in effect on the payment date and net of applicable Canadian withholding taxes. Registered unitholders are paid directly by Baytex's transfer agent, Valiant Trust Company, and the actual U.S. dollar equivalent distribution will be based on the exchange rate in effect on the record date and net of applicable Canadian withholding taxes.

The annualized distribution of $2.16 represents a cash-on-cash yield of approximately 7.8% based on the closing price of Baytex trust units of $27.84 on the TSX on December 14, 2009.