Pan African Resources Regulatory News (PAF)

28 Jun 2007 07:04

Pan African Resources PLC28 June 2007 28 June 2007 Pan African Resources plc ("Pan African" or "the Company") Acquisition of Exploration Rights in Ghana Pan African Resources plc (AIM: PAF), the African based exploration company,announces that it has signed an agreement with SEMS Exploration Services Limited("SEMS") and Birim Goldfields (Ghana) Limited ("Birim") to acquire 90% of thelicence rights of the Akrokerri Exploration Property ("Akrokerri") in southernGhana. • Acquisition of a substantial exploration property next to the largest gold producer in Ghana. • Advanced exploration play with major defined exploration targets. Pan African has acquired a 90% interest in Akrokerri from SEMS and Birim for a cash consideration of £52,632 and the issue of 12,000,000 ordinary shares of 1p each ("Shares") at a value of 6p (for a total value of £720,000 of which SEMS is being issued 6,120,000 Shares and Birim 5,880,000 Shares). The interest will be held in a local special purpose entity in Ghana. Under the terms of the acquisition agreement both SEMS and Birim have agreed not to dispose of any Shares granted to them for a period of at least six months and thereafter the Company has the right to place the Shares should either party elect to dispose of their shareholding. The remaining 10% interest in the Akrokerri will continue to be held by Birim as a free carried interest which Pan African has the right to acquire once the project reaches Bankable Feasibility Stage ("BFS"), at a value determined by the BFS. Upon the granting of a mining licence, a 10% interest in the project will be transferred to the Ghanaian government as a free carry. The newly acquired licence covers an area of 46.8km(2) and is contiguous to the largest gold producer in Ghana, the Obuasi Gold Mine, which has produced approximately 40Moz of gold. Historical underground mining by Akrokerri Ashanti Mines Limited from 1900 to 1909 within the licence area yielded approximately 74,000 ounces of gold at a recovered grade of 24.6g/t. During 1996 Birim drilled nine boreholes totalling 1998.8m with two of the best intersections yielding 1m @ 24.8g/t and 1m @ 12.3g/t. Jan Nelson, CEO of Pan African, said: "Pan African successfully acquired this licence in a highly competitive market by establishing good relations with our local business partners. Moving into Ghana gives effect to our stated strategy of balancing geographic risk and investing in projects with potential to deliver significant returns." NOTES TO THE EDITOR Garth Mitchell, MGSSA, MSAIMM, BSc(Hons), BCom, PrSciNat, from ExplorMine Consultants who act as Competent Person to the Company and who meets the criteria of a qualified person under the AIM guidance note for mining, oil and gas companies, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement. ENDS Enquiries: Pan African Resources Ambrian PartnersJan Nelson / CEO Richard Brown / NOMAD+27 (0) 82 494 5628 +44 (0) 207 776 6400 Colin Bird / Chairman+ 44 (0) 207 584 2144 Parkgreen Communications - United KingdomJustine Howarth/Clare Irvine+44 (0) 207 851 7480 FD Beachhead - South AfricaJennifer Cohen/Louise Brugman+27 (0) 82 468 6469 / +27 (0) 83 504 1186 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange