Purchase of shares

23 Mar 2006 10:18

Oxus Gold PLC23 March 2006 news release For immediate release: 23 March 2006 OXUS GOLD PLC HOLDINGS IN COMPANY LONDON: 23 March 2006 - Oxus Gold plc ("Oxus" or "the Company") (OXS.L)announces that it has acquired an additional 447,695 ordinary shares of MarakandMinerals Limited ("Marakand"), (MKD.L) mainly from individual shareholders.Following the acquisition, Oxus has increased its shareholding from 82,410,480to 83,753,577 ordinary shares representing an increase from 81.58 per cent to82.91 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 447,695 new Oxus shares to be admitted to the AIMMarket. Dealings are expected to commence in the new ordinary shares at 29 March2006. The new ordinary shares will rank pari passu with the existing shares ofthe Company. Following the allotment the total issued share capital of theCompany will be 297,139,172 ordinary shares. Ends For further information, please contact: Oxus Gold plcRichard Wilkins, Company Secretary Tel: + 44 (0)20 7907 2000 BanksideKeith Irons Tel: + 44 (0)20 7367 8873Oliver Winters This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange