Posting of Offer Document
Following the announcement, on 10 July 2009, by Centrica Resources (UK) Limited ("Centrica Resources" or the "Offeror") regarding the terms of a final cash offer to acquire the entire issued (and to be issued) share capital of Venture Production plc ("Venture"), not already held by it, at an offer price of 845 pence per share (the "Offer"), Centrica Resources announces that the offer document (the "Offer Document") containing the full terms of, and conditions to, the Offer is being posted to Shareholders today together with the Form of Acceptance.
The Offer is final and will not be increased, except that Centrica Resources reserves the right to revise and/or increase the Offer if a competitive situation arises.
The Offer will initially remain open for acceptance until 1.00pm (London time) on 13 August 2009.
To accept the Offer in respect of Shares held in certificated form (that is, not in CREST), Shareholders should complete, sign and return the Form of Acceptance, which accompanies the Offer Document together with their share certificate(s) or other relevant document(s) of title, in accordance with the instructions contained therein and set out in the Offer Document, as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received by Equiniti (Centrica Resources' registrar) by no later than 1.00pm (London time) on 13 August 2009.
To accept the Offer in respect of Shares held in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST), Shareholders should follow the procedure for electronic acceptance through CREST in accordance with the instructions set out in the Offer Document so that the TTE Instruction settles as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than 1.00pm (London time) on 13 August 2009.
The Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance will be available for inspection during normal business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) at the office of Slaughter and May at One Bunhill Row, London EC1Y 8YY until the end of the Offer Period. A copy of the Offer Document is also available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, for inspection on Centrica plc's ("Centrica") website at www.centrica.com during the course of the Offer.
Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement shall have the meaning given to them in the Offer Document.