Holding(s) in Company

Ascent Resources PLC
18 July 2007




                             METALS EXPLORATION PLC


TR-1: Notifications of Major Interests in Shares

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of                                 
existing shares to which voting rights are attached:

Ascent

2. Reason for notification (please tick the appropriate box or boxes)

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights                                   X

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares
already issued to which voting rights are attached

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights

Other (please specify):

3. Full name of person(s) subject to notification           
obligation:                                                                         

AXA S.A, 25 Avenue Matignon, 75008, Paris and its group of companies

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3):

5. Date of transaction (and date on which the threshold is                          
crossed or reached if different):

17/07/2007

6. Date on which issuer notified:                                                   

18/07/2007

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached:                                        

10%

8. Notified Details


A: Voting rights attached to shares
Class/type of    Situation previous to    Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
shares           the triggering
                 transaction
If possible use
ISIN code
                 Number of   Number of    Number of shares    Number of voting shares      % of voting rights
                 Shares      voting
                             rights
                                          Direct              Direct       Indirect        Direct       Indirect

B03W6Y8          29,400,000  29,400,000            0               0         28,180,000        0.00          9.62



B: Financial Instruments
Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
Type of financial       Expiration date   Exercise / Conversion    Number of voting rights that may  % of voting rights
instrument                                Period/Date              be acquired (if the instrument
                                                                   exercised / converted)


Total (A+B)
Number of voting rights                               % of voting rights

28,180,000                                            9.62

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and /or the financial instruments are effectively
held, if applicable:

Name of Company/Fund                Number of Shares                   % of issued Share Capital

Axa Framlington                                 4,180,000                            1.42689

SEI UK Equity

Indirect
Axa Framlington                                 14,000,000                           4.77904

Throgmorton Trust

Indirect
AXA Framlington                                 10,000,000                           3.41360

UK Smaller Companies
                       Total Direct                 0                                0.00000
                     Total Indirect             28,180,000                           9.61953
                              TOTAL             28,180,000                           9.61953









Proxy Voting:

10. Name of proxy holder:                                            N/A

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:         N/A

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:     N/A

13. Additional information:

14. Contact name:                                Terry Marsh

15. Contact telephone name:                      020 7003 2637




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