Advance Payment Received re Placing and Open Offer

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

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A PROSPECTUS. NOTHING IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHALL CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS, AN OFFER TO SELL OR ISSUE OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY OR SUBSCRIBE FOR ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN NOR SHOULD IT FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED ON IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY CONTRACT OR COMMITMENT WHATSOEVER.

Ruspetro plc ("Ruspetro" or the "Company")

Advance Payment Received for the Participation of Limolines, Makyala and Nervent in the Placing and Open Offer

Further to the announcement made on 14 November 2014 and as set out in the prospectus dated 17 November 2014 in relation to the Restructuring (the "Prospectus"), Ruspetro plc (LSE: RPO) announces that Mirella Investments Limited ("Mirella") has advanced the sum of US$20 million to the Company for working capital purposes. The payment is on behalf of and will be applied in respect of the obligations of Limolines, Makayla and Nervent (the Company's largest shareholders) to participate in the Placing and Open Offer under the terms of the Equity Implementation Agreement. These funds will enable the Company to continue its horizontal well drilling programme. However, if the Restructuring does not proceed, the Company will be required to repay this amount.

In respect of the Open Offer, Shareholders are reminded that the latest time for receipt of the Application Forms and payment in full under the terms of the Open Offer (or settlement of relevant CREST instructions) is 11.00 a.m. on 3 December 2014. Subject to, inter alia, the approval of the Resolutions at the General Meeting to be held at 10.00 a.m. on 5 December 2014, Admission and the commencement of dealings in the New Ordinary Shares is expected to commence at 8.00 a.m. on 10 December 2014.

Mirella is a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands and controlled by Alexander Chistyakov, the Chairman of the Company, and Andrey Rappoport, the owner of Makayla.

Terms defined in the Prospectus dated 17 November 2014 have the same meanings when used in this announcement.

Enquiries

Investors / Analyst enquiries

Dominic Manley, Ruspetro

+44 20 7887 7624

Twitter: @ruspetroplc

Media enquiriesBen Brewerton / George Parker - FTI Consulting

+44 203727 1000

Disclaimer

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the proposals set out herein or otherwise, nor shall it (or the fact of its distribution) form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor or be considered a recommendation that any investor should subscribe for or purchase or invest in any securities.

The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the "Securities Act") or under any US state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless any such securities are registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state laws is available.

Strand Hanson Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA has been appointed as Sponsor to the Company in connection with the Restructuring. Strand Hanson Limited will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Strand Hanson Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the Restructuring, the content of this announcement or any matter referred to herein.

Mirabaud Securities LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, has been appointed as broker to the Company in connection with the Restructuring. Mirabaud Securities LLP is acting exclusively for the Company and for no one else in connection with the Restructuring and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Mirabaud Securities LLP nor for providing advice in relation to the Restructuring, the content of this announcement or any matter referred to herein.

Neither the content of the Company's website nor any website accessible by hyperlinks to the Company's website is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement.