Last checked at 19 Dec 2014 11:35
19 December 2014
Rockhopper Exploration plc
("Rockhopper" or the "Company")
Exercise of Share Options and Allotment of Shares
The Company has been notified that Sam Moody exercised an option over 425,000 shares in the Company at an exercise price of 10 pence per share on 16th December 2014. The option was due to expire in April 2015.
Mr Moody elected to sell 237,136 shares to discharge the cost of exercise and his tax and national insurance obligations. On 19 December 2014, these shares were purchased by the Rockhopper Employee Benefit Trust (the "EBT") which was established in 2013 for the purpose of holding shares to satisfy future exercises of options and vesting of awards under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan. The 237,136 shares are being acquired by the EBT by way of an off market purchase at a price of 60.25 pence being the closing share price on the date of exercise. The remaining 187,864 shares have been retained by Mr Moody who now holds 1,741,555 shares in the Company representing 0.59% of the issued share capital.
Application has been made for the admission of 425,000 new ordinary shares of 1p each ("New Ordinary Shares") to trading on AIM pursuant to the exercise of share options. The New Ordinary Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the Company.
Following the issue of the New Ordinary Shares, the issued share capital will comprise of 292,795,940 ordinary shares.
The New Ordinary Shares are due to be admitted to trading on AIM on 24 December 2014.
For further information, please contact:
Rockhopper Exploration plc
Tel: (via Vigo Communications) - 020 7016 9571
Jan Davies - Company Secretary
Canaccord Genuity Limited (NOMAD and Joint Broker)
Tel: 020 7523 8000
Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor
Vigo Communications
Tel: 020 7016 9571
Peter Reilly
Patrick d'Ancona