Stmnt re:Westmount Resources

Fusion Oil & Gas PLC 19 September 2003 Fusion Oil & Gas plc ('Fusion' or 'the Company' or 'the Group') Statement re: Westmount Resources Limited ('Westmount') The Board of Fusion notes today's statement by Sterling Energy plc ('Sterling') that it has acquired Westmount's 20.4% stake in Fusion. The announcement follows Sterling's announcement on 12 September 2003 that it had made an approach to the Board of Fusion that may or may not lead to an offer from Sterling. The Board of Fusion rejected this all-share approach on the grounds that it significantly undervalued the Company. The Board of Fusion is disappointed by Westmount's decision to sell its stake in Fusion, at a time when the Fusion Board believes the company is in a position that is stronger than at any time since its IPO almost 3 years ago. Fusion has exposure to participation in at least 6 and possibly more than 15 wells over the next two years, the first of which, Chinguetti-4-5, spudded on 4 September 2003. Initial results from this appraisal/early development well in Mauritania have confirmed the pre-drilling expectations for the well in terms of thickness, quality and hydrocarbon content of the reservoir - with the oil bearing reservoir sands appearing to be of good to excellent quality. An extended production test of this well will now be undertaken and following completion of testing it is anticipated that the well will be suspended pending commissioning of the Chinguetti Field production facilities during 2005. With the majority of the wells in Fusion's exploration programme being free carried for the Company, Fusion will have gearing to all future success in Mauritania at no cost, exposure to several high impact exploration wells elsewhere, an active new ventures programme and sufficient working capital for 18 to 24 months. Fusion is not currently aware of Sterling Energy's intentions and has received no further approach to date. The Board therefore recommends that shareholders take no action in anticipation of any possible offer that might be forthcoming for the entire share capital of the Company. Given the stage of the Company's development, the Board of Directors is increasingly resolved to focus on extracting the value that has been established in Fusion's assets, for the benefit of all Shareholders. 19 September 2003 Enquiries Fusion Oil & Gas plc Peter Dolan, Chairman Tel: +020 8891 3252 Email: pdolan@fusionoil.co.uk College Hill Associates Tel: 020 7457 2020 Fax: 020 7248 3295 James Henderson Email: james.henderson@collegehill.com Phil Wilson-Brown Email: phil.wilson-brown@collegehill.com Canaccord Capital (Europe) Toby Hayward Tel: +020 7518 7393 Email: toby.hayward@canaccordeurope.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings