Directorate Change
Ascent Resources PLC
28 June 2005
28 June 2005
Ascent Resources Plc ('Ascent' or 'the Company')
'Board Appointments & Purchase of Swiss Operating Company'
Ascent Resources Plc, the AIM listed oil and gas exploration and production
company, has appointed Malcolm Groom, Director, and Jonathan Legg, Non Executive
Director, to its Board. It has also purchased PEOS AG, a Swiss company that has
oilfield operating experience in Switzerland.
Board Appointments
Malcolm Groom has been Ascent's legal and commercial adviser since its
inception. He is a qualified solicitor who has specialised in energy law for
nearly 30 years, and since 2003 has been practising as an independent
international legal adviser specialising in oil, gas and liquefied natural gas
(LNG). Malcolm has worked in over 30 countries both on commercial deals and
governmental/regulatory structures. As well as having been a partner at
Warrens, Denton Hall and Norton Rose, he has held directorships at various
companies including Consort Resources Limited and has advised a wide range of
international companies including Shell, BHP Billiton, Lasmo, Monument and
Tractebel.
Jonathan Legg also has wide experience of the energy industry. In 1997, he
formed Energy Business Consultants Limited, which has advised a wide range of UK
and international clients on the commercial aspects of gas and power, and also
served as a director of Claims Validation Services Limited, the company formed
and owned by the UK's gas shippers to administer the Network Code. In 1999, he
then founded Consort Resources Limited, which by the time of its sale in 2003
had become a top 10 UK gas producer. From 1981 to 1997, he was a senior
executive with Conoco (U.K.) Limited and then BG E&P Limited. Jonathan has also
served on the board of UK Offshore Operators' Association, and was a member of
the Government's UK-Continental Interconnector Steering Group.
Ascent Managing Director, Jeremy Eng said: 'I'd like to welcome both Malcolm and
Jonathan to the Board. The experience and expertise of these specialists
perfectly complements that of the Board and management of the Company. Their
appointments significantly expand our ability to optimise the development of
Ascent's portfolio of oil and gas assets. With two further acquisitions in the
final stages of due diligence, I am certain they will make an invaluable
contribution in maximising returns for our shareholders and to assist us in
identifying the best assets for the Company in the future.'
Purchase of PEOS AG
Ascent Resources has purchased all of the shares of PEOS AG under share exchange
agreements for the issue of 1,175,100 new ordinary shares in Ascent Resources
plc. PEOS AG, registered in the Canton of Zurich, has oilfield operating
experience in Switzerland and losses carried forward of CHF2.61 million (c. GB£
1.12 million). It is intended that PEOS AG will operate the Company's interests
in Switzerland. The first two of three concessions applied for are to be
awarded in the next few weeks.
Other New Equity
As part of their Board appointment package Malcolm Groom and Jonathan Legg will
receive 1,000,000 and 500,000 5p options respectively, exercisable between one
and five years from the date of award. 100,000 5p options with the same
conditions will be issued to Robert Lanyi for his work leading to the
incorporation of Petro-Hungaria ktf, Ascent's joint venture company in Hungary.
150,000 shares are to be issued to Envoi Limited and 150,000 shares are to be
issued to JSI Services Ltd for the services of Mike Lakin and Joe Staffurth
regarding identification of Phase 2 projects.
Information required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph (f) of Schedule 2 of
the AIM Rules.
Malcolm Groom, aged 55, is or has been a director of the following companies
during the previous five years:
Current directorships Past directorships
GTO Limited
Jonathan Legg, aged 52, is or has been a director of the following companies
during the previous five years:
Current directorships Past directorships
Energy Business Consultants Limited Consort Resources Limited
Foundation Energy Limited Claims Validation Services Limited
Jonathan Douglas Wines Limited
There are no other matters, which are required to be announced with regard to
this appointment under paragraph (f) of Schedule 2 of the AIM Rules.
* * ENDS * *
Issued on behalf of Ascent Resources Plc by St Brides Media & Finance Ltd, 46
Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4LR.
Contacts:
Jeremy Eng Ascent Resources Plc Tel: 020 7251 4905
Hugo de Salis St Brides Media & Finance Ltd Tel: 020 7242 4477
Notes:
Ascent Resources is an AIM listed oil & gas company with a primary focus in
Europe. Founded in November 2004, Ascent considers the full spectrum of projects
covering exploration, early stage development and production. The Company has a
highly experienced technical team with strong industry contacts and a proven
track record. They have implemented a structured two phase development strategy:
Phase 1 is to develop a core of half a dozen majority owned projects whilst
Phase 2 is to acquire a lesser number of larger scale projects across a wider
geographical range. The Company already has 90% interests in projects in Hungary
(gas), Switzerland (gas & oil), and Holland (gas), as well as a 12.86% interest
in an oil project in Gabon and is in the later stages of the acquisition of
projects in Italy and Spain. The balance of oil and gas assets and the
geographical spread of projects mainly in net energy importing countries is
designed to mitigate the risk in commodity price fluctuation and changes in
global energy politics
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange