As a result of the exercise of Options pursuant to the terms of the Company's Share Option Schemes, the Company has allotted to current and former employees from whom applications to exercise options have been received: * 7,500 ordinary shares of 10p each at 142.50p per share; and * 1,800 ordinary shares of 10p each at 50p per share. Following the issue of the above shares, the number of shares in issue has increased from 16,075,466 to 16,084,766. The new ordinary shares rank pari passu with the existing issued ordinary shares of 10 pence each of the Company. Copies of this announcement are available from the registered office of the Company for a period of fourteen days from the date hereof. END