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RNS Number : 0993K

Mediterranean Oil & Gas Plc

20 June 2014

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY RESTRICTED JURISDICTION OR WHERE IT WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF ANY SUCH JURISDICTION

20 June 2014

RECOMMENDED CASH, SHARE AND CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION OFFER

by

ROCKHOPPER EXPLORATION PLC

for

MEDITERRANEAN OIL & GAS PLC

(to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under

Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006)

POSTING OF SCHEME DOCUMENT

On 23 May 2014, the boards of Rockhopper Exploration plc ("Rockhopper") and of Mediterranean Oil & Gas plc ("MOG") announced that they had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition under which Rockhopper will acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of MOG (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition is to be effected by means of a Court sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme").

MOG is today publishing a circular (the "Scheme Document") to shareholders of MOG ("MOG Shareholders"), together with the associated Forms of Proxy. The Scheme Document contains, amongst other things, notices convening the Court Meeting, the General Meeting, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme, a letter from the Chairman of MOG, an Explanatory Statement from RBC Europe Limited ("RBC"), an expected timetable of principal events and details of the actions to be taken by MOG Shareholders.

Notice of Shareholder Meetings

The Court Meeting and the General Meeting will all be held at Prince Philip House, The Royal Academy of Engineering, 3 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5DG on 16 July 2014. The Court Meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. and the General Meeting will start at 10:15 a.m. (or as soon as the Court Meeting has been concluded or adjourned).

If shareholders pass the necessary resolutions at the aforementioned meetings, it is anticipated that the Scheme Court Hearing will be held on or around 6 August 2014 and that the Scheme will become effective on or around 11 August 2014.

Publication of Scheme Document

The Scheme Document will today be made available on MOG's website at www.medoilgas.com and will be posted today to all MOG Shareholders. Additional copies of the Scheme Document are available by contacting the Capita Asset Services on 0871 664 0321 (or, from outside the United Kingdom, +44 (0) 208 639 3399).

Capitalised terms in this announcement have the same meanings as in the Scheme Document.

Expected Timetable

The following indicative timetable sets out the expected dates for implementation of the Acquisition. MOG will give notice of any change(s) by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service.

 
 Event                                              Time and/or Date(1) 
 Latest time for lodging BLUE Forms          10.00 a.m. 14 July 2014(2) 
  of Proxy/CREST Proxy Instructions for 
  the Court Meeting 
 Latest time for lodging WHITE Forms         10.15 a.m. 14 July 2014(3) 
  of Proxy/CREST Proxy Instructions for 
  the General Meeting 
 Voting Record Time                           6.00 p.m. 14 July 2014(4) 
 Court Meeting                                  10.00 a.m. 16 July 2014 
 General Meeting                             10.15 a.m. 16 July 2014(5) 
 Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme                     6 August 2014 
 Last day of dealings in, and registration                7 August 2014 
  of transfers of, MOG Shares 
 Reduction Record Time                          6.00 p.m. 7 August 2014 
 Suspension of trading in MOG Shares            7.30 a.m. 8 August 2014 
 Court Hearing to approve the Reduction                   8 August 2014 
  of Capital 
 Effective Date                                          11 August 2014 
 Cancellation of the MOG Shares to trading     7:00 a.m. 12 August 2014 
  on AIM 
 Rockhopper Consideration Shares issued                  12 August 2014 
 Admission of Rockhopper Consideration         8.00 a.m. 12 August 2014 
  Shares to trading on AIM 
 Latest date for dispatch of Initial                  25 August 2014(6) 
  Consideration 
 Long Stop Date, being the latest date              23 November 2014(7) 
  by which the Scheme can become effective 
 Estimated latest date for dispatch                 25 November 2015(8) 
  of Contingent Consideration, if payable 
 

______________________________

Notes:

   1.       All times shown are London times unless otherwise stated. 

2. If the BLUE Form of Proxy, for use at the Court Meeting, is not lodged with the Registrar, Capita Asset Services, before 10.00 a.m. on 14 July 2014 (or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, at least 48 hours (excluding non-Business Days) before the time appointed for the adjourned Court Meeting), it may be handed to the Registrar, Capita Asset Services, on behalf of the Chairman of the Court Meeting at such Meeting at any time prior to the taking of the poll in respect of the Resolution to be proposed at the Court Meeting and will still be valid.

3. The WHITE Form of Proxy, for use at the General Meeting, must be lodged with the Registrar, Capita Asset Services by no later than 10.15 a.m. on 14 July 2014 in order for it to be valid or, if the General Meeting is adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding non-Business Days) before the time appointed for the adjourned General Meeting. The WHITE Form of Proxy cannot be handed to the Registrar, Capita Asset Services, or the Chairman of the General Meeting, at that Meeting.

4. If either of the Meetings is adjourned then the Voting Record Time for the relevant reconvened Meeting will be 6.00 p.m. on the date two Business Days before the date appointed for the relevant adjourned Meeting.

5. To commence at 10.15 a.m. or, if later, immediately after the conclusion or adjournment of the Court Meeting.

6. The latest date for dispatch of cheques or settlement through CREST in respect of the Initial Consideration and dispatch of certificates in respect of the Rockhopper Consideration Shares will be 14 days after the Effective Date (in the case of holders of Scheme Shares) and 14 days after the issue of Additional MOG Shares (in the case of Additional MOG Shares).

7. Or such later date as the Company and Rockhopper may agree and, if applicable, the Court may approve.

8. The latest date for dispatch of cheques or settlement through CREST in respect of the Contingent Consideration, if payable, is 14 days (or such other day as the Panel may allow) after the Contingent Consideration Determination Date.

Enquiries

 
 Mediterranean Oil & Gas plc                      020 7959 2322 
 Bill Higgs, Chief Executive 
 Chris Kelsall, Finance Director 
 
 RBC Europe Limited, Rule 3 adviser and joint 
  broker to MOG                                   020 7653 4000 
 Jeremy Low 
 Matthew Coakes 
 
 Liberum Capital Limited, NOMAD, financial 
  adviser and joint broker to MOG                 020 3100 2000 
 Clayton Bush 
 Tim Graham 
 Ryan de Franck 
 
 FTI Consulting, PR adviser to MOG                020 3727 1000 
 Ben Brewerton 
 Alex Beagley 
 
 Rockhopper Exploration plc                       via Vigo Communications 
                                                   - 020 7016 9571 
 Sam Moody, Chief Executive 
 Stewart MacDonald, Chief Financial Officer 
 
 Canaccord Genuity Limited, NOMAD, broker 
  and financial adviser to Rockhopper             020 7523 8000 
 Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor 
 Neil Elliot 
 
 Vigo Communications, PR adviser to Rockhopper    020 7016 9571 
 Peter Reilly 
 
 

Further information

This announcement is for information only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of any offer to sell or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, or any solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Rockhopper or MOG in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. This announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus equivalent document. The Acquisition will be made on the terms and subject to the conditions and further terms set out in the Scheme Document and Forms of Proxy. Any vote by MOG Shareholders in respect of the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document, which includes details of how to vote in favour of the Scheme. MOG Shareholders are advised to read the formal documentation in relation to the Acquisition, as it will contain important information relating to the Acquisition.

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by MOG Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons in connection with the receipt of communications from MOG may be provided to Rockhopper during the Offer Period (as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 to the Takeover Code).

Canaccord Genuity Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Rockhopper and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Rockhopper for providing the protections afforded to clients of Canaccord Genuity Limited nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or this announcement or any matter referred to herein.

RBC Europe Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority and is acting as financial adviser to MOG and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than MOG for providing the protections afforded to clients, or for providing advice in relation to any matters referred to herein.

Liberum Capital Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for MOG and no one else in connection with the Acquisition and this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than MOG for providing the protections afforded to clients of Liberum Capital Limited nor for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition or this announcement or any matter referred to herein.

Overseas shareholders

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into, jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom and the availability of the Rockhopper Consideration Shares may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions in those jurisdictions. MOG Shareholders who are in any doubt regarding such matters should consult an appropriate independent adviser in the relevant jurisdiction without delay. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy, any Rockhopper Consideration Shares in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful.

This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law, the AIM Rules, the rules of the London Stock Exchange and the Takeover Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.

The Rockhopper Consideration Shares to be issued pursuant to the Scheme have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) (the "Securities Act") or under the relevant securities laws of any state or territory or other jurisdiction of the United States, but are expected to be offered in the United States in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof. The Scheme will be subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the UK to schemes of arrangement, which differ from the disclosure requirements of the US proxy solicitation rules and tender offer rules. However, if Rockhopper were to elect to implement the Acquisition by means of a Takeover Offer, such offer will be made in compliance with the US tender offer rules, to the extent applicable, or an exemption therefrom.

None of the securities referred to in this document have been approved or disapproved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission in the United States or any other US regulatory authority, nor have such authorities passed upon or determined the adequacy or accuracy of this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

Disclosure requirements of the Takeover Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Takeover Code, any person who is interested in 1 per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the tenth business day following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the tenth business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Takeover Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

- ENDS -

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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