OilVoice - Imperial Energy Shareholders Accept ONGC Videsh Offer

Imperial Energy Shareholders Accept ONGC Videsh Offer

31 December 2008

• 96.8% acceptances received from Imperial Energy shareholders
• OVL declares both share and convertible bond offers now wholly unconditional
• Acquisition will provide OVL with the opportunity to establish presence in Western Siberia, one of the world's largest oil and gas producing regions, by acquiring an asset with significant long-term production and reserves potential
• OVL looks forward to both developing the Imperial Energy licences and growing its asset base by participating in upcoming auctions for licence blocks close to Imperial Energy's existing blocks.

OVL announces that its offer to acquire Imperial Energy PLC was declared wholly unconditional yesterday with all conditions now being satisfied or waived. As at 1:00pm (London time) on 30 December 2008, Jarpeno Ltd ("Jarpeno"), a wholly owned subsidiary of OVL, had received valid acceptances from Imperial Energy shareholders in respect of 99,241,110 Imperial Energy shares, representing approximately 96.8 per cent. of Imperial Energy's existing issued share capital.

This acquisition highlights the strategy of OVL and ONGC, supported by its largest shareholder, the Government of India, of acquiring oil and gas assets which provide stable cash flows from proved and probable reserves and offer long-term growth from well-balanced exploration portfolios.

Western Siberia is one of the world's most prolific hydrocarbons basins and, with major logistics and infrastructure in place, OVL intends to use Imperial Energy as the platform around which to build a wider Western Siberian focused business. This addition to OVL's global portfolio, which spans across North Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, provides OVL with the opportunity to expand its presence in Russia beyond its participation in the Sakhalin project and will further enhance its position as one of the industry's leading exploration and production companies.

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