Final Cash Offer for Venture Production plc - Update on Conditional Convertible Bond Agreement

On 16 July 2009, Centrica Resources posted its offer document to shareholders of Venture in relation to its final cash offer for Venture (the "Offer").  The Offer is final and will not be increased, except that Centrica Resources reserves the right to revise and/or increase the Offer if a competitive situation arises.  The Offer initially remains open for acceptance until 1.00 p.m. (London time) on 13 August 2009.

Centrica Resources today announces that, following the receipt of a binding inter-parties ruling from the Takeover Panel, the conditional agreement it entered into on 10 July 2009 to acquire all of the Convertible Bonds in Venture held or controlled by 3i Group plc has today become unconditional and will be completed next week.