2015 Final Dividend Currency Exchange Rates

RNS Number : 8817Y

SEPLAT Petroleum Development Co PLC

20 May 2016

 

Notice of dividend currency exchange rates - 2015 final dividend

Lagos and London, 20 May 2016: Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc ("Seplat" or the "Company") today confirms that the following currency exchange rates will be applicable in determination of the 2015 final dividend payment to any shareholders that qualify for and have elected to receive the 2015 final dividend payment in Naira or GBP:

Exchange Rates

1 USD = 199.0000 Naira

1 USD = 0.6831 GBP

The exchange rate for the Naira or pounds sterling amounts payable was determined by reference to the exchange rates applicable to the US dollar available on 19 May 2016.

The 2015 final dividend of 4 US cents per share, announced by the Company on 24 March 2016, is subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held in Lagos, Nigeria on 1 June 2016.  If approved, the final dividend is to be paid on or shortly after 9 June 2016 to shareholders on the register as of 19 May 2016. The Nigerian shareholder register will be temporarily closed on 20 May 2016 to enable the Company's registrar, DataMax, to prepare for the payment of the final dividend.

Additional information

The Company announced on 12 April 2016 that the default currency for the 2015 final dividend will depend on whether the shareholder has a Nigerian Certificate for Capital Importation ("CCI") and is determined as follows:

·      Shareholders holding their shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and do not hold a valid CCI will be paid their dividend in Naira;

·      Shareholders holding their shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with a valid CCI will be paid their dividend in US dollars as the default currency.  However, those shareholders may instead elect to receive their entire dividend payment in Naira (partial elections are not permissible); and

·      Shareholders holding their shares through depository interests on the London Stock Exchange will be paid their dividend in US dollars as the default currency.  However, those shareholders may instead elect to receive their entire dividend payment in pounds sterling.  Partial elections are not permissible.

Shareholders who have the option to elect to be paid their dividends in a currency other than their default currency must make the election to the Company's registrars by 25 May 2016, otherwise the dividend will be paid in the default currency.  The election forms have been sent out to the relevant shareholders and can also be found on the Company's website at http://seplatpetroleum.com/investor-centre/corporate-governance/circulars/.  Those shareholders holding their shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange who hold a valid CCI should notify Seplat's Nigerian registrars, DataMax Registrars Limited ("DataMax"), of that fact.

Seplat shareholders who are yet to provide their account details for the direct credit of the 2015 final dividend payment should please provide the necessary information to DataMax.  Holders of shares through depositary interests on the London Stock Exchange should please provide their account details to the Company's UK depositary, Computershare.

DataMax Registrars Limited	Computershare
2c Gbagada Expressway	The Pavillions
Gbagada Phase 1	Bridgewater Road
Lagos	Bristol
Nigeria	BS13 8AE, United Kingdom
Fax: + 234 - 2716095	Fax: [phone]
Web: www.datamaxregistrars.com	Web: www.computershare.com
Email address: [e-mail]	Telephone: [phone]

- Ends -

Enquiries:

Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc
Roger Brown, CFO
Andrew Dymond, Head of Investor Relations	[phone]
Chioma Nwachuku, GM - External Affairs and Communications	[phone]
FTI Consulting
Ben Brewerton / Sara Powell / James Styles	[phone]
	[e-mail]

Notes to editors

Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc is a leading indigenous Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production company with a strategic focus on Nigeria, listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange ("LSE") (LSE:SEPL) and Nigerian Stock Exchange ("NSE") (NSE:SEPLAT).

In July 2010, Seplat acquired a 45 percent participating interest in, and was appointed operator of, a portfolio of three onshore producing oil and gas leases in the Niger Delta (OMLs 4, 38 and 41), which includes the producing Oben, Ovhor, Sapele, Okporhuru, Amukpe and Orogho fields.  Since acquisition, Seplat has more than tripled production from these OMLs. 

In June 2013, Newton Energy Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an agreement with Pillar Oil Limited to acquire a 40 percent participating interest in the Umuseti/Igbuku marginal field area within OPL 283.   In February 2015, Seplat completed the acquisition of a 40 percent operated working interest in OML 53 and a 22.5 percent operated effective working interest in OML 55, Onshore Nigeria.

Seplat is pursuing a Nigeria focused growth strategy and is well positioned to participate in future divestment programmes by the international oil companies, farm-in opportunities and future licensing rounds.  For further information please refer to the company website, http://seplatpetroleum.com/

 

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