MTA.L Regulatory News (MTA)

5 Jun 2006 10:00

Matra Petroleum PLC05 June 2006 PRESS RELEASEFor immediate release: 5 June 2006Matra Petroleum plc Matra Petroleum appoints Exploration Director Matra is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Neil Andrew Hodgson asExploration Director effective from 23rd May 2006. Neil graduated with a firstclass honours degree in Geology from Manchester University and subsequentlygained a PhD in Geochemistry from Leicester University. Neil is 44 and has 20 years experience and a proven track record of discoveringhydrocarbons in many parts of the world. Neil began his career with BP and movedon to British Gas becoming Exploration Manager for Egypt where BG realised someof its biggest exploration successes. Most recently Neil was General Manager of Exploration for Premier Oil in London,managing a team of geoscientists and building a diverse international portfoliothat has again delivered exploration success. Commenting on Dr Hodgson's appointment, Peter Hind Matra's Managing Directorsaid "We are very fortunate to secure a proven industry professional of Neil'scalibre and gratifying to see Neil's confidence in Matra's assets and strategyand I look forward to working with him." As part of Dr Hodgson's remuneration and incentive package the board has grantedDr Hodgson 1,200,000 options to purchase ordinary shares at a price of 0.1p/share and 3,600,000 options to purchase ordinary shares at a price of 5p/share,exercisable 12 months after the date of grant. A further 2,400,000 options topurchase ordinary shares at a price of 5p/share have been granted exercisable 24months after the date of grant. All options expire 5 years after the date ofgrant. Dr Hodgson is not currently and has not been within the last five years either adirector of any other company or a partner in any business partnership.Furthermore he has not been involved in any of the matters which requiredisclosure pursuant to clause (g) of schedule 2 to the AIM rules. For further information, please contact: Matra Petroleum, www.matrapetroleum.comPeter Hind, Managing Director +44 (0) 7990 807 855 Aquila Financial Limited, www.aquila-financial.comPeter Reilly +44 (0) 20 7202 2601Yvonne Fraser +44 (0) 20 7202 2609 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange