Ascent Resources plc / Epic: AST / Index: AIM / Sector: Oil and Gas

19 January 2010

Ascent Resources plc ('Ascent' or 'the Company')

Issue of Options

Ascent Resources plc, the AIM-quoted oil and gas production and exploration company, has issued options, in relation to the recently announced placing to raise £6m, to Astaire Securities to subscribe for 5,700,000 ordinary shares, exercisable at 6.25p, and expiring on 15 December 2012.  

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For further information visit www.ascentresources.co.uk or contact:

Notes

Ascent Resources plc has a diversified portfolio of hydrocarbon exploration and development projects across five countries in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovenia and Netherlands. Ascent's portfolio contains a solid base of field redevelopment projects with selected exposure to exploration upside. The portfolio is focussed on gas and with the exception of the shallow water Netherlands project, all of its projects are located onshore where operating and development costs are substantially lower than they are offshore.  Ascent also has an oil and gas asset management joint venture with San Severina Holdings SA, a Swiss based investment company, which is focussed on acquiring minority interests and providing investment funding for producing and development or appraisal stage oil and gas projects.