Placing of Shareholding

RNS Number:0362U
XKO Group PLC
09 January 2004


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           9 January 2004


                                XKO GROUP plc

                       XKO GROUP plc ("XKO" or "Company")

                           PLACING OF SHAREHOLDING



The Company is pleased to announce that 2,815,390 ordinary shares of XKO held by
Secondwind Limited, a company indirectly representing the non beneficial
interests of the vendors of a business acquired by XKO, have been sold.



The shareholding represented 10.2% of the existing ordinary share capital of
XKO.  The shares were placed with institutional shareholders by Evolution Beeson
Gregory Limited.



Commenting on the share placing the Chief Executive, Simon Beart stated:



"It is much more appropriate that this shareholding should be held by
traditional institutional shareholders and we are pleased to welcome these new
shareholders to the Group."



Enquiries
Simon Beart               Chief Executive                     07710 444 370
Rob Collins               Evolution Beeson Gregory            020 7071 4311
Richard Darby             Buchanan Communications             020 7466 5000






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