HARRIS FAMILY PLACING

RNS Number:1219N
Alba PLC
03 July 2003

                                                                     3 July 2003
   
                                    ALBA PLC

           PLACING OF 5.1 MILLION SHARES IN ALBA PLC BY HARRIS FAMILY


Investec has today placed 5,100,000 ordinary shares in Alba PLC ("Alba" or the
"Company"), on behalf of the Harris family, representing 10.1% of the issued
share capital at 495p per share.

The Harris family will agree not to sell any further shares in Alba for 12
months.

As a result of the placing the shareholding of the Harris family is reduced from
approximately 22.6 million shares to approximately 17.5 million shares, a
reduction from approximately 45% to 35% of the issued share capital.

As a result of the placing, the free float of the Company will increase to 65%,
thereby increasing liquidity in the Alba shares.

John Harris, Alba Chairman, commented:

"We have for some time been aware that the size of the family holding restricted
liquidity in Alba shares to a level below that appropriate for a company of
Alba's size. The placing helps both resolve that position and satisfy recent
strong institutional demand for Alba shares.

As we stated in our Preliminary Results announcement in June, trading and
prospects across the Group continue to be strong."

                                    - ends -

Enquiries:

Alba plc
Daniel Harris 020 8594 5533

Investec
Rupert Krefting 020 7597 5000

Weber Shandwick Square Mile
Nick Oborne  020 7067 0700


Investec is acting exclusively for the Harris family and no-one else in
connection with the Placing and will not be responsible to anyone else for
providing the protections afforded to their clients or for providing advice in
relation to the Placing.



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

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