Scheme of arrangement

Babcock International Group PLC 04 April 2007 EMBARGOED UNTIL 7:00 AM NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION 4 April 2007 BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER FOR INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS PLC TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY MEANS OF A SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT Summary - The boards of Babcock and INS are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer by Babcock for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of INS not already owned by Babcock. - The Offer values each INS Share at 63.0 pence and the existing issued share capital of INS at approximately £39.3 million and represents a premium of approximately 46.6 per cent. to the average Closing Price of 43.0 pence per INS Share over the six month period from 18 July 2006 to 17 January 2007, the last Business Day prior to the announcement of an approach regarding a possible offer for INS. - It is intended that the INS Shares will be acquired by way of a Court sanctioned scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Companies Act. - The INS Directors, who have been so advised by Rothschild and Grant Thornton, consider the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. Grant Thornton is acting as the independent financial adviser to INS in relation to Rule 3 of the City Code. Rothschild is acting as financial adviser to INS. Rothschild has a corporate debt advisory relationship with Babcock and, as a consequence, with respect to the Offer, is not an independent adviser in accordance with Rule 3 of the City Code. In providing their advice to the Directors of INS, Rothschild and Grant Thornton have taken into account the INS Directors' commercial assessments of the Offer. Accordingly, the INS Directors will unanimously recommend that INS Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the Court Meeting and the EGM required to implement the Scheme, as they have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings, amounting to, in aggregate, 253,904 INS Shares, representing approximately 0.4 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. - Babcock currently holds 15,273,875 INS Shares, representing approximately 24.5 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. In addition, Babcock has received irrevocable undertakings to vote (or procure to vote) in favour of the Scheme from: Bailey Robinson; Taube Hodson Stonex Partners Limited; and Hansa Trust PLC, in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of, in aggregate, 10,829,440 INS Shares representing approximately 17.4 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. Therefore, together with the irrevocable undertakings received from the INS Directors, Babcock has received irrevocable undertakings to vote (or to procure to vote) in favour of the Scheme in respect of, in aggregate, 11,083,344 INS Shares, representing approximately 17.8 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. - The Scheme will be subject, inter alia, to approval by INS Shareholders who are entitled to vote and to sanction by the Court. Full details of the Scheme, including an indicative timetable, will be set out in the Scheme Document. Commenting on the Offer, Gordon Campbell, Chairman of Babcock, said: 'INS offers an excellent strategic fit with our existing civil nuclear engineering activities and brings to us an important set of new customers and capabilities. The acquisition of INS will position the Group to bid for a wider range of opportunities in the expanding market for nuclear utility support services and decommissioning.' Commenting on the Offer, Chris Brown, Chairman of INS, said: 'I am pleased to announce our recommendation of Babcock's Offer this morning. The Offer price of 63.0 pence per share represents an attractive premium to the average share price over the last six months prior to our announcement of an approach. The Offer provides a significant return to both our new investors at our May IPO and our long standing investors, many of whom had been shareholders in RTS for many years.' The Scheme Document, setting out the details of the Offer and the procedures to be followed to approve the Scheme, and Forms of Proxy will be posted to INS Shareholders and, for information only, to option holders in INS as soon as practicable and in any event within 28 days of this Announcement unless otherwise agreed with the Panel. This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of this Announcement. Enquiries: Babcock Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7291 5000 Gordon Campbell Peter Rogers Bill Tame Hawkpoint (financial adviser to Babcock) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7665 4500 Paul Baines JPMorgan Cazenove (broker to Babcock) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7588 2828 Dermot McKechnie Financial Dynamics (Babcock PR enquiries) Telephone: +44 (0) 020 7269 7121 Susanne Walker INS Telephone: +44 (0) 161 222 5500 Chris Brown Tony Moore Rothschild (financial adviser to INS) Telephone: +44 (0) 161 827 3800 Greg Cant Grant Thornton (Rule 3 adviser to INS) Telephone: +44 (0) 161 834 5414 Ali Sharifi College Hill (INS PR enquiries) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020 Matthew Smallwood This Announcement does not, and is not intended to, constitute or form part of any offer to sell, or an invitation to purchase, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. The Offer will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document, which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Scheme. INS Shareholders are advised to read carefully the formal documentation in relation to the Offer once it has been despatched. The availability of the Offer and the release, publication or distribution of this Announcement to persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. Any failure to comply with such applicable requirements may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdictions. This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the City 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. The Offer will not be made in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would consititute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. Custodians, nominees and trustees should observe these restrictions and should not send or distribute the document in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would consititute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. Hawkpoint, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Babcock and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Babcock for providing the protections afforded to clients of Hawkpoint nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. JPMorgan Cazenove, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Babcock and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Babcock for providing the protections afforded to clients of JPMorgan Cazenove nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. Rothschild, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for INS and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than INS for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. Grant Thornton, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for INS and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than INS for providing the protections afforded to clients of Grant Thornton nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. Appendix I sets out the Conditions to the implementation of the Offer. Appendix II sets out the bases and sources of information from which the financial calculations used in this Announcement have been derived. Appendix III contains the definitions of terms used in this Announcement (including this summary). CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of INS and certain plans and objectives of the boards of INS and Babcock with respect thereto. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as 'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', 'will', 'may', 'should', 'would', 'could', or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by the boards of INS and Babcock in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty, because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and the factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this Announcement could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although INS and Babcock believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, INS and Babcock can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct and INS and Babcock therefore caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this Announcement. DEALING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Code, if any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of INS, all 'dealings' in any 'relevant securities' of that company (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Scheme becomes effective or lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the 'offer period' otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an 'interest' in 'relevant securities' of INS, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3. Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all 'dealings' in 'relevant securities' of INS by Babcock or INS, or by any of their respective 'associates', must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant securities' 'dealings' should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in issue, can be found on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. 'Interests in securities' arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a 'dealing' under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel. If you are in any doubt as to the application of Rule 8 to you, please contact an independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, consult the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk or contact the Panel on telephone number +44 (0) 20 7638 0129; fax number +44 (0) 20 7236 7013. EMBARGOED UNTIL 7:00 AM NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION 4 April 2007 BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL GROUP PLC RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER FOR INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS PLC TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY MEANS OF A SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT 1. Introduction The boards of Babcock and INS are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer by Babcock for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of INS, not already owned by Babcock. The Offer is to be implemented by means of a Court approved scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the Companies Act. 2. The Scheme The Scheme will be subject to the Conditions set out in Appendix I to this Announcement and any further terms to be set out in the Scheme Document. If the Scheme becomes effective, the Scheme Shares will be cancelled and Scheme Shareholders on the register of members at the Scheme Record Time will receive: for each Scheme Share 63.0 pence in cash The Offer values each INS Share at 63.0 pence and the existing issued share capital of INS at approximately £39.3 million and represents a premium of approximately 46.6 per cent. to the average Closing Price of 43.0 pence per INS Share over the six month period from 18 July 2006 to 17 January 2007, the last Business Day prior to the announcement of an approach regarding a possible offer for INS. 3. Recommendation The INS Directors, who have been so advised by Rothschild and Grant Thornton, consider the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. Grant Thornton is acting as the independent financial adviser to INS in relation to Rule 3 of the City Code. Rothschild is acting as financial adviser to INS. Rothschild has a corporate debt advisory relationship with Babcock and, as a consequence, with respect to the Offer, is not an independent adviser in accordance with Rule 3 of the City Code. In providing their advice to the Directors of INS, Rothschild and Grant Thornton have taken into account the INS Directors' commercial assessments of the Offer. Accordingly, the INS Directors will unanimously recommend that INS Shareholders vote in favour of the resolution to be proposed at the Court Meeting and the EGM required to implement the Scheme, as they have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings, amounting to, in aggregate, 253,904 INS Shares, which represents approximately 0.4 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. 4. Background to and reasons for the recommendation of the Offer INS is a specialist provider of engineering and consultancy services to the nuclear industry with particular emphasis on the 'clean-up and decommissioning' of the UK's nuclear legacy. This market has an estimated annual spend of £2.1 billion and a total estimated value in excess of £63 billion (Source: NDA). Against this background, INS has achieved significant growth. Over the four years between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2006, turnover has grown from £12.3 million to £31.7 million (a compound annual growth rate of 37.1 per cent.) and profit before taxation and exceptional items has grown from £0.3 million to £2.5 million (a compound annual growth rate of 101.4 per cent.). On 18 January 2007, the board of INS announced that it had received an approach in relation to a potential offer for the Company, after which, on 26 January 2007, Babcock announced that it had acquired 24.5 per cent. of INS's existing issued share capital. Following Babcock's announcement, INS provided certain due diligence information to assist Babcock in making an appropriate offer for INS's remaining issued share capital. The boards of INS and Babcock today reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer by Babcock for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of INS not already owned by Babcock. In unanimously recommending that INS Shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme, the INS Directors have given consideration to a range of factors, including: - the Offer of 63.0 pence per INS Share, representing a premium of approximately 46.6 per cent. to the average Closing Price of 43.0 pence per INS Share over the six month period from 18 July 2006 to 17 January 2007, the last Business Day prior to the announcement of an approach regarding a possible offer for INS; and - the changing nature of the UK's nuclear services market. The industry is going through a period of consolidation and rationalisation of the supply chain and is also attracting considerable interest from larger UK and overseas corporations. There are likely to be fewer but larger contracts and framework agreements, under which work packages will be bundled, which will only be accessible to INS as part of bidding consortia. As part of the Babcock Group, the INS Directors believe that the Company will have more opportunities to take leading roles in bidding for such future contracts and framework agreements. In light of the above, the INS Directors believe that the terms of the Offer are in the best interests of INS Shareholders and have concluded that the Offer is fair and reasonable. 5. Structure of the Scheme (a) Introduction It is intended that the Offer will be effected by a means of a scheme of arrangement between INS and the Scheme Shareholders under section 425 of the Companies Act, the provisions of which will be set out in full in the Scheme Document. The purpose of the Scheme, together with the proposed changes to INS's Articles, is to provide for Babcock to become the owner of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of INS. The Scheme will provide for the cancellation of the Scheme Shares. Scheme Shareholders will then be entitled to receive cash on the basis set out in paragraph 2 above. Prior to the Scheme becoming effective, application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for INS Shares to be suspended from trading on AIM. It is anticipated that the last day of dealings in, and for registration of transfers of, INS Shares will be the last Business Day immediately preceding the Effective Date. At close of business on the last Business Day immediately preceding the Effective Date, INS Shares will be suspended from AIM and the admission of such shares will be cancelled on the Effective Date. If the Scheme becomes effective, Babcock (and/or its nominee(s)) will acquire INS Shares fully paid and free from all liens, equitable interests, charges, encumbrances and other third party rights of any nature whatsoever and together with all rights attaching to them including the right to receive and retain all dividends and distributions (if any) declared, made or payable after the Effective Date. INS does not intend to declare, make or pay any dividends or distributions prior to the Effective Date. (b) Conditions to the Offer The Conditions to the Offer are set out in full in Appendix I to this Announcement. In summary, the implementation of the Offer will be conditional, inter alia, upon: (i) approval of the Scheme by a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders entitled to be present and voting, either in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, representing 75 per cent. or more in value of the Scheme Shares voted; (ii) the resolution in connection with or required to approve and implement the Scheme as set out in the notice of EGM in the Scheme Document being duly passed by the requisite majority at the EGM; (iii) the sanction of the Scheme and confirmation of the associated reduction of capital by the Court (in either case, with or without modification on terms acceptable to INS and Babcock) and the delivery of an official copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies and, in respect of the reduction of capital, the registration of the Court Order by him; and (iv) the Scheme becoming effective by not later than 30 June 2007 or such later date as may be agreed in writing by INS and Babcock (and if appropriate as the Court may approve) failing which the Scheme will lapse. 6. Irrevocable undertakings Babcock has received irrevocable undertakings to vote (or procure to vote) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolution at the EGM (or, in the event that the Offer is implemented by way of a takeover offer, to accept or procure acceptance of such offer) from the following: (a) INS Directors in respect of, in aggregate, 253,904 INS Shares, representing approximately 0.4 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. The undertakings referred to above will remain binding even if a higher competing offer for INS is made. They will cease to be binding only if (i) the Offer lapses or is withdrawn or (ii) the documentation in connection with the Scheme is not posted to INS Shareholders within 28 days of this Announcement or such later date as the Panel may agree. (b) Bailey Robinson in respect of his entire beneficial holdings of 4,972,105 INS Shares, representing approximately 8.0 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. (c) Taube Hodson Stonex Partners Limited in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of 2,682,335 INS Shares, representing approximately 4.3 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. (d) Hansa Trust PLC in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of 3,175,000 INS Shares, representing approximately 5.1 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. These undertakings will cease to be binding if (i) a third party announces a firm intention to make an offer (in accordance with Rule 2.5 of the Code) to acquire INS's entire issued share capital, provided that the value of the cash and non-cash elements and other terms and conditions of this offer values INS's entire issued share capital at no less than a 10 per cent. premium to the value placed by the Offer on INS's entire issued share capital or (ii) the Offer lapses or is withdrawn or (iii) the documentation in connection with the Scheme is not posted to INS Shareholders within 28 days of this Announcement or such later date as the Panel may agree. In aggregate, therefore, Babcock has received irrevocable undertakings to vote (or procure to vote) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the resolution at the EGM (or, in the event that the Offer is implemented by way of a takeover offer, to accept or procure acceptance of such offer) in respect of an aggregate of 11,083,344 INS Shares, representing approximately 17.8 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of INS. 7. Information on Babcock Babcock Group is an asset management business, managing fixed infrastructure and mobile assets. Babcock integrates labour, technical capabilities, systems and supply chain partners to meet the outsourcing needs of customers. The company has five operating divisions which are technical services, defence, networks, engineering and plant services, and rail. Overseas operations are based in Africa and North America. For the year ended 31 March 2006, Babcock reported revenue of £836.7 million (2005: £729.0 million), operating profit before exceptional items of £49.9 million (2005: £41.5 million) and profit before tax (pre amortisation and exceptionals) of £44.6 million (2005: £35.7 million). For the six months ended 30 September 2006, Babcock reported revenue of £487.6 million (six months to 30 September 2005: £386.7 million), operating profit before exceptional items of £33.5 million (2005: £23.9 million) and profit before tax (pre amortisation and exceptionals) of £30.6 million (2005: £20.5 million). On 9 May 2006, Babcock acquired the nuclear and airports services operator, Alstec Group Limited, for a net cash consideration of £44.9 million, funded from existing banking facilities. The Alstec airports business has been consolidated into Babcock Defence Services, while Alstec nuclear and defence services has been fully consolidated into Babcock Technical Services. In the period to 30 September 2006, Alstec contributed £42.2 million in sales and £4.5 million in operating profit and performed ahead of Babcock's original planning assumptions. Babcock's shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange in the support services sector. 8. Financing the Offer The consideration payable under the Offer will be funded from Babcock's existing banking facilities. Hawkpoint, financial adviser to Babcock, has confirmed that it is satisfied that the necessary financial resources are available to Babcock to satisfy the cash consideration due under the Offer in full. Full implementation of the Offer would result in a maximum cash consideration of approximately £30.4 million being payable by Babcock to INS Shareholders (assuming all options are exercised in full). 9. Information on INS INS successfully completed the demerger of INS Innovation Limited from Robotic Technology Systems PLC and was admitted to trading on AIM on 31 May 2006. INS is a specialist provider of nuclear engineering and consultancy services in the UK and is focused on providing services and solutions to the nuclear industry from the initial front end design and development to eventual commissioning and providing support to the customers' ongoing operations. INS operates throughout all stages of the project life cycle, providing professional engineering services for design and project implementation. These services include procurement inspection and project management enabling the Company to take projects from inception through all phases of project implementation to site installation and commissioning. The Company's main areas of expertise include: - support to the commercial operating facilities associated with fuel fabrication and spent fuel reprocessing activities; - waste and nuclear materials handling; - plant asset care and maintenance of redundant facilities; - new build activities covering existing facilities as well as new build required to support accelerated clean-up; - decommissioning; and - supply and integration of special purpose plant and equipment. For the year ended 31 December 2006, INS reported turnover of £31.7 million (2005: £24.6 million), operating profit before exceptional items of £2.5 million (2005: £2.2 million) and profit before tax of £1.7 million (2005: £2.3 million). 10. Current trading and prospects On 27 March 2007, INS issued the following announcement: 'Following the successful admission of International Nuclear Solutions plc ('INS') to the AIM market on 31st May 2006, I am pleased to be able to present the Group's first set of annual accounts as an independent public company. Turnover at £31.7 million increased by 29 per cent. in 2006 compared with the previous year, with the commencement of several significant new contracts, notably the SPRS and B29 projects at Sellafield. Operating profit before exceptional items was 11.9 per cent. higher than 2005 at £2.5 million, before exceptional administrative costs of £0.8 million (2005 - £nil) relating to the demerger from Robotic Technology Systems PLC (RTS) and subsequent admission to AIM. Profit after tax and exceptional items was £1.0m, compared with £1.9 million in 2005. INS produced a strong cash performance in 2006, with £5.9 million cash inflow from operating activities, an increase in net funds of £2.4 million, and closing cash balances of £2.7 million. Our order book, which stood at £11.4 million at the end of June, grew to £12.7 million by the end of 2006, and currently stands at £12.9 million . Our total headcount at the end of 2006 stood at 274. This is an increase of 23 per cent. in permanent staff, and 21 per cent. in total from the position at the start of the year. A new project office has been opened at Birchwood in Warrington, and we have also relocated our Greengarth office to new premises at the West Lakes Science Park at Sellafield. Outlook Our strong opening order book, and the increasing activity levels in the nuclear industry, give us confidence that the Group will continue to progress in 2007. The NDA has announced that there is a small increase in funding in its 2007 budget. We are aware that there will be a reduction in operating revenues to the NDA in future years as a result of the closure of two Magnox stations at the end of 2006. This may in the course of time affect the funding available to the NDA in future years. However, we view the future with confidence given the increasing overall demand for nuclear decommissioning expertise.' 11. Directors, management and employees and the effect of the Scheme in their interests Babcock has confirmed to the INS Directors that, following the Scheme becoming effective, the existing employment rights, terms and conditions of all the employees of the INS Group will be safeguarded. The Non-executive Directors of INS will resign from the Board upon the Scheme becoming effective. 12. Reasons for the Offer Babcock Group has identified the civil nuclear decommissioning market as both a growth opportunity and an industry consistent with the Group's skills, capabilities and experience and signalled its intention of developing its core capabilities with the acquisition of Alstec in May 2006. The acquisition of INS continues, broadens and deepens this strategy by bringing to the Group an important new set of customers and capabilities which will allow the Group to bid for a wider range of opportunities in an expanding market. 13. INS Share Schemes The effects of the Scheme on subsisting options under INS Share Schemes are summarised below. All INS Shares issued on the exercise of options on or prior to the Reduction Record Time will be subject to the terms of the Scheme. The Scheme will not extend to INS Shares issued, including on the exercise of options, after the Reduction Record Time. However, an amendment to INS's Articles is to be proposed at the EGM (details of which will be set out in the Notice of the EGM) to the effect that INS Shares issued on the exercise of options after the Reduction Record Time will automatically be acquired by Babcock on the same terms of the Offer. Options under the INS EMI Scheme may be exercised in full conditional on the Scheme becoming effective whereas options under the INS SAYE Scheme will become exercisable on the Court's sanction of the Scheme. Participants will have the opportunity to exercise their options conditionally on the Scheme becoming effective in respect of the INS EMI Scheme and on Court sanction in respect of the INS SAYE Scheme. In the case of the INS SAYE Scheme, options may only be exercised using accrued savings and interest (if any) due on the exercise date. Options will lapse if unexercised within 30 days of the Court's sanction of the Scheme in relation to shares held under the INS SAYE Scheme and on the Effective Date in relation to options held under the EMI Scheme. 14. Overseas Shareholders The availability of the Offer to persons resident in, or citizens of, jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements. It is the responsibility of each of the INS Shareholders who are not resident in the UK to satisfy themselves as to the full observance of the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in connection therewith, including the obtaining of any governmental exchange control or other consents which may be required or compliance with other necessary formalities which are required to be observed and the payment of any issue, transfer or other taxes due in such jurisdiction. Any failure to comply with such applicable requirements may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdictions. This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the City Code and the information disclosed may be different from that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside England. 15. Implementation Agreement INS and Babcock have entered into an Implementation Agreement dated 3 April 2007 , under the terms of which the parties have agreed, amongst other things, to co-operate to implement the Scheme. Details of the Implementation Agreement will be set out in the Scheme Document. Included in the Implementation Agreement is an inducement fee agreement. The inducement fee, which amounts to circa £0.4 million, representing one per cent. of the value of the Offer, is payable to Babcock if following this Announcement: (a) the INS Directors withdraw or modify their approval or recommendation of the Offer, or approve the announcement of or recommend any Competing Proposal; or (b) the Offer (whether structured as a Scheme or a takeover offer) lapses or is withdrawn in accordance with its terms and prior thereto a Competing Proposal for the Company has been announced, and in either case such Competing Proposal or any other Competing Proposal subsequently becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects. 16. Suspension and cancellation of admission to AIM of INS Shares The London Stock Exchange will be requested respectively to suspend and cancel (i) trading in INS Shares on AIM with effect from close of business on the Business Day preceding the Effective Date and (ii) the admission of INS Shares to AIM with effect from 8.00 a.m. on the Effective Date. The last day of dealings in INS Shares on AIM is expected to be the last Business Day immediately preceding the Effective Date and no transfers of INS Shares will be registered after close of business on this date. On the Effective Date, share certificates in respect of INS Shares will cease to be valid. In addition, on the Effective Date, entitlements to Scheme Shares held within the CREST system will be cancelled. 17. Dealing disclosure requirements Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Code, if any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in one per cent. or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of INS, all 'dealings' in any 'relevant securities' of that company (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Scheme becomes effective or lapses or is otherwise withdrawn or on which the 'offer period' otherwise ends. If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an 'interest' in 'relevant securities' of INS, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3. Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all 'dealings' in 'relevant securities' of INS by Babcock or INS, or by any of their respective 'associates', must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant securities' 'dealings' should be disclosed, and the number of such securities in issue, can be found on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. 'Interests in securities' arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found on the Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a 'dealing' under Rule 8, you should consult the Panel. 18. Expected timetable INS expects that it will despatch the Scheme Document to INS Shareholders and, for information only, to holders of options granted under the INS Share Schemes within the next 28 days (or such later date as may be agreed with the Panel); that the Court Meeting and EGM will take place during May 2007; and subject to the Scheme becoming unconditional and effective in accordance with its terms, the Effective Date will occur in June 2007. 19. Disclosure of interests in INS On 26 January 2007, Babcock acquired 15,273,875 INS Shares representing approximately 24.5 per cent. of INS's entire issued share capital. Save for this shareholding, and the irrevocable undertakings referred to above, neither Babcock nor, so far as Babcock is aware, any person acting in concert with Babcock, owns or controls any INS Shares or any securities convertible or exchangeable into INS Shares or any rights to subscribe for or purchase the same, or holds any options (including traded options) in respect of, or has any option to acquire, any INS Shares or has entered into any derivatives referenced to INS Shares ('Relevant INS Securities') which remain outstanding, nor does any such person hold any short positions in relation to Relevant INS Securities (whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise) including any short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery, nor has any such person lent or borrowed Relevant INS Securities, nor does any such person have any arrangement in relation to Relevant INS Securities. For these purposes, 'arrangement' includes any indemnity or option arrangement, any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, of whatever nature, relating to Relevant INS Securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing in such securities. In the interests of secrecy prior to this Announcement, Babcock has not made any enquiries in this respect of certain parties which may be deemed by the Panel to be acting in concert with it for the purposes of the Offer. Enquiries of such parties will be made as soon as practicable following the date of this Announcement and any material disclosure in respect of such parties will be included in the Scheme Document. 20. General The Offer will be subject to the requirements of the City Code and will be on the terms and subject to the Conditions set out herein and in Appendix I and to be set out in the Scheme Document. The Scheme Document will include full details of the Scheme, together with notices of the Court Meeting and the EGM and the expected timetable. As at 7.00 a.m. (London time) on 3 April 2007 (the last business day prior to the date of this Announcement), INS had 62,335,374 shares of one pence in issue (ISIN number GB00B12QZ964). Enquiries Babcock Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7291 5000 Gordon Campbell Peter Rogers Bill Tame Hawkpoint (financial adviser to Babcock) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7665 4500 Paul Baines JPMorgan Cazenove (broker to Babcock) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7588 2828 Dermot McKechnie Financial Dynamics (Babcock PR enquiries) Telephone: +44 (0) 020 7269 7121 Susanne Walker INS Telephone: +44 (0) 161 222 5500 Chris Brown Tony Moore Rothschild (financial adviser to INS) Telephone: +44 (0) 161 827 3800 Greg Cant Grant Thornton (Rule 3 financial adviser to Telephone: +44 (0) 161 834 5414 INS) Ali Sharifi College Hill (INS PR enquiries) Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7457 2020 Matthew Smallwood This Announcement does not, and is not intended to, constitute or form part of any offer to sell, or an invitation to purchase, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. The Offer will be made solely by means of the Scheme Document, which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Scheme. INS Shareholders are advised to read carefully the formal documentation in relation to the Offer once it has been despatched. The availability of the Offer and the release, publication or distribution of this Announcement to persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements. Any failure to comply with such applicable requirements may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdictions. This Announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the City 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. The Offer will not be made in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would consititute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. Custodians, nominees and trustees should observe these restrictions and should not send or distribute the document in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would consititute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. Hawkpoint, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Babcock and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Babcock for providing the protections afforded to clients of Hawkpoint nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. JPMorgan Cazenove, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Babcock and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Babcock for providing the protections afforded to clients of JPMorgan Cazenove nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. Rothschild, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for INS and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than INS for providing the protections afforded to clients of Rothschild nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. Grant Thornton, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for INS and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than INS for providing the protections afforded to clients of Grant Thornton nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer, the content of this Announcement or any matter referred to herein. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This Announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of INS and certain plans and objectives of the boards of INS and Babcock with respect thereto. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as 'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', 'will', 'may', 'should', 'would', 'could', or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by the boards of INS and Babcock in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty, because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and the factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this Announcement could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although INS and Babcock believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, INS and Babcock can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct and INS and Babcock therefore caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this Announcement. 21. Appendices Appendix I sets out Conditions to implementation of the Offer. Appendix II sets out the bases and sources of information from which the financial calculations used in this Announcement have been derived. Appendix III contains the definitions of terms used in this Announcement. Appendix I CONDITIONS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OFFER The Offer will be subject to English law and the terms and conditions set out in this document. 1.1 The Offer will be conditional upon the Scheme becoming unconditional and effective by no later than 30 June 2007 or such later date if any as Babcock and INS may, with the consent of the Panel, agree and (if required) the Court may allow. 1.2 The Scheme will be conditional on: (a) approval of the Scheme by a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders present and voting (and entitled to vote), either in person or by proxy, at the Court Meeting representing 75 per cent. or more in value of the INS Shares voted; (b) the resolution in connection with or required to approve and implement the Scheme as set out in the notice of EGM in the Scheme Document being duly passed by the requisite majority at the EGM or any adjournment thereof; and (c) the sanction of the Scheme and the confirmation of the reduction of capital by the Court (in either case, with or without modifications on terms acceptable to Babcock and INS) and the delivery of an office copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies and, in respect of the reduction of capital, the registration of the Court Order by him. 1.3 The Offer will also be conditional upon the following matters and, accordingly, the necessary actions to make the Scheme effective will not be taken unless such conditions have been satisfied or waived by Babcock prior to the Scheme being sanctioned by the Court in accordance with paragraph 1.2 above: (a) no government or governmental, quasi-governmental, supranational, statutory or regulatory body, or any court, institution, investigative body, association, trade agency or professional or environmental body or (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) any other person or body in any jurisdiction (each, a 'Relevant Authority') having decided to take, instituted, implemented or threatened any action, proceedings, suit, investigation or enquiry or enacted, made or proposed any statute, regulation or order or otherwise taken any other step or done any thing, and there not continuing to be outstanding any statute, legislation or order of any Regulatory Authority, that would or might reasonably be expected, in a manner in each case which is material and adverse in the context of the Offer or the wider INS Group taken as a whole: (i) materially restrict, restrain, prohibit, delay or impose material additional conditions or obligations with respect to, or otherwise materially interfere with the implementation of, the Offer or the acquisition of any INS Shares by Babcock or any matters arising therefrom; (ii) require, prevent or materially delay the divestiture by Babcock or any of its subsidiaries, subsidiary undertakings or associated undertakings (including any company of which 20 per cent. or more of the voting capital is held by the Babcock Group or any partnership, joint venture, firm or company in which any of them may be interested) (together the 'wider Babcock Group') or INS or any of its subsidiaries, subsidiary undertakings or associated undertakings (including any company of which 20 per cent. or more of the voting capital is held by the INS Group or any partnership, joint venture, firm or company in which any of them may be interested) (together the 'wider INS Group') of all or any portion of their respective businesses, assets or property or of any shares or other securities in INS or impose any material limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct all or any part of their respective businesses or own their respective assets or properties or any part thereof in each case which is material taken in the context of the wider Babcock Group or the wider INS Group as a whole; (iii) impose any material limitation on the ability of any member of the wider Babcock Group to acquire or hold or exercise effectively, directly or indirectly, all rights of all or any of the INS Shares (whether acquired pursuant to the Offer or otherwise); (iv) except pursuant to sections 977-982 of the Companies Act 2006, require any member of the wider Babcock Group or the wider INS Group to offer to acquire any shares or other securities or rights thereover in any member of the wider INS Group owned by any third party; (v) make the Offer or its implementation or the proposed acquisition of INS or any member of the wider INS Group or of any INS Shares or any other shares or securities in, or control of, INS, illegal, void or unenforceable in or under the laws of any jurisdiction; (vi) impose any material limitation on the ability of any member of the wider Babcock Group or the wider INS Group to co-ordinate its business, or any part of it, with the business of any other member of the wider Babcock Group or the wider INS Group; or (vii) otherwise materially and adversely affect any or all of the businesses, assets or profits of any member of the wider Babcock Group or the wider INS Group or the exercise of rights of shares of any company in the INS Group, and all applicable waiting periods during which such Relevant Authority could institute, implement or threaten any such action, proceeding, suit, investigation, enquiry or reference or otherwise intervene having expired, lapsed or been terminated; (b) all authorisations, orders, grants, consents, clearances, licences, permissions and approvals, in any jurisdiction, which are necessary or are reasonably considered necessary or appropriate by Babcock for or in respect of the Offer, the proposed acquisition of any shares or securities in, or control of, INS or any member of the wider INS Group by any member of the wider Babcock Group or the carrying on of the business of any member of the wider INS Group or any matters arising therefrom being obtained in terms reasonably satisfactory to Babcock from all appropriate Relevant Authorities or (without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) from any persons or bodies with whom any members of the wider INS Group has entered into contractual arrangements in any case (other than an anti-trust or merger control authority) to an extent which would be material in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole and such authorisations, orders, grants, consents, clearances, licences, permissions and approvals remaining in full force and effect and there being no intimation of any intention to revoke or not to renew the same and all necessary filings having been made, all appropriate waiting and other time periods (including extensions thereto) under any applicable legislation and regulations in any jurisdiction having expired, lapsed or been terminated and all necessary statutory or regulatory obligations in any jurisdiction in respect of the Offer or the proposed acquisition of INS by Babcock or of any INS Shares or any matters arising therefrom having been complied with; (c) appropriate assurances being received, in terms satisfactory to Babcock, from the relevant authorities or any party with whom any member of the wider INS Group has any contractual or other relationship that the interests held by any member of the wider INS Group under licences, leases, consents, permits and other rights will not be adversely amended or otherwise affected by the Offer, to the extent which is or in a manner which is material and adverse in the context of the Offer or the proposed acquisition of INS or any matters arising therefrom, that such licences, leases, consents, permits and other rights are in full force and effect and that there is no intention to revoke or amend any of the same; (d) save as publicly announced by INS prior to the date of this Announcement (by the delivery of an announcement to a Regulatory Information Service) or as fairly disclosed prior to the date of this Announcement in writing to Babcock or its advisers by or on behalf of INS there being no provision of any agreement, instrument, permit, licence or other arrangement to which any member of the wider INS Group is a party or by or to which it or any of its assets may be bound or subject which, as a consequence of the Offer or the acquisition of INS or because of a change in the control or management of INS or any member of the INS Group or any matters arising therefrom or otherwise, could or might have the result to the extent which is or in a manner which is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole that: (i) any material amount of monies borrowed by, or any other material indebtedness, actual or contingent, of, or grant available to, any member of the wider INS Group becomes or is capable of being declared repayable immediately or earlier than the repayment date stated in such agreement, instrument or other arrangement or the ability of any member of the wider INS Group to borrow moneys or incur indebtedness is withdrawn, inhibited or becoming capable of being withdrawn; (ii) any mortgage, charge or other security interest is created over the whole or any material part of the business, property or assets of any member of the wider INS Group or any such security (whenever arising) becomes enforceable; (iii) any such agreement, instrument, permit, licence or other arrangement, or any right, interest, liability or obligation of any member of the wider INS Group therein, is terminated or materially and adversely modified or affected or any action is taken or onerous obligation arises thereunder; (iv) the value of any member of the wider INS Group or its financial or trading position is prejudiced or adversely affected; (v) any material asset or any interest of any member of the wider INS Group being or falling to be charged or disposed of other than in the ordinary course of trading; (vi) the rights, liabilities, obligations or interests or business of any member of the wider INS Group in or with any other person, firm or company (or any arrangement relating to such interest or business) is terminated or materially and adversely affected; (vii) any member of the wider INS Group ceases to be able to carry on business under any name under which it currently does so; (viii) any such agreement, arrangement, licence or other instrument being terminated or materially and adversely modified or any onerous obligation arising or any material adverse action being taken or arising thereunder; or (ix) the creation of any material liabilities (actual or contingent) by any such member of the wider INS Group other than in the ordinary course of trading; (e) since 31 December 2006, save as publicly announced by INS prior to the date of this Announcement (by the delivery of an announcement to a Regulatory Information Service) or as fairly disclosed prior to the date of this Announcement in writing to Babcock or its advisers by or on behalf of INS, no member of the INS Group having: (i) issued or agreed to issue or authorised or proposed the issue of additional shares of any class or issued or authorised or proposed the issue of or granted securities convertible into or rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or acquire such shares or convertible securities or redeemed, purchased or reduced or announced any intention to do so or made any other change to any part of its share capital, sold or transferred or agreed to sell or transfer any Treasury Shares (as defined in section 162A(3) of the Companies Act, other than: (A) to other members of the INS Group; or (B) shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options or vesting of awards in each case granted under the INS Share Schemes, or under an employee's terms of employment; (ii) recommended, declared, paid or made or proposed to recommend, declare, pay or make any dividend, bonus or other distribution other than dividends lawfully paid to INS or wholly-owned subsidiaries of INS; (iii) implemented or authorised any merger or demerger or acquired or disposed of or transferred, mortgaged or charged, or created any other security interest over, any material asset or any right, title or interest in any material asset (in each case other than in the ordinary course of trading) and other than transactions between members of the INS Group; (iv) authorised or proposed or announced its intention to propose any merger or acquisition or disposal or transfer of material assets or any change in its loan capital; (v) purchased, redeemed or repaid any of its own shares or other securities or reduced or made or authorised any other material change in its share capital save in respect of the matters mentioned in paragraph (i) above; (vi) issued or authorised or proposed the issue of any material debentures or incurred or increased any indebtedness or contingent liability in each case other than to members of the INS Group; (vii) entered into or varied any contract, commitment or arrangement (whether in respect of capital expenditure or otherwise) other than in the ordinary course of trading which is of a long term or unusual nature or which involves or could involve an obligation of a nature or magnitude which is material or authorised, proposed or announced any intention to do so; (viii) entered into, or varied the terms of, any contract or agreement with any of the directors of INS; (ix) other than by way of solvent winding-up in respect of a member which is dormant at the relevant time, taken or proposed any corporate action or had any legal proceedings started or threatened against it for its winding-up, dissolution or reorganisation or for the appointment of a receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, trustee or similar officer of all or any of its assets and revenues; (x) waived or compromised any claim other than in the ordinary course of trading; (xi) made any amendment to its memorandum or articles of association or other incorporation documents; (xii) made or agreed or consented to: (A) any significant change to: (I) the terms of the trust deeds constituting the pension scheme(s) established for its directors, employees or their dependants; or (II) the benefits which accrue or to the pensions which are payable thereunder; or (III) the basis on which qualification for, or accrual or entitlement to such benefits or pensions are calculated or determined; or (IV) the basis upon which the liabilities (including pensions) or such pension schemes are funded or made; or (B) any change to the trustees including the appointment of a trust corporation; (xiii) other than in the ordinary course of its trading, entered into any contract, transaction or arrangement which is or may be restrictive on the business of any member of the wider INS Group or the wider Babcock Group; (xiv) entered into any contract, commitment or agreement with respect to any of the transactions or events referred to in this condition; and (xv) been unable or admitted that it is unable to pay its debts or having stopped or suspended (or threatened to stop or suspend) payment of its debts generally or ceased or threatened to cease carrying on all or a substantial part of its business; (f) since 31 December 2006, save as publicly announced by INS prior to the date of this Announcement (by the delivery of an announcement to a Regulatory Information Service) or as fairly disclosed prior to the date of this Announcement in writing to Babcock or its advisers by or on behalf of INS: (i) no litigation, arbitration, prosecution or other legal proceedings having been instituted, announced or threatened or become pending or remained outstanding by or against any member of the wider INS Group or to which any member of the wider INS Group is or may become a party (whether as plaintiff, defendant or otherwise) which is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole; (ii) no adverse change having occurred in the business, assets, financial or trading position, profits or prospects of any member of the wider INS Group to the extent or which is or in a manner which is material and adverse in the context of the Offer which is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole; or (iii) (other than as a result of the Offer) no investigation by any Relevant Authority having been threatened, announced, implemented or instituted or remaining outstanding to the extent which is or in a manner which is material and adverse in the context of the Offer or which is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole; (g) since 31 December 2006, save as publicly announced by INS prior to the date of this Announcement (by the delivery of an announcement to a Regulatory Information Service) or as fairly disclosed prior to the date of this Announcement in writing to Babcock or its advisers by or on behalf of INS, Babcock not having discovered that: (i) any financial, business or other information concerning any member of the INS Group disclosed, publicly or otherwise at any time to Babcock, by or on behalf of any member of the INS Group, either contains a misrepresentation of fact or omits to state a fact necessary to make the information contained therein not misleading and which was not subsequently corrected before the date of this Announcement by disclosure either publicly or otherwise to Babcock to an extent which in any case is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole; or (ii) any member of the wider INS Group is subject to any liability, actual or contingent, which is not disclosed in the annual report and accounts of INS for the financial year ended 31 December 2006 and which in any case is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole; and (h) since 31 December 2006, save as publicly announced by INS prior to the date of this Announcement (by the delivery of an announcement to a Regulatory Information Service) or as fairly disclosed prior to the date of this Announcement in writing to Babcock or its advisers by or on behalf of INS, Babcock not having discovered that: (i) any past or present member of the wider INS Group has failed to comply with any applicable legislation or regulations of any jurisdiction with regard to the storage, disposal, discharge, spillage, leak or emission of any waste or hazardous substance or any substance likely to impair the environment or to harm human health or otherwise relating to environmental matters (which non-compliance is reasonably likely to give rise to any material liability (whether actual or contingent) on the part of any member of the wider INS Group) or that there has otherwise been any such disposal, discharge, spillage, leak or emission (whether or not the same constituted a non-compliance by any person with any such legislation or regulations and wherever the same may have taken place) which in any such case is reasonably likely to give rise to any material liability (whether actual or contingent) on the part of any member of the wider INS Group which is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole; (ii) there is or is likely to be any material liability (whether actual or contingent) to make good, repair, reinstate or clean up any property now or previously owned, occupied or made use of by any past or present member of the wider INS Group under any environmental legislation, regulation, notice, circular or order of any Relevant Authority or third party or otherwise which is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole; or (iii) that circumstances exist (whether as a result of the making of the Offer or otherwise) which are reasonably likely to lead to any Relevant Authority instituting or any member of the wider INS Group or the wider Babcock Group might be required to institute, an environmental audit or take any other steps which in any such case might result in any actual or contingent liability to improve or install new plant or equipment or make good, repair, re-instate or clean up any land or other asset now or previously owned, occupied or made use of by any member of the wider INS Group which is material and adverse in the context of the wider INS Group taken as a whole. 1.4 Subject to the requirements of the Panel, Babcock reserves the right to waive all or any of conditions 1.3(a) to 1.3(h) above, in whole or in part. Babcock shall be under no obligation to waive or treat as satisfied any of conditions 1.3(a) to 1.3(h) by a date earlier than the date of the sanction of the Scheme referred to in condition 1.2(c) notwithstanding that the other conditions of the Offer may at such earlier date have been waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no circumstances indicating that any of such conditions may not be capable of fulfilment. 1.5 If Babcock is required by the Panel to make an offer for INS Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Code, Babcock may make such alterations to the conditions as are necessary to comply with the provisions of that Rule. 1.6 The Offer will lapse (unless otherwise agreed by the Panel) if the Offer is referred to the Competition Commission or if the European Commission in respect thereof either initiates proceedings under article 6(1)(c) of Council Regulation (EEC) 4064/89 or makes a referral to a competent authority of the United Kingdom under article 9(1) of that Regulation, before (in any such case) the date of the Court Meeting. 1.7 Subject to the consent of the Panel, Babcock reserves the right to elect to implement the Offer by way of a takeover offer. In such event, the offer will be implemented on the same terms (subject to appropriate amendments, including (without limitation) an acceptance condition set at 90 per cent. (or such lesser percentage as Babcock may, subject to compliance with the Code, decide) of the shares to which such offer relates and of the voting rights carried by those shares), so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme. 1.8 The Offer and the Scheme are governed by English law and will be subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts and the conditions set out above. Appendix II BASES AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION Save as otherwise stated, the following constitute the bases and sources of certain information referred to in this Announcement: 1. Information relating to INS has been extracted from the AIM admission document, dated 5 May 2006, and from INS's preliminary annual results announcement for the year ended 31 December 2006; information relating to Babcock has been extracted from the relevant published audited reports and accounts of Babcock and interim reports. 2. The value of the entire issued share capital of INS is based on 62,335,374 INS Shares in issue at 3 April 2007 being the latest practicable day prior to this Announcement. 3. The maximum cash consideration payable under the Offer is based on 47,061,499 INS Shares (being those INS Shares in issue not already owned by Babcock) and no more than 1,250,826 'in the money' employee share options outstanding over INS Shares at the date of this Announcement and which are expected to become exercisable as a consequence of the Scheme. 4. Unless otherwise stated, all prices quoted for shares are closing mid-market prices and are derived from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange. Appendix III DEFINITIONS The following definitions apply throughout this Announcement unless the context requires otherwise. 'AIM' AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange; 'Announcement' this announcement; 'Articles' articles of association; 'Babcock' Babcock International Group PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 02342138; 'Babcock Group' Babcock and its subsidiary undertakings and, where the context or 'Group' permits, each of them; 'Board' the full board of Directors of INS as of the date of this Announcement; 'Business Day' a day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and UK public holidays) on which banks in London are generally open for business in the City of London; 'the Code' or the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers; 'City Code' 'Closing Price' the closing middle market quotation of an INS Share as derived from the Daily Official List; 'Companies Act' the Companies Act 1985, as amended; or 'Act' 'Competing a proposed offer, tender offer, merger, acquisition, scheme of Proposal' arrangement, recapitalisation or other combination (including a transaction involving a dual listed company structure) relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase of 50 per cent. or more of the INS Shares or a material amount (as defined in note 2 of Rule 21.1 of the City Code) of the business and assets of INS and its subsidiaries proposed by any third party; 'Conditions' the conditions to the implementation of the Offer (including the Scheme) and the Offer which are set out in Appendix I to this Announcement; 'connected has the meaning given to it in section 346 of the Companies Act; person' 'Court' the High Court of Justice in England and Wales; 'Court Hearing' the hearing at which the Court's confirmation of the reduction of capital and the Court's sanction of the Scheme will be sought; 'Court Meeting' the meeting of the Scheme Shareholders to be convened pursuant to an order of the Court pursuant to section 425 of the Companies Act for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving the Scheme (with or without modification), and any adjustment thereof; 'Court Order' the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme under section 425 of the Act and confirming the associated reduction of capital; 'CREST' the system for the paperless settlement of trades in securities and the holding of uncertificated securities generated by CRESTCo in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No.3755); 'CRESTCo' CRESTCo Limited; 'Daily Official the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange; List' 'Effective the date on which the Scheme becomes effective in accordance Date' with its terms; 'EGM' or the extraordinary general meeting of INS Shareholders (and any 'Extraordinary adjournment thereof) to be convened in connection with the General Offer; Meeting' 'EMI Scheme' INS 2006 Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme; 'Forms of the blue Form of Proxy for use at the Court Meeting and the pink Proxy' Form of Proxy for use at the EGM or either of them as the context dictates; 'Grant Grant Thornton Corporate Finance, the corporate finance division Thornton' of Grant Thornton UK LLP; 'Hawkpoint' Hawkpoint Partners Limited; 'holder' a registered holder, including any person entitled by transmission; 'Independent all INS Shareholders other than Babcock; Shareholders' 'INS' or 'the International Nuclear Solutions PLC a public limited company Company' incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 5738079 or, where the context requires, INS Innovation Limited; 'INS Directors' Christopher John Brown, Anthony Moore, Geoffrey John Mellor, Stephen Joseph McGowan and John Gordon Ridings, who are directors of INS; 'INS Group' INS and its subsidiary undertakings and, where the context permits, each of them; 'INS the holders of INS Shares; Shareholders' or 'Shareholders' 'INS Share the INS 2006 Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme and the INS Schemes' 2006 Savings-Related Share Option Scheme; 'INS Shares' the shares of one pence each in the capital of INS and 'INS Share' means any one of them; 'Implementation the Implementation Agreement dated 3 April 2007 between INS and Agreement' Babcock pursuant to which the parties have agreed to implement the Scheme; 'JPMorgan JPMorgan Cazenove Limited; Cazenove' 'Listing Rules' the listing rules made by the UK Listing Authority ''The Listing Rules'' (as amended from time to time); 'London Stock London Stock Exchange plc; Exchange' 'Meetings' the Court Meeting and/or the EGM as the case may be; 'NDA' the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; 'Non-executive each of Christopher John Brown and John Gordon Ridings; Directors' 'Offer' the recommended cash offer by Babcock for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of INS to be implemented by way of the Scheme and the other matters relevant thereto to be considered at the Court Meeting and EGM; 'Overseas INS Shareholders (or nominees of, or custodians or trustees for Shareholders' INS Shareholders) not resident in or citizens of the United Kingdom; 'Panel' the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers; 'Reduction 6.00 p.m. on the last Business Day immediately prior to the date Record Time' of the Court Hearing; 'Registrar of the Registrar of Companies of England and Wales; Companies' 'Regulatory any of the services set out in schedule 12 to the Listing Rules; Information Service' or 'RIS' 'RTS' Robotic Technology Systems PLC; 'Rothschild' NM Rothschild & Sons Limited; 'SAYE Scheme' INS 2006 Savings-Related Share Option Scheme; 'Scheme' or the proposed scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the 'scheme of Companies Act between INS and Scheme Shareholders, with or arrangement' subject to any modification, addition thereto or condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed to by INS and Babcock; 'Scheme the document to be posted to INS Shareholders and others Document' containing, inter alia, the Scheme and the notices of the Meetings; 'Scheme Record 6:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Effective Time' Date; 'Scheme the holders of Scheme Shares; Shareholders' 'Scheme Shares' (i) the INS Shares in issue at the date of the Scheme Document; (ii) any INS Shares issued after the date of the Scheme Document and before the Voting Record Time in respect of the Court Meeting; and (iii) any INS Shares issued at or after the Voting Record Time in respect of the Court Meeting but on or before the Reduction Record Time, excluding any INS Shares held by Babcock and, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any shares held in treasury by the Company; 'subsidiary' have the meaning given to them in the Companies Act; and 'subsidiary undertaking' 'UK' or 'United the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Kingdom' 'UK Listing the Financial Services Authority acting in its capacity as the Authority' competent authority for the purpose of Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended); 'US' or 'United the United States of America, its territories and possessions, States' any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia; 'US Person' a US Person as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act and any nominee thereof; 'US Securities US Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and Act' 'Voting Record the time fixed by the Court and INS for determining the Time' entitlement to vote, respectively at the Court Meeting and the EGM as will be set out in the notices thereof. 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