Merger Update

ROWE EVANS INVESTMENTS PLC
Oil palm and rubber plantations in Indonesia




Rowe Evans Investments PLC ("REI")
Bertam Holdings PLC ("Bertam")
Lendu Holdings PLC ("Lendu")


The  boards  of  REI,  Bertam and Lendu announce that they  are  in  preliminary
discussions  which may or may not lead to proposals for an amalgamation  of  the
three  companies by way of two schemes of arrangement. The basis of any eventual
amalgamation is likely to be related to the respective companies' asset  values.
It is anticipated that any such combination would be by way of a share for share
exchange.

Discussions  are  at  an  early stage and there can be  no  certainty  that  any
agreement will be reached.

A further announcement will be made in due course.


By order of the board
M.P.Evans (UK) Limited
Secretaries
31 August 2004


Enquiries:   Philip Fletcher
             Peter Hadsley-Chaplin
             Telephone:      [phone]
             Fax:            01892 5418639
             E-mail:         [e-mail]