The newly-listed independent, which was only recentlyawarded licence options in the Celtic Sea, also has an option to gain a furtherstake in Morocco through the purchase.

AIM-quoted Fastnet has bought Pathfinder HydrocarbonsVentures for a total consideration of $8 million in a cash-and-shares deal.

Fastnet will stump up $1 million in cash and settled therest by issuing almost 40.7 million new shares at £0.11