NEW YORK, May 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shareholders of Chesapeake Energy Corporation ("Chesapeake" or the "Company") (NYSE:CHK) are reminded of the securities class action lawsuit filed against the Company and its Chief Executive Officer and (then) Chairman, Aubrey K. McClendon ("McClendon"). The securities class action (5:12-cv-00465-W), filed in the federal District Court in Oklahoma City, is on behalf of all persons who purchased Chesapeake common stock between April 30, 2009 and April 17, 2012.

The original claims focused on McClendon's undisclosed $1 billion plus leveraging of his interests in Chesapeake's Founders Well Program. While the program was intended to align McClendon's interests with shareholders, McClendon's leveraging, particularly through entities financing the Company's enormous debt load, placed him in conflict with those shareholders.

The degree of Chesapeake's undisclosed risks was further evidenced by Russell Gold's May 11, 2012 Wall Street Journal article exposing the Company's off balance sheet liabilities for over $1.2 billion in costs associated with wells whose production rights have been sold as part of the Volumetric Production Payment program. In essence, Chesapeake has sold off its rights for future revenues from certain wells in return for monies to pay off its outsized debt, leaving the Company still liable to pay for the significant operating costs of these wells.

News of these additional liabilities drove the price of Chesapeake stock down to $14.81 at the close of trading today, down 22.5% from the close on April 17 prior to all these revelations.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Chesapeake common stock during the Class Period, you have until June 25, 2012 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Rachelle R. Boyle at rrboyle@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, x237. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address and telephone number.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York and Chicago, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 75 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of defrauded investors. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT: Rachelle R. Boyle
         Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP
         rrboyle@pomlaw.com