Continuing implementation of principles of good governance in the company, JSC Ventspils nafta (VN) will soon make a request to include in the stock exchange 43 million shares of the company that were previously not in public circulation. Giving up shares of closed issue, by converting them and including them in the regulated securities, will make the structure of VN shareholders much more transparent and will ensure also a more modern and safer storage of shares for the shareholders because completely all shares of the company are now registered in the Latvian Central Depository.

On April 18, the Financial and Capital Market Commission (FCMC) registered the VN share prospectus. The documents will afterwards be submitted to the NASDAQ OMX Riga stock exchange. It is expected that quotation of additional 43’881’398 bearer shares in the stock exchange’s Baltic Official List could be commenced on May 2 – after a decision by the Management Board of the stock exchange.

The total number of VN shares is 104’479’519, out of which 60’598’121 securities were included in the regulated securities market to date, and 43’881’398 were shares of closed issue, which were not included in the regulated securities market. After conversion of these 43 million shares and their inclusion in the stock exchange – all shares of VN will be publicly traded.

The decision about conversion of the shares of closed issue and their inclusion in the regulated securities market was passed during the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of VN, which was held on November 6.

With this VN publishes a prospectus (in Latvian) of 43 881 398 bearer shares of JSC Ventspils nafta for inclusion in the Official list of the stock exchange. Prospectus consists of a summary, shares description and registration documents of shares with 5 attachments.

About JSC Ventspils nafta

JSC Ventspils nafta is one of the largest groups of companies in Latvia and works in the petroleum product transport, transhipment, storage and shipping sector. JSC Ventspils nafta is the Group’s parent company, which manages investments in subsidiary companies, by promoting the Group’s joint values and growth in value of each individual company.

Joint stock company Ventspils nafta owns 51% in Ventspils nafta termināls Ltd, which is the largest crude oil and petroleum product terminal in the Baltics; 66% in LatRosTrans Ltd, which is the largest Latvian-Russian joint venture in the Baltics; 49.94% in JSC Latvijas kuģniecība, which is among the largest ship owners in the world in the medium-sized and handy tankers category.

Shares of JSC Ventspils nafta (NASDAQ OMX RIGA: VNF1R) are quoted in the Baltic Official List of the stock exchange NASDAQ OMX Riga since October 20, 1998.

Ilze Nagla
Public Relations Director of the Ventspils nafta Group
Tel.: 29267454, 67715914
E-mail: ilze.nagla@vnafta.lv