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23 July 2009

Helius Energy plc

(the 'Company')

Grant of Options

Helius Energy plc (AIM: HEGY), announces that pursuant to the Helius Energy Share Option Scheme (the 'Scheme'), on 23 July 2009 (the 'Date of Grant'), it has granted 2,980,448 options to subscribe for ordinary shares of 1 pence each ('Shares') in the share capital of the Company (the 'Options'). 

Following the grant of options, the total number of options outstanding over the share capital of the Company amount to 10,773,386 representing 12.7% of the Company's current issued share capital. Of these options, the current Directors and Employees, in aggregate, hold options over 7,694,516 shares, representing 9.1% of the Company's current issued share capital. The scheme was introduced to incentivise and retain key staff by aligning their interests with the creation of value for shareholders.

Commenting on the implementation of the scheme Barclay Forrest, Chairman said: 'We are very pleased to be able to extend the share option scheme to key staff, as well as those executive directors appointed to the board since flotation.'

The Options granted to each of the Directors and the total Options granted to employees is set out in the table below: 

Name	Position	Options granted	Total holding of Shares and options over Shares  following grant
John Seed	Managing Director	80,000	4,190,389
Adrian Bowles	Technical Director	750,000	3,610,389
Chris Corner	Commercial Director	80,000	6,221,158
Alan Lyons	Finance Director	750,000	1,585,916
Barclay Forest	Interim Chairman	50,000	1,385,870
Total Options granted to Directors		1,710,000	16,993,722
Total Options granted to employees		1,270,448	1,590,769
Total Options granted		2,980,448	18,584,491

The exercise price of the Options is 26.5 pence per Share, being the closing mid-market price per Share on 22nd July 2009. The Options can only be exercised if the Company achieves, within 3 years from the Date of Grant, financial close on certain development projects. The Options shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant.

The options vest as follows -

Total new Options granted	Vest on financial close of Avonmouth project	Vest on financial close of Large project #2	Vest on financial close of Large project #3	Vest on financial close of Rothes project	Vest on financial close of Small project #2
2,980,448	894,134	894,134	894,134	149,023	149,023

 

For further details contact:

Helius Energy plc	Tel: 01642 438540
John Seed
Matrix Corporate Capital LLP	Tel: 020 3206 7000
Louis Castro
Anu Tayal
Kreab Gavin Anderson	Tel: 020 7554 1400
Ken Cronin
Robert Speed
Kate Hill

ENDRDSSEUFMESUSELW