21 October, 2013
Solo Oil plc
('Solo' or 'the Company')
Further Investment in West Africa
Solo is pleased to announce that it has signed a Sale Purchase Agreement ("SPA") to acquire an additional 4.9% shareholding in Swiss based Pan Minerals & Oil AG ("Pan Minerals") for a cash consideration of US$500,000. This brings the total investment into Pan Minerals to approximately £800,000 and increases Solo's direct equity interest in Pan Minerals from 15% to 19.9%.
As previously announced in May 2013, the purpose of Solo's investment in Pan Minerals is to assist in the financing agreements in order to progress Pan Mineral's operations onshore in West Africa. Pan Minerals is a Special Purpose Vehicle company focused on acquiring (subject to financing) a farm-in interest in an onshore oil field which was most recently tested at over 2,000 bopd of sweet 20 degree API oil from its discovery well.
Pan Minerals has invested nearly US$3.5 million to date in the pursuit of farm-ins on proven oil fields in West Africa and the Solo's additional investment will assist in the completion of these arrangements. Once financing is in place Pan Minerals expects to conclude the farm-in arrangements and commence the recompletion of the discovery well and its tie-in to local oil export infrastructure. Subsequent activities will include additional development wells and may potentially see the drilling for deeper exploration targets.
Neil Ritson, Solo's CEO, commented:
"As we noted previously Solo's Board is familiar with the onshore oil field being sought by Pan Minerals. Given the progress made towards concluding finance for field development Solo has elected to increase its participation. For commercial reasons, the details of the opportunities must remain confidential at this stage."
Competent Person's Statement:
The information contained in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Neil Ritson, Chief Executive Officer and Director for Solo Oil Plc who has 35 years of relevant experience in the oil industry. Mr Ritson is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, an Active Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.
For further information:
Solo Oil plc David Lenigas Neil Ritson |
+44 (0) 20 7440 0642 |
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Beaumont Cornish Limited Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Roland Cornish |
+44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
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Old Park Lane Capital Plc Joint Broker Michael Parnes
Shore Capital Joint Broker Pascal Keane Jerry Keen (Corporate Broker)
Pelham Bell Pottinger Public Relations Mark Antelme Henry Lerwill
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+44(0) 20 7493 8188
+44 (0) 20 7408 4090
+44 (0) 20 7861 3232 |