NPM Neptune Min

RNS Number:4453Y
Neptune Minerals Plc
18 June 2007


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               18 JUNE 2007


                              NEPTUNE MINERALS Plc

                 NEWMONT MINING CORPORATION INVESTS IN NEPTUNE

Neptune Minerals Plc (AIM: NPM) (the "Company" or "Neptune"), a leading explorer
and developer of seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposits, announces that it has
agreed to conduct a non-brokered private placement of 7,014,590 ordinary shares
at a price of USD 0.71 (GBP 0.36) per ordinary share to Newmont Minerals BV, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation ("Newmont").  The gross
proceeds raised by the issue amount to USD5 million (GBP2.5 million).  Newmont
will acquire a 10.8% holding in Neptune as a result of the placement, the price
which represents a 29.7% premium over the weighted average mean price for the
previous 60 days.

In addition to the placement, Neptune has granted to Newmont the right of first
refusal to negotiate a majority interest in joint ventures on Neptune projects
within New Zealand, Japan, and Papua New Guinea.  Newmont has agreed a
non-competition clause in the Exclusive Economic Zones of those countries.

Newmont has agreed to conduct metallurgical test work on the bulk SMS samples
that Neptune intends to collect during the current Kermadec 07 exploration work
program. Newmont may also second, at its cost, specialist technical staff to
Neptune to assist the Company with geological, engineering and metallurgical
studies.

Newmont has been granted a non-dilution right that will enable it to maintain
ownership of 10% of the outstanding shares of Neptune, by subscribing for
further ordinary shares as and when and at the price at which any ordinary
shares are issued by the Company over a two year period following the placement.
Newmont also has been granted the right to increase its ownership level by
subscribing for further ordinary shares, if necessary, to match that of any
subsequent mining company investor, valid also for a two year period.

Application will be made for the 7,014,590 new ordinary shares to be admitted to
trading on AIM.  Dealings are expected to commence on 21 June, 2007.  Following
the admission of these shares, the number of Ordinary Shares in issue will be
64,679,590.

Dr Simon McDonald, Neptune's Chief Executive Officer, said:

"Neptune is pleased that one of the world's premier mining companies has decided
to invest in Neptune. Newmont's investment is an important step in the Company's
SMS development strategy. We look forward to growing the excellent relationship
we already have in place with Newmont and to bringing the Company's SMS deposits
into production together.

"The cornerstone investment by Newmont validates the business strategy that
Neptune has been following since the Company became the world's first listed SMS
explorer in October 2005. Utilising its first-mover advantage in SMS
exploration, Neptune has built on the foundation of its initial New Zealand
tenements to now control an extensive high quality portfolio of focussed SMS
exploration acreage in eight countries. Adding of the wealth of experience that
Newmont brings to Neptune, this relationship establishes the potential to create
a powerful force in SMS exploration and development."

About Neptune

Neptune Minerals is a UK-listed leading explorer and developer of precious- and
base-metal seafloor massive sulphide (SMS) deposits on the ocean floor, with
granted exploration licenses totalling more than 263,000 km2 in New Zealand,
Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Neptune is working throughout June and July 2007 with Geo-Subsea to undertake
the Kermadec 07 exploration program.  This work involves high resolution
seafloor mapping and sampling of SMS targets in Neptune's licences offshore New
Zealand. Preliminary results are expected to be released in August 2007.

In addition to granted areas, Neptune has exploration applications covering
37,000 km2 pending in the territorial waters of Japan, PNG, Vanuatu, Italy and
the Marianas.

About Newmont

Founded in 1921 and publicly traded on the NYSE since 1925, Newmont Mining
Corporation (www.newmont.com) is the world's second largest gold mining company.
With annual gold production of 5.9 million ounces and reported gold reserves
of 93.9 million ounces, Newmont is the only gold stock included in the US S&P
500 index.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the company employs approximately 14,000
people, the majority of whom work at Newmont's core operations in the United
States, Australia, Peru, Indonesia, Bolivia, New Zealand, Mexico and Ghana.

END



For further information please contact:

Simon McDonald (Neptune MD and CEO):                     info@nepmins.com

Olly Cairns (Blue Oar Securities Plc, Nomad and Broker): T: +44 (0) 20 7448 4400

Sofia Rehman (Cardew Group, PR):                         T: 44 (0) 20 7930 0777



The Neptune Minerals Website is www.neptuneminerals.com



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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