Further Market Purchases

Johnson,Matthey PLC 4 July 2001 Not for release, distribution or publication in whole or in part in or into the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan Johnson Matthey plc ('Johnson Matthey') Recommended cash offer for Meconic plc ('Meconic') Further market purchases Further to the announcement on 21 June 2001 of the recommended cash offer for Meconic (the 'Offer') and subsequent market purchases of Meconic ordinary shares, Johnson Matthey has now purchased in aggregate 18,700,000 Meconic ordinary shares, representing 51.5% of Meconic's current issued share capital (or 50.1% of the fully diluted share capital of Meconic), at 405 pence per share in the market. Accordingly, following settlement of the share purchases made today, the Offer will become unconditional. The procedure for acceptance of the Offer is set out in the Offer Document which was posted on 3 July 2001. The Form of Acceptance should be completed and returned as soon as possible, but in any event so as to arrive no later than 3.00 p.m. on 24 July 2001. Terms defined in the Offer Document dated 3 July 2001 have the same meanings when used herein unless the context requires otherwise. A further announcement will be made in due course. Enquiries Johnson Matthey plc John Sheldrick 020 7269 8403 David Morgan 020 7269 8454 Schroder Salomon Smith Barney 020 7986 4000 (financial adviser to Johnson Matthey) James Steel Jan Skarbek Credit Suisse First Boston de Zoete & Bevan Limited 020 7888 8888 (brokers to Johnson Matthey) Chris Chambers Chris Sim Gavin Anderson & Company 020 7457 2345 (PR Advisers) Howard Lee Laura Hickman Salomon Brothers International Limited (trading as 'Schroder Salomon Smith Barney') and Credit Suisse First Boston de Zoete & Bevan Limited ('CSFB'), which are regulated in the United Kingdom by The Securities and Futures Authority Limited, are acting exclusively for Johnson Matthey and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Johnson Matthey for providing the protections afforded to its customers nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer. Salomon Smith Barney is a service mark of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Schroder is a trademark of Schroders Holdings plc and is used under licence by Salomon Brothers International Limited. This announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase any securities. The Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically or electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the United States, or in or into Canada, Australia or Japan and the Offer should not be accepted by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The Loan Notes to be issued pursuant to the Loan Note Alternative have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (as amended) or under any relevant securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States, nor have clearances been, nor will they be, obtained from the securities commission or similar authority of any province or territory of Canada and nor has a prospectus been, or will be filed, or registration made, under any securities law of any province or territory of Canada, nor has a prospectus in relation to the Loan Notes been, nor will one be, lodged with or registered by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission nor have any steps been taken, nor will any steps be taken, to enable the Loan Notes to be offered in compliance with applicable securities laws of Japan. Accordingly, unless an exemption under such Act or securities laws is available, Loan Notes may not be offered, sold, re-sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in, into or from the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which an offer of Loan Notes would constitute a violation of relevant laws or require registration thereof, or to or for the account or benefit of any US person or resident of Canada, Australia or Japan or any other such jurisdiction. Salomon Brothers International Limited (trading as Schroder Salomon Smith Barney) is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Securities and Futures Authority Limited. Salomon Smith Barney is a service mark of Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Schroders is a trademark of Schroders Holdings PLC and is used under licence.
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