Rule 8.3- Venture Production

3i Group PLC
24 September 2007


                                                                        FORM 8.3

    DEALINGS BY PERSONS WITH INTERESTS IN SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE

                        (Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code)



1.         KEY INFORMATION


Name of person dealing  (Note 1)               3i Group plc

Company dealt in                               Venture Production Plc

Class of relevant security to which the        Ordinary 0.4p
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 2)

Date of dealing                                20/09/07

                                               In addition, 3i Group plc has dealt on previous days during the offer
                                               period. Details of those dealings are set out in the Appendix to this
                                               form.





2.         INTERESTS, SHORT POSITIONS AND RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE



(a)        Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of
relevant security dealt in (Note 3)


                                                                       Long                        Short

                                                           Number          (%)          Number        (%)



(1) Relevant securities                                    8,108,328       5.71%

(2) Derivatives (other than options)

(3) Options and agreements to purchase/sell

Total                                                      8,108,328       5.71%





(b)        Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company,
other than the class dealt in (Note 3)


Class of relevant security:                                            Long                        Short

                                                           Number          (%)          Number        (%)

(1) Relevant securities

(2) Derivatives (other than options)

(3) Options and agreements to purchase/sell

Total





(c)        Rights to subscribe (Note 3)


Class of relevant security:                    Details



3.         DEALINGS (Note 4)



(a)        Purchases and sales


Purchase/sale                          Number of securities                  Price per unit (Note 5)


Purchase                               1,202,209                             735p







(b)        Derivatives transactions (other than options)


Product name,         Long/short (Note 6)       Number of securities (Note 7)        Price per unit (Note 5)
e.g. CFD






(c)        Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i)         Writing, selling, purchasing or varying


Product name,         Writing, selling, Number of securities  Exercise   Type, e.g.      Expiry     Option money
                        purchasing,     to which the option              American,
e.g. call option      varying etc.      relates (Note 7)      price      European etc.   date       paid/received per
                                                                                                    unit (Note 5)




(ii)        Exercising


Product name, e.g. call option         Number of securities                  Exercise price per unit (Note 5)








(d)        Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)


Nature of transaction (Note 8)         Details                               Price per unit (if applicable) (Note 5)







4.         OTHER INFORMATION



Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives




Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating
to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting
rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is
referenced.  If none, this should be stated.






Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? (Note 9)                       No




Date of disclosure                                                24/09/07

Contact name                                                      Ceris Stafford

Telephone number                                                  020 7975 3414

If a connected EFM, name of offeree/offeror with which connected

If a connected EFM, state nature of connection (Note 10)



Notes



The Notes on Form 8.3 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk



APPENDIX

DEALINGS


Date                       Purchase/sale                  Number of securities         Price per unit


03/09/07                   Purchase                       16,000                       721p

10/09/07                   Purchase                       90,000                       736p

12/09/07                   Purchase                       16,291                       737p

18/09/07                   Purchase                       160,500                      736p

19/09/07                   Purchase                       5,000                        737p




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