Serica Energy PLC announces share purchase by directors
Source: 01-OCT-2008 Intellasia | CNW
Oct 1, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM Serica Energy plc ("the Company") announces that, on 26 September 2008, a number of directors increased their beneficial shareholdings in the Co by a total of 455,000 shares:

Antony Craven Walker (Chair) acquired 100,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 49 pence per share taking his total beneficial shareholding to 5,704,473 shares representing 3.23% of the voting rights

Paul Ellis (Chief Executive) acquired 200,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 53 pence per share taking his total beneficial shareholding to 850,000 shares representing 0.48% of the voting rights

Chris Hearne (Finance director) acquired 35,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 49 pence per share taking his total beneficial shareholding to 710,551 shares representing 0.4% of the voting rights

Ian Vann (Non-Executive director) acquired 55,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 49 pence per share taking his total beneficial shareholding to 89,262 shares representing 0.05% of the voting rights

Romayne Pike (wife of Neil Pike, Non-Executive director) acquired 55,000 shares at an average price of 49 pence per share taking the total beneficial shareholding of Pike to 405,000 shares representing 0.23% of the voting rights

Jonathan Cartwright (Non-Executive director) acquired 10,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 49 pence per share taking his total beneficial shareholding to 20,000 shares representing 0.01% of the voting rights

The Co has 176,518,311 ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

Background Notes:

Serica Energy plc is an international oil and gas exploration company with operations in the UK, Norway, Spain, Ireland, Indonesia and Vietnam. It is currently developing the Kambuna gas-condensate field (Serica 50%) in Indonesia and appraising the Columbus gas-condensate field (Serica 50%) in the UK Central North Sea and the Chablis gas-condensate field (Serica 65%) in the UK Southern North Sea, where an appraisal well will start drilling within the next month. A Development Plan for the Columbus Field will shortly be submitted to the UK government and, during the next nine months, Serica plans to drill exploration wells offshore Ireland (Bandon prospect, Serica 50%), offshore UK (Conan prospect, Serica 100%) and offshore Vietnam (Tuong Vi prospect, Serica 33%). Serica operates all of its exploration ventures other than that in Vietnam.

The Company's ordinary shares are listed in London on AIM and on the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "SQZ". The 2007 Annual Report and Accounts can be obtained from the Company's web-site www.serica-energy.com and at www.sedar.com.

For further information

Enquiries: Serica Energy plc: Paul Ellis, Chief Executive Officer, paul.ellis@serica-energy.com, +44 (0)20 7487 7300

Chris Hearne, Finance director, chris.hearne@serica-energy.com, +44 (0)20 7487 7300

JPMorgan Cazenove: Steve Baldwin, steve.baldwin@jpmorgancazenove.com, +44 (0)20 7588 2828

Tristone Capital Ltd: +44 (0)20 7355 5872, Majid Shafiq mshafiq@tristonecapital.com

Pelham Public Relations -UK, James Henderson, james.henderson@pelhampr.com, +44 (0)20 7743 6673

Alisdair Haythornthwaite, alisdair.haythornthwaite@pelhampr.com, +44 (0)20 7743 6676

CHF -Canada: Sasha Abrams sasha@chfir.com, (416) 868-1079