Placing Announcement

Sterling Energy PLC 15 November 2007 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN 15 November 2007 Sterling Energy PLC ('Sterling' or the 'Company') Placing to RAISE £11.0 MILLION Sterling (symbol: SEY), an AIM listed independent oil & gas exploration and production company with interests in the Gulf of Mexico and Africa and the Middle East, is pleased to announce that it has raised approximately £11.0 million gross of expenses (US$22.3m) through a placing of 78,510,027 ordinary shares of 1p each ('Placing Shares') at 14p per Placing Share (the 'Placing'). The net proceeds of the Placing will be used to fund the initial costs relating to the Production Sharing Contract ('PSC') entered into with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq ('KRG') for the Sangaw North exploration block ('Block'), announced on 12 November 2007. The PSC The Block, which covers an area of 492 sq km is located approximately 140 km south east of Erbil and 50 km south west of Suleimaniah. It lies in a highly prospective area around 50 km south east of the giant Kirkuk oil field and on trend with the major Taq Taq and Chemchemal oil and gas discoveries. The Block itself contains a large surface anticline with the possibility of multiple reservoir targets, in common with many existing fields in the area, providing strong encouragement for exploration success. The terms of the PSC are in accordance with the terms and conditions published by the KRG. Sterling has 100% interest in the PSC subject to back in rights for the KRG and local industry partners. The PSC has an initial 3 year exploration period during which Sterling plans to acquire approximately 200 km of 2D seismic and drill at least one exploration well. The Company will start work immediately, having already established an office in Erbil earlier this year. It is anticipated that expenditure over this period, including initial costs, could be in the order of US$35 million. Sterling's signature of the PSC, together with other recently signed agreements with the KRG, brings the number of international oil companies now working in Kurdistan to 25. Operations Update In an operating update published on 12 November 2007, Sterling announced that Q3 net group production averaged c. 6,100 boepd, an increase of 25% over the first half. The Company also confirmed the imminent start of drilling offshore Gabon on the 5-20 million bbls Admiral prospect in which it has a c. 28% interest, as well as continued drilling in the USA and the start of Phase 2b development work in Mauritania in early 2008. The Placing Shares The Placing Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of 1p each and will represent 4.76% of the Company's enlarged issued share capital. Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is expected that admission will become effective and dealings in the Placing Shares will commence on AIM on Tuesday, 20 November 2007 ('Admission'). Following Admission the Company will have 1,648,710,585 ordinary shares of 1p each in issue. Commenting today, Harry Wilson, Chief Executive of Sterling Energy Plc, said: 'The proceeds of this Placing will fund the initial costs on the Sangaw North exploration block, which is the latest addition to our growing portfolio of near-term drilling projects. The upside in these exploration targets, when combined with our producing US and Mauritanian assets, positions the Company well for the future.' Enquiries Sterling Energy Plc (020 7405 4133) Web site: www.sterlingenergyplc.com Harry Wilson Graeme Thomson Evolution Securities (020 7071 4300) Rob Collins Tim Redfern Citigate Dewe Rogerson (020 7638 9571) Media enquiries: Martin Jackson Analyst enquiries: Kate Delahunty This announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, Sterling Energy plc. These written materials are not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the 'US Securities Act') or an exemption there from. Sterling Energy plc has not registered and does not intend to register any of the Placing Shares under the US Securities Act. The Placing Shares will not be offered or sold to the public in the United States. Evolution Securities Limited is acting exclusively for Sterling and for no one else in connection with the Placing and will not be responsible to anyone other than Sterling for providing the protections afforded to the customers of Evolution Securities Limited or for providing advice in relation to the Placing or any transaction or arrangement referred to herein. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement into certain jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws or regulation of such jurisdictions. This announcement is not for release, publication, or distribution, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan, or the United States and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or the solicitation of an offer, or inducement, or invitation to subscribe for, buy, underwrite or otherwise acquire, any rights, shares, or other securities, nor the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issue or transfer of shares in the Company in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. No statement in this announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or to imply that the earnings of the Company for the current year or future years will necessarily match or exceed the historical or published earnings of the Company. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Companies

Afentra (AET)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings