Cash Placing

Asia Energy PLC 29 November 2005 29 November 2005 THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, FRANCE, NEW ZEALAND OR THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. This announcement does not and these materials do not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe new Ordinary Shares in any jurisdiction in which any such offer or solicitation would be unlawful and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland or any jurisdiction in which such publication or distribution is unlawful. Asia Energy PLC 29 November 2005 Cash Placing to raise approximately US$52m (the 'Placing') Asia Energy makes further progress in the development of its Phulbari Coal Project and announces a cash placing to raise approximately US$52m (before expenses) to fund certain initial development activities, purchase of start up capital equipment and deposits to secure long lead time capital equipment. Highlights Placing • Placing of new Ordinary Shares (the 'Placing Shares') to institutional investors to raise approximately US$52m (before expenses). Under the Placing, 4,143,976 new Ordinary Shares are available to be placed firm (the 'Firm Placing Shares') and an additional number of new Ordinary Shares (the ' Conditional Placing Shares') are available to be placed subject to shareholder approval at an EGM to be convened for 22 December 2005. The precise number of Conditional Placing Shares in the Placing will be finally determined such that the gross proceeds arising from the Placing amount to approximately US$52m. Based on last night's closing share price of 470 pence, the Placing would represent approximately 15.5% of Asia Energy's existing issued share capital. • Institutions participating in the placing will receive Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares on a pro-rata basis. • The Firm Placing will be in no way conditional upon the Conditional Placing. • Preferential treatment in the allocation process will be given to existing institutional shareholders. EGM The Company is today sending out a notice to shareholders convening an EGM to seek authority to issue, on a non pre-emptive basis 4,530,833 new Ordinary Shares which represents approximately 11% of the existing issued share capital of the Company. It is intended that part of this authority will be utilised for the purposes of the Placing. The Conditional Placing is conditional, inter alia, on shareholders voting in favour of resolutions to this effect at the EGM. The Directors, who hold 3% of the current issued share capital, have confirmed they will vote in favour of the resolutions and intend to apply to subscribe for 27,000 shares. Progress on the development of the Phulbari Coal Project ('Phulbari Project' or the 'Project), Bangladesh • 572 million tonne high quality Coal Resource defined to JORC Code with approximately 93% in Measured and Indicated categories • Drilling results and Geophysics suggest that the coal basin extends further southward and thus remains open • Diverse product mix with Thermal and Semi Soft Coking Coal • Comprehensive Study completed for 15Mtpa of saleable coal • Projected life-of-mine is greater than 30 years • Rail and river barge routing and port infrastructure requirements have been established for coal export • Environmental Site Clearance obtained for the Project from the Government of Bangladesh ('GoB') in September 2005 • Feasibility Study and Scheme of Development submitted to the GoB in early October 2005 • Anticipated mining operations to start in late 2006 with first coal to be extracted in 2008. Full production is anticipated to occur in 2013 • Estimated life-of-mine operating costs for the Project of less than US$25 per tonne of coal to point of sale • Market studies carried out by the Company's consultants indicate that the Project would be positioned in the lowest quartile cost producers in the world export seaborne trade Next Steps • Commence initial development activity • Final Project approval from the GoB (following assessment of the Feasibility Study and Scheme of Development) • Completion of the Banking Project Information Memorandum • Project Funding Commenting on today's announcement, the Company Chairman, Chris Eager said; 'Significant progress has been made with the overall development and funding of the Phulbari Coal Project. This Placing will enable us to continue to take Phulbari to its next stage of development while we finalise the overall funding of the Project. This process will commence in 2006.' JPMorgan Cazenove Limited ('JPMorgan Cazenove') is acting as sole bookrunner for the Placing. The proposed issue of Placing Shares will be at a price established through an institutional Bookbuilding Process. Potential participants will be invited to tender for Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares on a pro-rata basis, such that each Placee offering to subscribe Placing Shares would, in the event of such offer being accepted in full, be entitled to subscribe Placing Shares split between Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares in the same proportion as other successful applicants. It is expected that the books will close no later than 4:30pm on 29 November 2005 and pricing and allocations are expected to be set and announced on or before 8.00am on 30 November 2005. JPMorgan Cazenove reserves the right to close the Bookbuilding Process and announce pricing and allocations at any earlier or later time. The Placing will take place in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the Appendix to this announcement. The Placing Shares will be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares in the share capital of Asia Energy, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue, and the Company confirms that no such dividend or declaration will be made prior to the date of admission of the Conditional Placing Shares (or termination of the Placing Agreement, if earlier). Application will be made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Settlement for any Firm Placing Shares issued pursuant to the Placing as well as admission to trading on AIM will take place on 5 December 2005. In respect to the Conditional Placing, settlement will be conditional, inter alia, on shareholder approval of the necessary resolutions at the EGM and it is currently expected that such settlement as well as admission to trading on AIM will take place on 23 December 2005 following approval of the resolutions at the EGM. This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of the following announcement. A presentation for analysts and investors will take place at 9.30 am on 29 November at JPMorgan Cazenove 20 Moorgate London EC2R 6DA. Enquiries Asia Energy PLC Tel: +44 (0)20 7079 1798 David Lenigas - Joint Managing Director Michael Frayne - Joint Managing Director JPMorgan Cazenove Tel: +44 (0)20 7588 2828 Michael Wentworth-Stanley Jonathan Wilcox Parkgreen Communications Tel: +44 (0)20 7493 3713 Justine Howarth Cathy Malins Asia Energy Plc Asia Energy PLC ('Asia Energy' or the 'Company') announces a cash placing to raise approximately US$52 million (before expenses) to fund certain initial development activities, purchase of start up capital equipment and place deposits to secure long lead time capital equipment for the next phase of the Phulbari Project's development. 1. Introduction Asia Energy today announces its intention to raise approximately US$52m (before expenses) by way of a placing of new Ordinary Shares (the 'Placing Shares') with institutional investors. Under the Placing, 4,143,976 new Ordinary Shares are available to be placed firm (the 'Firm Placing Shares') and an additional number of new Ordinary Shares (the 'Conditional Placing Shares') are available to be placed subject to shareholder approval at the EGM to be convened for 22 December 2005. The precise number of Conditional Placing Shares will be determined such that the gross proceeds arising from the Placing amount to approximately US$52m. Based on last night's closing share price of 470 pence, the Placing would represent approximately 15.5% of Asia Energy's existing issued share capital. The proposed issue of the Placing Shares will be at a price established through an institutional Bookbuilding Process and the Placing is not underwritten. The Placing marks the next stage in the Company's financing strategy for the development through to production of the Phulbari Project. The proceeds from the Placing will be used to fund certain initial development activities, purchase start up capital equipment and make deposits to secure long lead time capital equipment. Background Asia Energy is a London-based AIM quoted company whose primary activity is the development of the coal basin at Phulbari in Northwest Bangladesh into an open pit coal mine through its wholly owned subsidiary Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh) Pty Ltd, which is Asia Energy's contracting entity in Bangladesh. The Company was incorporated in the UK in September 2003 and its shares were admitted to the London Stock Exchange's AIM in April 2004. At the same time approximately £14 million was raised through placings of Ordinary Shares. These proceeds enabled the Company to embark on a Definitive Feasibility Study ('DFS') of the Phulbari Coal Project. A Scheme of Development Report which includes a Feasibility Study for the Government of Bangladesh ('GOB') ('Scheme of Development') has been submitted to the GOB as per the Company's contractual obligations. As indicated in the Scheme of Development, the Company's objective is to start mining activity in 2006 adhering to the highest national and international environmental and social standards. At full production, the mine is expected to produce 15 million tonnes a year of mostly export quality thermal and metallurgical coal. Exploration and mining contract Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh) Pty Ltd has a contract with the GoB for exploration and mining of coal in Northern Bangladesh. The Contract (11/C-94) was originally made by and between the GoB and BHP Minerals International Exploration Inc. ('BHP') on 20 August 1994, (the 'Contract'). BHP explored the area during the years 1995-1997 and confirmed the presence of coal. With the agreement of the GoB, in February 1998 BHP assigned the Contract in full to Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh) Pty Ltd, together with the coal exploration licences for the B and G areas which contains a majority of the coal resources. Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh) Pty Ltd was also granted an exploration licence for Area H, covering the Northern extent of the coal basin in 2002. The GoB granted a mining lease in April 2004 over Area B. Under the Contract and the Mines and Minerals Rules of Bangladesh, the Company is able to make additional applications requesting extensions to the Project area which will also be subject to the Contract. In June 2004, Asia Energy applied for additional exploration licences over part of the Project area as a way of establishing rights to certain co-products, such as silica sand, gravel and kaolin that may be recovered from the overburden material removed to access the coal. It also applied for exploration licences and a mining lease over several adjoining tenements to further explore extensions to the coal basins and in order to assess additional mining options. A summary of Asia Energy's mining leases and exploration licences granted, under conversion and under application is detailed below: Licence Title Area ( ha ) Status Coal Mining Lease Area 'B' 1,921 Granted Exploration Licence Area 'G' for mine development 1,447 Granted and infrastructure Exploration Licence area G, Coal Mining Lease 1,447 Under conversion Exploration Licence Area 'H' 2,112 Granted Exploration Licence Area 'H', Coal Mining Lease 2,112 Under conversion Exploration Licence Area 'I' for mine development 10,371 Under application and extension of Phulbari Coal Basin Exploration Licences 'J' to 'Q' covering various Under application potential co-products from overburden Exploration Licence Area 'T' 1,775 Under application Coal Mining Lease Area 'U' 286 Under application Total area for approved coal licences and coal 17,912 lease and new application areas The Contract contains an Investment Agreement which specifies certain investment incentives for the Company covering the key Project areas of importation, marketing and coal export, choice of suppliers and contractors, banking and currency arrangements and tax benefits. The Contract's stability clause states that the Company is protected from any adverse changes that might otherwise be made to the terms of the Investment Agreement by GoB under their powers as provided in Article 5 to the Foreign Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act 1980. However, the Company is entitled to the benefit from any changes to the Bangladeshi tax regime or other legislation that have a positive impact on the Project. The Contract also states that on commencement of commercial production of coal, Asia Energy will be obliged to pay the GoB, every six months, a royalty of 6% of the sale value of all coal produced and sold in the preceding six months pursuant to a mining lease. Scheme of Development In accordance with the Contract, the granting of Area B mining lease in April 2004, triggered an obligation on Asia Energy to complete the Scheme of Development within two years. The Company submitted the Scheme of Development to the Director of the Bureau of Mineral Development at the Ministry of Energy in Dhaka on 2 October 2005, six months ahead of schedule. The Company employed the services of more than twenty leading international and Bangladeshi companies and consultants to undertake the study. The Contract requires that the Scheme of Development contains certain specific information, subject to which the GoB has three months from submission to approve the Scheme of Development. In the event that the GoB approval is not received under the Contract, the Company will work with the GoB and seek to address the issues preventing approval. The GoB has formed a technical committee to review the Scheme of Development. The GoB is also in the process of drafting a Coal Policy that will provide the vision and guidance for the emerging coal sector. Asia Energy has provided input to the Coal Policy and the GoB has stated publicly its intention to see coal become an important new energy source for the country. To date the Company has not received any indication from the GoB that the Scheme of Development will not be approved within the three month period. Once the Scheme of Development is approved by the GoB, Asia Energy will have 36 months to commence mining operations. The Company is finalising the Definitive Feasibility Study which will be used to support the banking project information memorandum for the project finance process. It is proposed that the project finance will be used to fund further development of the Project. This process is expected to start in Q1 2006. The DFS will be a culmination of all the studies and work the Company and its consultants and advisers have been preparing to date and will comprise of a number of reports detailing: • Resource Definition - includes exploration drilling, coal sampling, resource modelling • Groundwater investigation - includes water drilling and groundwater modelling • Mine Design - includes pit planning, equipment selection, materials handling, mine rehabilitation, mine infrastructure, water management and ' Life-of-Mine Financial Model' • Processing - includes coal processing concept studies, product definition, coal plant design and co-products plant design • Marketing - includes coal specification, coal marketing survey, coal sales revenue model and co-product specification, marketing survey and sales revenue survey • Environment and Social Studies - includes surface water modelling, noise monitoring, town planning, resettlement action plan and land procurement plan • Land and Data Management - includes a land Geographical Information System and database administration • Infrastructure - includes rail and roads at the Phulbari site, coal shipments and rail transport, Life-of-Mine power generation, surface water management and town design issues. Environment and Social Impact Environmental clearance for the Project was granted by the Department of Environment of the GoB in September 2005. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards in environmental and social management. It has used and will continue to use specialist employees and consultants to manage this process. During 2004 and 2005, the Company engaged and managed these specialist consultants to prepare both the Environmental Impact Assessment ('EIA') as required by the GoB and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ('ESIA') in line with international standards. All work has been carried out to the standards set by the World Bank/International Finance Corporation ('IFC'), the Asian Development Bank ('ADB') and to the Equator Principles of the IFC. The work has also followed the IFC's environmental and social safeguard policies with respect to the World Bank's specific guidelines on coal mining. Resettlement Plan The Directors are aware that proper management of the resettlement process is a key issue for the successful implementation of the Project. The Company has an ongoing consultation process with the communities which may be affected and maintains an information centre in Phulbari. Included in the EIA is the Resettlement Plan which defines Asia Energy's commitment to ensure that people who are relocated as a result of the mine are resettled and rehabilitated and compensated fairly and fully. Project Benefits for Bangladesh The Directors believe the Phulbari Project is a major foreign investment for Bangladesh. When production starts, Phulbari is expected to feed coal to Asia's major seaborne and Bangladesh's domestic markets. The mine should significantly boost the country's economy through job creation and regional infrastructure enhancement. As outlined in the Scheme of Development, the GoB will earn revenues from royalties, taxes, service and freight charges and port dues. The Project will directly employ over 1,200 people on a long term basis and should create substantial additional indirect employment in Bangladesh. Asia Energy has also submitted to GoB a proposal to establish a 500 MW coal-fired power plant at the Phulbari mine site in October 2005. The Directors view this as a separate project to be independently funded and managed. Asia Energy currently intends to attain a free carried interest in the power project together with suitable off-take agreements for Phulbari's domestic thermal coal and favourable electricity supply rates. 2. Reasons for the Placing The expected proceeds from the Placing of approximately US$50 million (after expenses) represents approximately one third of next year's anticipated expenditure and will be used to fund the next phase of the Company's initial development activities, the purchase of start up capital equipment and the placing of deposits to secure long lead time capital equipment. The current intention of the Directors is to apply the net proceeds from the Placing to the following items in approximate amounts: Item US$millions Mining Equipment and Deposits 23 De-watering 8 Administration & Development 9 Resettlement & Community 10 Total Use of Funds 50 • Mining Equipment and Deposits - The Company will purchase equipment and place deposits to secure key mining equipment expected for delivery in Q4 2006, following payment of the balances due. • Dewatering - The Company will purchase pumps and associated equipment to commence dewatering of the aquifers found in the shallow sands and gravels overlying the coal measures. • Administration and Development Costs - The Company will continue to build its project development team and commence detailed mine planning and production scheduling and establish appropriate support facilities. • Resettlement and Community - Following GoB approval, the Company will commence the process of acquiring the land needed for the purpose of the Project, initially focusing on construction of a model village and areas for initial mine workings and infrastructure. The Directors believe that this additional capital will provide the Company with flexibility in the timing of discussions with, and securing project finance from, interested parties. 3. The Placing 3.1 Details of the Placing It is proposed that the Placing will be undertaken by the placing of new Ordinary Shares with institutional investors. Under the Placing, 4,143,976 new Ordinary Shares are available to be placed firm and an additional number of new Ordinary Shares are being placed subject to shareholder approval at the EGM to be convened for 22 December 2005. The precise number of Conditional Placing Shares of the Placing will be determined such that the gross proceeds arising from the Placing amount to approximately US$52m. The Firm Placing Shares will be placed with the same institutional investors as the Conditional Placing Shares and the allocation of Placing Shares between Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares will be on a pro-rata basis, such that each Placee offering to subscribe Placing Shares would, in the event of such offer being accepted in full, be entitled to subscribe Placing Shares split between Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares in the same proportion as other successful applicants. If approved by shareholders and the Conditional Placing Shares are admitted to trading, the Conditional Placing Shares will have identical rights to the Firm Placing Shares and those of existing Ordinary Shares. Based on last night's closing share price of 470 pence, the Placing would represent approximately 15.5% of Asia Energy's existing issued share capital. The proposed issue of the Placing Shares, which is not underwritten, will take place at a set price which will be established through an institutional Bookbuilding Process. The gross proceeds of the Placing are expected to be approximately US$52m before deduction of the commission, fees and expenses of approximately US$2m which are expected to be payable by the Company in connection with the Placing. Bookbuild To enter a bid into the Bookbuilding Process, institutional investors will be required to communicate their bid to JPMorgan Cazenove, specifying the number of Placing Shares which it wishes to offer to subscribe and any price limit to which its offer to participate is subject. The Placing Price will ultimately be established by the Company and JPMorgan Cazenove following closure of the books. Institutions participating in the Placing will receive both the Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares in each case subject to the satisfaction of the conditions contained in, and the non-termination of the Placing Agreement. Preferential treatment in the allocation process will be given to existing institutional shareholders. The Placing Shares will be allocated pro rata between the Firm Placing and the Conditional Placing. The Conditional Placing will be subject to shareholder approval of the resolutions to be passed at the EGM but the Firm Placing will not. It is expected that the books will close no later than 4:30pm on 29 November 2005 but may be closed earlier or later at the discretion of JPMorgan Cazenove. An announcement detailing the placing price and the proceeds will be made as soon as practicable after the close of the Bookbuilding Process. Settlement When admitted, the Placing Shares will be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue. Application will be made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. It is currently expected that settlement for any Firm Placing Shares acquired as well as admission to trading on AIM will take place on 5 December 2005. In respect of the Conditional Placing, settlement will be conditional , inter alia, on shareholders approving the necessary resolutions at the EGM and it is currently expected that such settlement as well as admission to trading on AIM will take place on 23 December 2005. Full details of the terms and conditions of the Placing are set out in Appendix A. Placees participating in the Placing will be deemed to have read and understood the full terms and conditions relating to the Placing and to be participating on the basis that they accept these in full. 3.2 Placing Agreement The Company has entered into an agreement with JP Morgan Cazenove and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd under which JP Morgan Cazenove has, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out therein, undertaken to use all reasonable endeavours to seek to arrange Placees for the Placing Shares. The obligations of JP Morgan Cazenove and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd under the agreement are conditional upon, inter alia, (i) in respect of obligations relating to Conditional Placing Shares and Firm Placing Shares separately, the Warranties given by the Company being accurate and not misleading at all times up until the admission of all the Placing Shares; (ii) in relation to its obligations relating to all Placing Shares, admission of the Firm Placing Shares to AIM occurring no later than 8.00am on 5 December 2005 and (iii) in relation to its obligations in relation to the Conditional Placing Shares only, the passing of the resolutions at the EGM and admission of the Conditional Placing Shares to AIM occurring no later than 8.00am on 23 December 2005. Further, JP Morgan Cazenove and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd may terminate the Placing Agreement, inter alia, for breach of warranty by the Company or if there has been a material adverse change in the financial or trading position or prospects of the Company's group taken as a whole. 3.2 Director's participation Directors have committed to apply to participate in the Placing, as follows: Directors Participation in Placing (total number of shares) David Lenigas 10,000 Michael Frayne 10,000 Gary Lye 2,000 Jonathan Malins 5,000 Total 27,000 3.3 Placing authority Asia Energy has an authorised share capital of £20,000,000 divided into 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 10p each. As at 28 November 2005, Asia Energy had issued 41,164,357 of such shares. On 30 March 2004, prior to the Company being admitted to AIM, the shareholders of the Company passed resolutions which authorised the Directors to allot and grant rights to subscribe for shares of the Company up to a maximum of 30,000,000 shares on a non pre-emptive basis including shares issued on the date of admission to AIM,with such authority expiring five years after the passing of the resolutions. On the date of admission to AIM,18,602,636 further Ordinary Shares were subscribed for. Subsequently, 3,561,719 Ordinary Shares have been issued pursuant to options and warrants. As at 28 November 2005, there remains an existing unused authority to issue on a non pre-emptive basis 4,143,976 new Ordinary Shares representing 10.07% of the existing issued share capital of the Company and 9.28% of the issued share capital of the Company including unexercised options and warrants, prior to the Placing. It is proposed that these 4,143,976 shares will be deemed to be the Firm Placing Shares. Asia Energy is also today posting a notice to shareholders convening the EGM to seek approval for the non pre-emptive issue of 10% of the enlarged issued share capital. It is intended that part of this authority will be utilised for the purposes of the Placing. The Conditional Placing is conditional on shareholders voting in favour of the resolutions at the EGM. The Directors who hold approximately 3% of the current issued share capital have also confirmed they will vote in favour of the participation and intend to apply to subscribe for 27,000 shares. The Placing Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares as well as rank in full for all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid on the Ordinary Shares after the admission to trading on AIM. 4. Funding Strategy Based on the current Life-of-Mine Financial Model estimates, it is anticipated that the Company will have a total funding requirement of approximately US$ 1.07 billion (excluding financing costs) prior to the Project becoming cash flow positive during the third year of coal production in 2010. This anticipated total funding requirement consists of direct capital expenditure of approximately US$850 million and start up net operating costs of approximately US$220 million to be expended prior to 2010. This estimate is also based upon a weighted average coal price of US$50 per tonne. These estimates are provisional and will continue to be optimised by the Company, in conjunction with its bankers and consultants, prior to finalisation of the banking information memorandum. The profile of the total required funds is estimated to be approximately as follows: 14% for 2006, 44% in 2007, 34% in 2008 and 8% in 2009. The equity/debt split has not yet been determined. The Company appointed Barclays Capital in August 2004 as its financial advisors. The Company is continuing to evaluate a number of finance options including but not limited to equity, project debt, debentures, convertible debentures, export credit agencies, multi and bi-lateral agencies, off-take agreements and joint venture partners. The Directors believe that the final financing structure for the Project will be determined after completion of the DFS and as part of the project finance process to be undertaken in 2006. While there remains flexibility in the final composition of the financial structure, the Directors intend it will be in line with general project finance structures as adopted for projects of this scale. The Company has also received a number of approaches from major coal producers, coal consumers and coal trading partners who have all expressed interest in participating in the further development of the Project. 5. Overview of the Project 5.1 Resources and Reserves The estimated coal resources of the project in accordance with Australia's Joint Ore Reserve Committee ('JORC') standards have been confirmed as 572 million tonnes. Project life-of-mine is greater than 30 years. The overburden also contains potentially valuable co-products including kaolin, aggregate, clay and sand. An intensive programme of drilling and geophysical testing was conducted as part of the DFS and completed in June 2005. The work was managed and supervised by GHD Pty Ltd, an Australian based consultancy, whilst drilling was undertaken by Drillcorp Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and by Falgu Sandhani (Bangladesh). The drilling achieved over 100 boreholes located throughout the coal deposit. A large number of core samples were transported to the laboratories of ACIRL Pty Ltd in Brisbane, Australia and tested to confirm the quality of the coal. The comprehensive database established was sufficient to define the resource to JORC standard classification. The JORC Code estimates were signed off by GHD's geology specialist Mr Frans Bos, MSc. FAusIMM (CP) as the Competent Person and his latest report in August 2005 put the resources at 572 million tonnes which is comprised of the following: Category Tonnes (millions) Measured 288 Indicated 244 Inferred 40 Total 572 Five coal seams were identified: Top, Upper, Main, Lower and Base. Of these, the most significant are the Upper and Main seams which account for approximately 90% of the JORC resources. The position of the Upper and Main seams influences the mining method. They are generally dipping at approximately 6degrees west to east and in the north-south direction they dip at approximately 4degrees towards a central low point. The total coal thickness from the drilling information within the planned mining area varies between 20-65 metres in combined thickness, located some 165-270 metres beneath the surface. The deposit is characterised as deep multiple seam and moderately dipping and the near horizontal nature of the coal structure makes it suitable for excavation using conventional mining methods that progress in a staged fashion from one end of the deposit to the other. Mining studies assessing recoverable coal have been included in the DFS. These consider the Measured and Indicated and Inferred Resources that lie within the pit shell that has been defined on the basis of mine design, physical and economic parameters. Marketable Coal recoveries are computed after allowing for coal losses and dilution plus recovery through the coal processing plant. The Marketable Coal recovered has been assessed as totalling 431 million tonnes. A JORC statement has also been prepared which reconciles the Measured Indicated and Inferred resources and quotes 401 million tonnes of 'Marketable Open Cut Reserves'. The 30 million tonne difference is due to small quantities of Inferred Resources and other coal, which has been included in the practical pit design (in particular at the south end and on the margins) and hence will be mined in any case but cannot be quoted as a 'reserve' by JORC standards. The estimate was completed by Paul Westcott BE (Mining, Hons) FAusIMM, CPMin, MMICA, MAIME, who is a director and full time employee of MineConsult Pty Ltd. He has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking to qualify him as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. 5.2 Development of the Open Pit Mine The coal will be mined by the open pit method using truck and shovel. Underground mining was rejected due to poor resource recovery, as this would have reduced the mineable coal to as little as 50 million tonnes. There was also a major concern over flooding of any underground workings due to the close proximity of the overlying aquifer sequence. Open cut methods generally ensure greater coal recovery of the resource and groundwater management through pumping will ensure safe dry production conditions. Current schedules indicate a life-of-mine of over 30 years with an expected average rate of mining of 16 million tonnes of Run-of-Mine (ROM) coal per annum once in full production, which will yield 15 Mtpa of product coal at an average strip ratio of 7.5 bcm/t (bank cubic metres of overburden per tonne of coal mined). A small quantity of overburden is scheduled to be removed in late 2006 with the majority of overburden excavation commencing in 2007. Timely GoB approval will enable mining activity to commence in late 2006 with first coal expected to be produced in 2008 and full production anticipated in 2013. 5.3 Life-of-Mine Operating Costs The Company's current estimates of the Project indicate that total life-of-mine operating costs equate to less than US$25 per tonne of coal to point of sale. Market studies by the Company's consultants indicate that Phulbari would be positioned in the lowest quartile cost producers in the world export seaborne trade. 5.4 Products A comprehensive analysis of all exploration slim-core samples and the two Large Diameter core samples specifically extracted to determine representative coal quality across the major coal seams was undertaken by ACIRL Ltd in Australia, under the supervision of Asia Energy's coal evaluation consultant, QCC Resources Pty Ltd ('QCC'). QCC has determined that through conventional, efficient coal washing and preparation processes, the Phulbari ROM coal is capable of yielding a wide range of coal products with differing levels of ash and energy. QCC has defined the quality parameters for three products categories - Export Thermal Coal ('ETC'), Low Ash Metallurgical Coal ('LAMC') to be marketed as a Semi-Soft Coking Coal ('SSCC') and Domestic Thermal Coal ('DTC'). Typical specification of the export products expected to be produced are illustrated below: Phulbari Export Coal Product Specifications Provisional Typical Specification Unit of Analysis Low Ash Export Measurement Basis Metallurgical Thermal Coal Coal LAMC ETC Total moisture % ar 10.0 8.5 Proximate analysis % ad Moisture 2.8 2.4 Ash 6.8 12.0 Volatile matter 33.7 31.4 Fixed carbon 56.7 54.2 Total sulphur % ad 0.75 0.80 Chlorine % ad 0.02 0.02 Phosphorus % 0.03 0.04 Hardgrove grindability index 45 43 Crucible swelling No 4 1 Top Size mm 50 50 Specific energy Gross: kcal/kg ad 7420 6930 Net: kcal/kg ar 6580 6240 Nitrogen % daf 1.8 1.8 Analysis of ash % SiO2 47 48 Al203 37 40 Fe203 6.5 5.3 CaO 0.9 0.4 MgO 0.2 0.2 Na2O 0.1 0.1 K2O 0.9 0.7 TiO2 5.6 3.4 Mn3O4 0.01 0.01 P2O5 1.10 0.73 SO3 0.1 0.1 Ash fusibility Hemisphere degreesC,red,atm 1550 >1600 ar: as received ad: air dried daf: dry ash free Output of all products will vary slightly from year to year in line with the mine plan and natural in-situ quality variation, but in most years the product mix from the 15 million tonnes expected to be produced per year will be as follows: • 60% ETC • 20% SSCC; and • 20% DTC Phulbari Export Thermal Coal Thermal Coal is primarily used in coal fired power generation and in raising heat for industrial processes such as cement clinker. Phulbari ETC has been found to rank highly in terms of those characteristics which maximise combustion efficiency. It has high energy, low moisture, low ash, manageable volatiles, high fixed carbon and benign ash chemistry. Phulbari Low Ash Metallurgical Coal Metallurgical coals are mainly used to produce coke for blast furnace input in the integrated iron and steel industry worldwide. SSCC is blended with higher priced Hard Coking Coal to make cost effective coke. The key qualities of Phulbari LAMC are its low ash and mid-range phosphorus. Phulbari also has a major freight advantage to the Indian market in terms of distance and costs, compared to competing suppliers. Phulbari Domestic Thermal Coal DTC can be produced from the coal washing and preparation process with varying levels of ash from 19% up to 33% and consequent reduced energy content. Phulbari DTC will be an ideal fuel for additional coal fired electricity generating capacity in Bangladesh to help meet the country's growing power demand. In addition there is a significant opportunity to supply coal to the Bangladesh brick-making industry. Co-Products Co-products available are gravel, kaolin and silica (glass) sand. Also available are clay for brick-making, construction sand, and hard rock for aggregate and dimension stone. There are domestic markets for these products, particularly gravel and clay for bricks. Transportation of the coal It is intended that the bulk of the coal will be transported by rail to a loading terminal at or near the River Port of Khulna, some 360 km from the mine. It will then be barged 100km down the Pussur River or Sibsa River to a floating terminal in a sheltered anchorage near the Bay of Bengal at Akram Point from where it will be loaded onto ocean going bulk carriers. Some exports to India will also be transported and delivered on the same rail corridor via the land port of Darsana on the India/Bangladesh border, and from there to consumers in the nearby Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Significant infrastructure upgrading will be required and the Company has budgeted accordingly. 6.0 Marketing Strategy Of the 15 million tonnes of saleable coal expected to be produced in any one year, it is anticipated that an average of 9 million tonnes will be Export Thermal Coal, 3 million tonnes will be Low Ash Metallurgical Coal (SSCC) for export and 3 million tonnes will be Domestic Thermal Coal. Market research by Asia Energy's consultants has confirmed that Phulbari coals are similar in specifications to a number of well-established export brands and the export coal will be attractive to international buyers seeking to diversify their sources of supply. The Project's anticipated low production costs, comfortably in the lowest cost quartile, and proximity to growing regional markets for thermal and metallurgical coal, especially India, are added strategic advantages. Discussions and briefings on the Phulbari Project have been initiated with potential off-takers and agents in various Asian markets. The Directors anticipate that off-take commitments, at the Letter of Intent or Memorandum of Understanding stage, will be pursued during the first part of 2006 as part of the project finance process. Asia Energy does not proffer a particular view of future coal prices. The Directors believe that low operating costs and locational advantage are vital to maximising margins and staying profitable in all market conditions, and believe that the Phulbari Project has both of those attributes. Important Notice This announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of Asia Energy plc. Members of the general public are not eligible to take part in the Placing. In the United Kingdom, this announcement, in so far as it constitutes an invitation or inducement to participate in the Placing, is directed exclusively at persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments who fall within: (i) article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2001 (as amended) (the 'Order') or are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as 'relevant persons'); and (ii) section 86(7) (Qualified Investors) of Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 This announcement, in so far as it constitutes an invitation or inducement to participate in the Placing, must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement or the Placing relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. As regards all persons other than relevant persons, the details of the Placing and the Bookbuilding Process set out in this announcement are for information purposes only. JPMorgan Cazenove is acting for Asia Energy plc and no one else in connection with the offer and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, or for providing advice in relation to the proposed offer. This announcement is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States, and the securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This announcement is not for distribution directly or indirectly in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire ordinary shares in the capital of Asia Energy plc in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland or any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful. No public offering of securities will be made. Appendix A - Terms and Conditions of the Placing APPENDIX TERMS & CONDITIONS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVITED PLACEES ONLY ON THE PLACING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN THE PLACING. THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND THIS APPENDIX (OF WHICH IT FORMS PART) AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO: (A) HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(1) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005 (THE 'ORDER') OR ARE PERSONS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(a) TO (d) (HIGH NET WORTH COMPANIES, UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS, ETC) OF THE ORDER; AND (B) ARE QUALIFIED INVESTORS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 86(7) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000; AND (C) HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLACING BY JP MORGAN CAZENOVE LIMITED (SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS 'RELEVANT PERSONS'). THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS APPENDIX AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO RELEVANT PERSONS AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS. NEITHER THIS APPENDIX NOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF WHICH IT FORMS PART CONSTITUTES AN OFFER OR AN INVITATION TO ACQUIRE OR DISPOSE OF ANY SECURITIES IN ASIA ENERGY PLC. If you have been invited and choose to participate in the Placing by making an oral offer to acquire Placing Shares you will be deemed to have read and understood this Appendix and the announcement of which it forms part in their entirety and to be making such offer on the terms and conditions, and to be providing the representations, warranties and acknowledgements, contained in this Appendix. In particular you represent, warrant and acknowledge that you are a Relevant Person. Further, you represent and agree that you are either (a) a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or (b) you are outside the United States and are subscribing for Placing Shares in an 'offshore transaction' (within the meaning of Regulation S). See ' Representations and Warranties' elsewhere in this Appendix for further representations and warranties you will be deemed to make by participating in the Bookbuilding. This Appendix and the announcement of which it forms part do not constitute an offer to sell or the invitation or solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for ordinary shares in the capital of Asia Energy plc ('Asia Energy' or the ' Company') in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland or in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful (the 'Restricted Jurisdictions') and the information contained herein is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, to persons in any Restricted Jurisdiction. In particular, this appendix and the announcement of which it forms part are not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States, and the securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The relevant clearances have not been, and nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission of any province or territory of Canada; no prospectus has been lodged with, or registered by, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Registrar of Companies in the Republic of Ireland or the Japanese Ministry of Finance; and the Placing Shares have not been, and nor will they be, registered under or offered in compliance with the securities laws of any state, province or territory of Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland or Japan. Accordingly, the Placing Shares may not (unless an exemption under the relevant securities laws is applicable) be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, the Republic of Ireland or Japan or any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom and Jersey. Overseas Shareholders (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) who have a contractual or other legal obligation to forward a copy of this Appendix or the announcement of which it forms part to a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. The distribution of this announcement and the placing of Ordinary Shares in certain other jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by JP Morgan Cazenove or the Company that would permit an offer of such ordinary shares or possession or distribution of this announcement or any other offering or publicity material relating to such ordinary shares in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by JP Morgan Cazenove and the Company to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. Details of the Placing Agreement and the Placing Shares JP Morgan Cazenove has been appointed as sole bookrunner to the Placing. JP Morgan Cazenove and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. ('JPMSL') have entered into the Placing Agreement with the Company under which JP Morgan Cazenove has, on the terms and conditions set out therein, undertaken to use all reasonable endeavours to seek to arrange Placees for new Ordinary Shares (the 'Placing Shares'). Under the Placing 4,143,976 of the Placing Shares are available to be placed firm (the 'Firm Placing Shares') and an additional number of new Ordinary Shares (subject to the maximum amount comprised in the authorities in the Shareholder Resolutions) are available to be placed subject to shareholder approval at the EGM (the 'Conditional Placing Shares). The Placing is not being underwritten. The Firm Placing Shares and the Conditional Placing Shares are to be placed on a pro-rata basis, such that each Placee offering to subscribe for Placing Shares would, in the event of such offer being accepted in full, be entitled to subscribe for Placing Shares split between Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares in the same proportion as other successful applicants. The Placing Shares will, as from the date when they are issued, rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Ordinary Shares of 10 pence each in the capital of the Company, and will be allotted and issued fully paid up under the Placing together with the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid in respect of such ordinary shares after the date of issue. The Company has undertaken in the Placing Agreement not to make or declare any dividends in respect of Ordinary Shares before the date of admission to trading on AIM of the Conditional Placing Shares (or if earlier the date of termination of the Placing Agreement). Admission Application for all the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM will be made. Settlement for any Firm Placing Shares issued and allotted pursuant to the Placing will take place on admission of such shares to trading on AIM which is expected to be 5 December 2005. Settlement for any Conditional Placing Shares issued and allotted pursuant to the Placing will, subject to the approval of the Shareholder Resolutions, take place on the date of admission of such shares to trading on AIM which is expected to be 23 December 2005. In this Appendix, unless the context otherwise requires, 'Placee' or 'you' means a Relevant Person (including individuals, funds or others) on whose behalf an offer to subscribe for Placing Shares has been, or is proposed to be, given. Bookbuild Commencing today, JP Morgan Cazenove will be conducting an accelerated bookbuilding process (the 'Bookbuilding Process') to determine demand for the Placing Shares. This Appendix gives details of the terms and conditions of, and the mechanics of participation in, the Bookbuilding Process. No commissions will be paid to Placees or payable by Placees in respect of any Placing Shares. Participation in the Bookbuilding Process Only Relevant Persons who are invited to do so may participate in the Bookbuilding Process. Invitations to participate will be made by telephone through usual sales contacts at JP Morgan Cazenove. If you are invited to participate, your allocation (if any) of Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares will be confirmed to you orally following the close of the Bookbuilding Process and contract notes confirming your agreement to subscribe for Firm Placing Shares and your agreement to subscribe for Conditional Placing Shares will be dispatched as soon as possible thereafter. JP Morgan Cazenove's oral confirmation to you will constitute acceptance of your offer to acquire both Firm Placing Shares and, subject to shareholder approval, Conditional Placing Shares, and create a legally binding commitment upon you (who will at that point become a Placee) to subscribe for the number of Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares allocated to you on the terms and conditions set out in this Appendix and in accordance with the Company's constitutional documents. JP Morgan Cazenove will make a further announcement following the close of the Bookbuilding Process detailing the number of Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares (if any) to be sold and the price at which the same are to be placed (the 'Pricing Announcement'). Principal terms of the Bookbuilding Process 1. JP Morgan Cazenove is arranging the Placing as an agent of the Company. 2. Participation will only be available to Relevant Persons invited to participate by JP Morgan Cazenove. JP Morgan Cazenove and its Affiliates are entitled to enter bids as principal in the Bookbuilding Process. 3. The Bookbuilding Process will establish a single price in Pounds Sterling payable by all Placees (the 'Placing Price'). The Placing Price will be determined by the Company, JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL following completion of the Bookbuilding Process. 4. Once you have been invited to bid in the Bookbuilding Process, you should communicate your bid by telephone to your usual sales contact at JP Morgan Cazenove. Your bid should state the number of Placing Shares (which will be apportioned by JPMC as between Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares on a pro-rata basis in the same proportions for all applicants, with the precise split depending on the aggregate number of Placing Shares ultimately to be issued) or total monetary amount which you are offering to subscribe for Placing Shares at either the Placing Price which is ultimately established or at prices up to a price limit specified in your bid. 5. JP Morgan Cazenove reserves the right not to accept bids or to accept bids in part rather than in whole. The acceptance of bids shall be at JP Morgan Cazenove's absolute discretion. 6. The Bookbuilding Process is expected to close no later than 4.30 p.m. (London time) on 29 November 2005, but may be closed earlier or later, on that or any other day, at the sole discretion of JP Morgan Cazenove. JP Morgan Cazenove may, at its sole discretion, accept bids that are received after the Bookbuilding Process has closed. 7. A bid in the Bookbuilding Process will be made on the terms and conditions in this Appendix and will be legally binding on the Placee by which, or on behalf of which, it is made and will not be capable of variation or revocation by the Placee after the close of the Bookbuilding Process. Conditions of the Placing The obligations of JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL under the Placing Agreement in relation to the Placing of the Firm Placing Shares and the Conditional Placing Shares are conditional (inter alia) on: (a) pricing occurring and publication of the Pricing Announcement on or by 8:00 a.m. 30 November 2005; (b) the warranties contained in the Placing Agreement ('Warranties') being true and accurate and not misleading on and as of the date of the Placing Agreement and at all times (by reference to the facts then subsisting) before: (i) in relation to obligations relating to the Firm Placing Shares, Admission thereof; and (ii) in relation to obligations relating to the Conditional Placing Shares, Admission thereof; (c) the Company complying with its obligations under the agreement; (d) in relation to the obligations relating to both the Firm Placing Shares and the Conditional Placing Shares, Admission of the Firm Placing Shares occurring not later than 8.00 a.m. on 5 December 2005 or such other date as may be agreed between the Company and JP Morgan Cazenove, not being later than two Business Days after 5 December 2005; and (e) in relation to the obligations relating to the Conditional Placing Shares: (i) the passing without amendment of the Shareholder Resolutions at the EGM; and (ii) admission of the Conditional Placing Shares occurring not later than 8.00 a.m. on 23 December 2005 or such other date as may be agreed between the Company and JP Morgan Cazenove, not being later than the two Business Days after 23 December 2005. If (a) the conditions in the Placing Agreement relating to the Firm Placing are not satisfied or waived by JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL within the stated time period (or such later time and/or date as JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL may decide) or (b) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below prior to Admission of the Firm Placing Shares, the Placing (both firm and conditional) will not take place and your rights and obligations hereunder in respect hereof shall cease and determine at such time and no claim can be made in respect thereof. The Firm Placing is not conditional on the Conditional Placing in any way. If (a) the conditions in the Placing Agreement relating to the Conditional Placing are not satisfied or (where applicable) waived by JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL within the stated time period (or such later time and/or date as JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL may decide) or (b) the Placing Agreement is terminated in the circumstances specified below prior to Admission of the Conditional Placing Shares, the Conditional Placing will not take place and your rights and obligations hereunder in respect thereof shall cease and determine at such time and no claim can be made in respect thereof. By participating in the Bookbuilding Process you agree that your rights and obligations hereunder in relation to each of the Firm Placing and the Conditional Placing are conditional upon the Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects in relation to each of them and not being terminated and will terminate only in the circumstances described above (or otherwise in circumstances in which JP Morgan Cazenove and/or JPMSL is entitled to terminate them) and will not be capable of rescission or termination by you. JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL reserve the right to waive or to extend the time and/or date for fulfilment of any of the conditions in the Placing Agreement (other than conditions (d) and (e) above). JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL shall have no liability to any Placee (or to any other person whether acting on behalf of a Placee or otherwise) in respect of any decision they may make as to whether or not to invoke, waive or to extend the time and/or date for the satisfaction of any condition in the Placing Agreement, and by participating in the Bookbuilding Process you agree that any such decision is within the absolute discretion of JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL. Right to terminate under the Placing Agreement JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL will be entitled to terminate the obligations of JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL under the Placing Agreement if (inter alia) at any time before Admission of the Firm Placing Shares or the Conditional Placing Shares (as the case may be): (a) the Warranties or any of them are not true, accurate and are not misleading as at the date of the Placing Agreement (or would not be true and accurate or would be misleading if they were repeated at any time before admission of the Placing Shares by reference to the facts from time to time subsisting); or (b) any statement in any announcement made by the Company prior to admission of the Placing Shares is untrue, incorrect or misleading when made or becomes untrue, inaccurate or misleading at any time prior to admission of the Placing Shares by reference to the facts or circumstances from time to time subsisting or any matter arises which would, had it arisen prior to the date of the relevant announcement, have constituted an omission from such announcement; or (c) the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under the Placing Agreement; or (d) in the opinion of JP Morgan Cazenove or JPMSL (acting in good faith), there has been a material adverse change in the financial or trading position or prospects of the Company's group of companies taken as a whole (whether or not the same is foreseeable as at the date of the Placing Agreement); or (e) in the opinion of JP Morgan Cazenove or JPMSL (acting in good faith), there has been a change in national or international financial, political, economic or stock market conditions (primary or secondary); an incident of terrorism, outbreak or escalation of hostilities, war, declaration of martial law or any other calamity or crisis; a suspension or material limitation in trading of securities generally on any stock exchange; or any change in currency exchange rates or exchange controls or a disruption of settlement systems or a material disruption in commercial banking, as would, in the opinion of JP Morgan Cazenove or JPMSL (acting in good faith), (had it occurred prior to the date of the Placing Agreement) have been likely to have prejudiced the success of the Placing. Notwithstanding admission of the Firm Placing Shares, JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL retain their rights under the Placing Agreement to terminate the placing of the Conditional Placing Shares in accordance with the terms thereof. Any such termination after completion of the Firm Placing will not, for the avoidance of doubt, affect the completed Firm Placing. By participating in the Bookbuilding Process you agree that the exercise by JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL of any right or termination or other discretion under the Placing Agreement shall be within the absolute discretion of JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL and that they need not make any reference to you and that neither of them shall have any liability to you whatsoever in connection with any such exercise. No Prospectus The Placing Shares are being offered to a limited number of specifically invited persons only and will not be offered in such a way as to require a prospectus in the United Kingdom. No prospectus has been or will be submitted to be approved by AIM or the FSA in relation to the Placing and the Placees' commitments will be made solely on the basis of the information contained in this announcement. Each Placee, by participating in the Placing, agrees that the content of this announcement is exclusively the responsibility of the Company and confirms that it has neither received nor relied on any other information, representation, warranty or statement made by or on behalf of JP Morgan Cazenove or the Company and it will not be liable for any Placee's decision to accept this invitation to participate in the Placing based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing. Nothing in this paragraph shall exclude the liability of any person for fraudulent misrepresentation. Registration and Settlement Settlement for all Placing Shares will be made through CREST. Settlement for any Firm Placing Shares issued and allotted pursuant to the Placing will take place on the date of admission of such shares to trading on AIM which is expected to be 5 December 2005. Settlement for any Conditional Placing Shares issued and allotted pursuant to the Placing will, subject to the approval of the Shareholder Resolutions take place on the date of admission of such shares to trading on AIM which is expected to be 23 December 2005. JP Morgan Cazenove reserves the right to require settlement for and delivery of the Placing Shares to Placees by such other means as it deems necessary if delivery or settlement is not possible as described above within the timetable set out in this announcement or would not be consistent with the regulatory requirements in the Placee's jurisdiction. If you are allocated any Placing Shares in the Bookbuilding Process you will be sent two contract notes, one which will confirm the number of Firm Placing Shares to be subscribed for by you and a second which will confirm the number of Conditional Placing Shares to be subscribed for by you, in each case also confirming the Placing Price and the aggregate amount owed by you to JP Morgan Cazenove as agent for the Company in relation to the settlement of such Firm Placing Shares and Conditional Placing Shares. By participating in the Placing, you agree that you will do all things necessary to ensure that delivery and payment is completed in accordance with the standing settlement instructions which you have in place with JP Morgan Cazenove. If Placing Shares are to be delivered to a custodian or settlement agent, please ensure that the contract note is copied and delivered immediately to the relevant person within that organisation. Interest is chargeable daily on payments to the extent that value is received after the due date at the rate of 5 percentage points above prevailing LIBOR. If you do not comply with your obligations, JP Morgan Cazenove may sell your Placing Shares on your behalf and retain from the proceeds, for its own account and benefit, an amount equal to the Placing Price plus any interest due (in settlement of your liability in respect of JP Morgan Cazenove's payment to the Company on your behalf of the Placing Price of the relevant Placing Shares under clause 8.2 of the Placing Agreement). You will, however, remain liable on the same basis for any shortfall below the Placing Price and you may be required to bear any interest or penalties which may arise upon the sale of your Placing Shares on your behalf. You will not be entitled to receive any fee or commission in connection with the Placing. Representations and Warranties By participating in the Bookbuilding Process you (and any person acting on your behalf): 1. represent and warrant that you have read this Appendix and the announcement of which it forms part and have not redistributed it; 2. acknowledge that you have been invited to participate in the Bookbuilding Process on the basis of this announcement and that no offering document or prospectus or any other document has formed the basis of the placing of the Placing Shares with you; 3. acknowledge that the content of this Appendix and the announcement of which it forms part is exclusively the responsibility of the Company; 4. represent and warrant that you have neither received nor relied on any information, representation, warranty or statement made by or on behalf of JP Morgan Cazenove or the Company other than the information contained in this announcement and that neither JP Morgan Cazenove nor the Company will be liable for any Placee's decision to accept an invitation to participate in the Placing (and any resulting investment) based on any other information, representation, warranty or statement. Each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it has relied on its own investigation of the business, financial or other position of the Company in deciding to participate in the Placing (and in making any resulting investment); 5. represent and warrant that you (and/or any beneficial owner on whose behalf you are making a subscription) are entitled to subscribe for Placing Shares under the laws of all relevant jurisdictions which apply to you (and/or such beneficial owner) and that you (and/or such beneficial owner) have fully observed such laws and obtained all such governmental and other guarantees and other consents which may be required thereunder and complied with all necessary formalities; 6. acknowledge that where you are subscribing for Placing Shares for one or more managed accounts, you represent and warrant that you are authorised in writing by each managed account (i) to subscribing for the Placing Shares for each managed account, (ii) to make on its behalf the representations, warranties and agreements in this Appendix and the announcement of which it forms part, and (iii) to receive on its behalf any investment letter relating to the Placing in the form provided to you by JP Morgan Cazenove. You agree to indemnify and hold the Company, JP Morgan Cazenove and their respective Affiliates harmless from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach of the representations and warranties in this paragraph 6. You agree that the provisions of this paragraph 6 shall survive the resale of the Placing Shares by or on behalf of the managed accounts; 7. undertake to pay any capital duty, stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax and all other stamp, issue, securities, transfer, registration, documentary or other similar duties or taxes payable or otherwise required to be paid in respect of the allotment, issue, delivery or transfer of the Placing Shares or any interest therein to or by you, or the acquisition or disposal of, or in connection with any agreement to subscribe or for the allotment, issue, delivery or transfer of, the Placing Shares or any interest therein to you or by you pursuant to or as a result of the arrangements contemplated by the Placing Agreement or this Appendix or in connection with the issue, execution or delivery of the Placing Agreement or this Appendix and any interest or penalties payable in respect thereof and to indemnify (on an after tax basis) and hold harmless JP Morgan Cazenove Limited, JPMSL, the Company and their respective agents to the extent that JP Morgan Cazenove Limited, JPMSL and/or the Company pay or are or become liable to pay any amount in respect of such duties and taxes. References in this paragraph 7 to Placing Shares include any interest in, or rights to allotment of, or rights to subscribe for or options to subscribe, Placing Shares. Neither JP Morgan Cazenove Limited nor JPMSL shall be liable to pay any amount pursuant to this paragraph 7; 8. represent and warrant that: (i) you are aware of and have complied with your obligations in connection with money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2003 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 and, if you are making payment on behalf of a third party, that satisfactory evidence has been obtained and recorded by you to verify the identity of the third party as required by the Regulations; and (ii) you have complied and will comply with, and have not breached and will not breach, any and all applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by you in relation to the Placing Shares in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; 9. represent and warrant that you fall within paragraph 3(a) of Schedule 11 to FSMA, being a person whose ordinary activities involve you in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of your business, and within Article 19(1) and/or 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, and undertake that you will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of any Placing Shares (or ADSs representing Placing Shares) that are allocated to you for the purposes of your business; 10. represent that you are a 'Qualified Investor' as such term is defined in section 86(7) FSMA; 11. represent and warrant that you have not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of a period of six months from the relevant settlement date, will not offer or sell any Placing Shares to persons in the United Kingdom except to qualified investors (as defined in section 86(7) or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and which will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within s.85(1) of FSMA; 12. represent and warrant that you have only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) relating to the Placing Shares in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not require approval of the communication by an authorised person; 13 represent and warrant that as far as you are aware you are not acting in concert (within the meaning given in the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers) with any other Placee in relation to the Company 14. represent and warrant that you have all necessary capacity and have obtained all necessary consents and authorities to enable you to commit to this participation and to perform your obligations in relation thereto (including, without limitation, in the case of any person on whose behalf you are acting, all necessary consents and authorities to agree to the terms set out or referred to in this announcement);. 15. undertake that you will pay for the Placing Shares acquired by you in accordance with this announcement on the due time and date set out herein, failing which the relevant Placing Shares may be placed with other subscribers or sold as JP Morgan Cazenove determine; 16. acknowledge that participation in the Placing is on the basis that you are not and will not be a client of JP Morgan Cazenove and it has no duties or responsibilities to you for providing the protections afforded to its clients or customers or for providing advice in relation to the Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Placing Agreement; 17. undertake that the person whom you specify for registration as holder of the Placing Shares will be (i) the Placee or (ii) a nominee of the Placee, as the case may be. Each Placee and any person acting on behalf of the Placee agrees to subscribe on the basis that the Placing Shares will be allocated to a stock account of JPMSL who will hold them as nominee on behalf of the Placee until settlement in accordance with its standing settlement instructions; 18. acknowledge that any agreements entered into by the Placee pursuant to these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and you submit (on behalf of yourself and on behalf of any Placee on whose behalf you are acting) to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts as regards any claim, dispute or matter arising out of any such contract. 19. will be deemed to acknowledge, represent and agree with the Company and JPMorgan Cazenove as follows: (a) you are subscribing for the Placing Shares for your own account or an account with respect to which you exercise sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is either (x) a QIB and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A; or (y) subscribing for the Placing Shares in an offshore transaction in compliance with Regulation S; (b) you acknowledge that the Placing Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and that they may not be offered or sold except as set forth below. Each subscriber of Placing Shares that are offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A will be deemed to have acknowledged, represented to and agreed with the Company and JP Morgan Cazenove as follows: (a) it shall not resell or otherwise transfer any of the Placing Shares within two years after the original issuance of the Placing Shares except (1) to the Company or any of its affiliates as defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act; (2) to a QIB in compliance with Rule 144A; (3) in offshore transactions in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act; (4) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act (if available); or (5) pursuant to an effective registration under the Securities Act; (b) it agrees that it will give to each person to whom it transfers the Placing Shares notice of any restrictions on transfer of the Placing Shares; and (c) it understands that its certificated Placing Shares (if any) will bear a legend substantially to the following effect, until the expiration of the applicable holding period with respect to the Placing Shares set forth in Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act: 'THIS SHARE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE US SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE 'SECURITIES ACT'), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER, OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF, THE SECURITIES ACT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES.' Each subscriber of Placing Shares will be deemed to acknowledge that the Company, JPMorgan Cazenove, JPMSL their affiliates and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations and agreements and agrees that if any of the representations or agreements deemed to have been made by its subscription of the Placing Shares are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify us and the initial subscribers. If it is acquiring Placing Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor account, it represents that it has sole investment decision with respect to each account and it has full power to make the foregoing representations and agreements on behalf of each account. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and JP Morgan Cazenove and JPMSL from any and all costs, claims, liabilities and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising out of or in connection with any breach by you (or any person on whose behalf you are acting) of the representations, warranties, acknowledgements, agreements and undertakings in this Appendix and further agree that the provisions of this Appendix shall survive after completion of the Placing. JP Morgan Cazenove, JPMSL and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties and acknowledgements. General This Appendix and the announcement of which it forms part are not for distribution directly or indirectly in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland. Neither this Appendix nor the announcement of which it forms part constitutes an offer to sell or issue or the solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire ordinary shares in the capital of the Company in any Restricted Jurisdictions. No public offering of securities will be made in the United Kingdom, the United States or elsewhere. In particular, this appendix and the announcement of which it forms part are not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States, and the securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This Appendix and the announcement of which it forms part have been issued by the Company and are the sole responsibility of the Company. JP Morgan Cazenove is acting for the Company and no one else in connection with the Placing and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients nor for providing any advice in relation to the Placing or any other matters referred to in this Appendix or the announcement of which it forms part. Appendix B - Definitions 'AIM' means the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange Plc; 'Asia Energy' or 'Company' means Asia Energy Plc; 'Bookbuilding Process' or 'Bookbuild' means the accelerated bookbuilding process to be undertaken by JPMorgan Cazenove in relation to the Placing; 'Business Day' means a day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which clearing banks are open for a full range of banking transactions in London; 'Conditional Placing Shares' means new Ordinary Shares being placed subject to shareholder approval of certain resolutions at the EGM to be held on 22 December 2005 with the actual number being determined at the close of the Bookbuilding Process. 'Director' means a director of the Company 'EGM' means an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Company proposed to be held on 22 December 2005 in order to consider and if thought fit approve the non pre-emptive issue of additional Ordinary Shares 'Firm Placing Shares' means up to 4,143,976 new Ordinary Shares proposed to be issued pursuant to the placing with the actual number being determining at the close of the Bookbuild Process 'FSA' means the Financial Services Authority 'GoB' Government of Bangladesh 'JPMSL' JP Morgan Securities Ltd. 'LOM' Life of Mine 'Ordinary Shares' means ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the share capital of the Company 'Placees' means certain professional and institutional investors 'Placing' means the placing of the Placing Shares 'Placing Agreement' means the agreement entered into by JP Morgan Cazenove, JPMSL and the Company dated on 29 November 2005 in relation to the Placing 'Placing Announcement' means the press announcement giving the results of the Bookbuild and the Placing Price 'Placing Price' means the price per share at which any Placing Shares are to be subscribed by Placees 'Placing Shares' means new Ordinary Shares proposed to be issued pursuant to the placing in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in this announcement and comprising the Firm Placing Shares and the Conditional Placing Shares 'Project' means the Company's coal mining project at Phulbari, Bangladesh 'Shareholder resolutions' means the resolutions of the shareholders of the Company set out in the EGM Notice, which relate to the increase of the Director's authority to allot and issue Ordinary Shares and the disapplication of pre-emption rights in relation to the issue of such shares This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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