Issue of Equity -2-

| observe, any applicable requirements. This announcement has been      | 
| prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the        | 
| Takeover Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as    | 
| that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been    | 
| prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the     | 
| United Kingdom.                                                       | 
| Copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, directly  | 
| or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in  | 
| or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction and persons receiving     | 
| this announcement (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must  | 
| not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in or into or    | 
| from any Restricted Jurisdiction.  The availability of the Proposals  | 
| to persons not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the  | 
| laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are located. Persons  | 
| who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves   | 
| of and observe any applicable requirements.                           | 
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This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
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