Purchase of shares

9 Mar 2006 07:01

Oxus Gold PLC09 March 2006 news release For immediate release: 9 March 2006 OXUS GOLD PLC Holdings in Company LONDON: 9 March 2006 - Oxus Gold plc ("Oxus" or "the Company") (OXS.L) announcesthat it has acquired an additional 24,592,562 ordinary shares of MarakandMinerals Limited ("Marakand"), (MKD.L) mainly from institutional shareholders.Following the acquisition, Oxus has increased its shareholding from 57,817,918to 82,410,480 ordinary shares representing an increase from 57.23 per cent to81.58 per cent of the ordinary issued share capital of Marakand. As consideration for the purchase of the shares, application has been made tothe London Stock Exchange for 8,197,521 new Oxus shares to be admitted to theAIM Market. Dealings are expected to commence in the new ordinary shares at 15March 2006. The new ordinary shares will rank pari passu with the existingshares of the Company. Following the allotment the total issued share capital ofthe Company will be 296,633,757 ordinary shares. A review of Marakand's operations and interests and a further announcement willbe made in due course. Ends For further information, please contact: Oxus Gold plcRichard Wilkins, Company Secretary Tel: + 44 (0)20 7907 2000 BanksideKeith Irons Tel: + 44 (0)207 367 8873Oliver Winters This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange