ADMISSION OF CONSIDERATION SHARES
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOCO International plc
("SOCO" or, together with its subsidiaries, the "SOCO Group")
Admission of Consideration Shares and Total Voting Rights update
The Board of Directors of SOCO is pleased to announce that 65,561,041 new ordinary shares of £0.05 each in the capital of SOCO, issued as part of the consideration payable to Merlon International LLC in connection with SOCO's acquisition of Merlon Petroleum El Fayum Company ("Merlon") (the "Transaction"), which completed on 2 April 2019, have been admitted to listing on the premium segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities at 8.00 a.m. today.
Total Voting Rights
In accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, SOCO announces that as at 3 April 2019, following admission of the Consideration Shares, SOCO's issued share capital consists of 406,637,952 ordinary shares of £0.05 each, which have one vote per share. SOCO continues to hold 9,122,268 shares in treasury. Therefore, as at 3 April 2019, the total number of voting rights in SOCO is 397,515,684. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, SOCO under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
Capitalised terms that are not defined in this announcement shall have the same meaning given to them in the circular to SOCO shareholders dated 5 December 2018.
ENQUIRIES
SOCO International plc Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7747 2000
Ed Story, President and Chief Executive Officer
Jann Brown, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer
Mike Watts, Managing Director
Sharan Dhami, Group Investor Relations Manager
Evercore Partners International LLP - Financial Adviser & Sponsor Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7653 6000
David Waring / Edward Banks / Aditya Lohia
Camarco Tel: + 44 (0) 20 3781 8334
Billy Clegg / Owen Roberts
NOTES TO EDITORS
SOCO is an international oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in London and traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Company has a vision and strategy to become a full cycle and growth orientated E&P company of scale. SOCO has production, development and exploration interests in Vietnam and Egypt.
SOCO holds a 30.5% working interest in the Te Giac Trang Field of Block 16-1, which is operated by the Hoang Long Joint Operating Company. Block 16-1 is located in the shallow water Cuu Long Basin, offshore southern Vietnam.
SOCO holds a 25% working interest in the Ca Ngu Vang field of Block 9-2, which is operated by the Hoan Vu Joint Operating Company. Block 9-2 is located in the shallow water Cuu Long Basin, offshore southern Vietnam.
SOCO holds a 70% interest in and is the designated operator of Blocks 125 & 126, located in the moderate to deep water Phu Khanh Basin, offshore central Vietnam.
SOCO holds a 100% working interest in the onshore El Fayum concession in the Western Desert, Egypt, around 80km south west of Cairo. The concession includes ten development leases for oil fields operated by Petrosilah, an Egyptian joint stock company held 50 / 50 between the SOCO Group and the EGPC. As at 30 June 2018, the concession had independently certified proven and probable (2P) reserves of 24 million barrels and contingent (2C) resources of 37 million barrels.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Evercore Partners International LLP ("Evercore") is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Evercore is acting exclusively for SOCO in connection with the matters set out in this announcement and the Transaction. Evercore is not, and will not be, responsible to anyone other than SOCO for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Transaction or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on it by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Evercore nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract or in tort, under statute or otherwise) and makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, fairness, sufficiency, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on their behalf, in connection with SOCO or the Transaction, and nothing in this announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or the future. Evercore and any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates accordingly disclaims to the fullest extent permitted by law all and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any such statement contained therein.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risk factors and uncertainties associated with the oil and gas exploration and production business generally and specifically with the business, operations and financial position of the SOCO Group. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "projects", "expects", "intends", "may", "aims", "targets", "prospects", "outlooks", "potential", "possible", "forecasts", "will", "seeks" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts.
These forward looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions regarding SOCO's present and future business strategies and the environment in which SOCO will operate in the future including, among other things, regulatory changes, future levels of industry product supply, demand and pricing, weather and weather-related impacts, wars and acts of terrorism, development and use of technology, acts of competitors, the repercussions of the UK's referendum vote to leave the European Union, future capital expenditures and acquisitions and other changes to business conditions. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events in the forward-looking statements may not occur. Forward looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Other events not taken into account may occur and may significantly affect the analysis of the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements may, and often do, differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements in this announcement reflect SOCO's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to SOCO and its operations, results of operations and growth strategy.
Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules), SOCO is not under any obligation and SOCO expressly disclaims any intention or obligation (to the maximum extent permitted by law) to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Except as explicitly stated, neither the content of SOCO's nor Merlon's website, nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on SOCO's or Merlon's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
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