Austral Pacific Energy Form 6-K

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRICATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a - 16 OR 15b - 16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of __June 2008__

Commission File Number 001-13803

AUSTRAL PACIFIC ENERGY LTD.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Level 3, 40 Johnston Street, Wellington 6145 New Zealand
(Address of Principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F

Form 20-F x  Form 40-F ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ______

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Yes x   No ¨

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 0-29344

 

SUBMITTED HEREWITH

Exhibits

 

99.1

 Press Release

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Austral Pacific Energy Ltd.

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

Date: June 19th, 2008

By:

/s/ Thompson Jewell

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

Thompson Bruce Jewell

 

 Title:

CEO





Wellington, New Zealand – June 19, 2008 - Austral Pacific Energy Ltd. (TSX-V: APX; NZSX: APX; AMEX: AEN)



Austral Pacific to Raise up to US$7 million



Austral Pacific Energy Ltd. announces that it has reached agreement with a number of arms-length accredited investors to privately place up to 14 million equity units at US$0.50 each with each unit comprised of a common share and a 15 month half-warrant, each full warrant being exercisable at US$1.00 per common share. $5.61 million of these funds have been received to date and the balance of the funds is expected to be in-hand before the targeted closing date of June 23, 2008. The Company’s agent McDouall Stuart Securities of Wellington will receive a fee of 3% on the placement. The funding is subject to TSX Venture exchange approval. No new insiders will be created on account of the placement.

The funds will be used to fund the Company’s current and future drilling programs and other working capital. Results from the Cheal A6 well are expected in the next week to ten days.


The shares and any shares issuable on exercise of the warrants will be subject to a four month resale restricted period in Canada. These securities are not being offered or sold in the United States and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933. They will not be eligible for resale within the United States except in accordance with available exemptions from registration under that Act.


The Company has now issued the settlement shares to TAG Oil Ltd, described in the news release of May 27, 2008.


Web site: www.austral-pacific.com
Email: ir@austral-pacific.com

Phone: Thom Jewell, CEO +64 (4) 495 0880 or Brad Holmes: +1 (713) 304 6962


None of the Exchanges upon which Austral Pacific's securities trade have approved or disapproved the contents hereof. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable legislation. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements in this release addressing future production, reserve potential, exploration and development activities and other contingencies are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, due to factors such as market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, political or business conditions. See our public filings at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm for further information.