Disposal

19 December 2006

                                  St Ives plc                                  

               Disposal of corporate finance related activities                

St Ives plc has today agreed to sell to Bowne & Co., Inc all the corporate
finance related activities carried on by St Ives Financial Limited together
with the whole of the share capital of St Ives Financial Inc and St Ives
Financial Japan KK, the activities of which are solely corporate finance
related.  St Ives is retaining its Company Report and Accounts printing
business.

The consideration receivable is expected to be approximately US$8 million
(equivalent to approximately £4 million), payable in cash, which will be
applied towards the reduction of borrowings.   

In the 52 weeks ended 28 July 2006 the businesses being sold made a loss of £
1.5 million and had gross assets of £23.1 million at that date, including
goodwill of £14.4 million.

The transaction is expected to be completed in January following completion of
the consultations required by TUPE regulations in the UK. 

For further information, please contact:

John Antcliffe/Rupert Trefgarne         Smithfield              020 7360 4900

Brian Edwards, Managing Director        St Ives plc             020 7928 8844

Miles Emley, Chairman