SENNAH ESTATE

ROWE EVANS INVESTMENTS PLC OIL PALM AND RUBBER PLANTATIONS IN INDONESIA RE SENNAH ESTATE LAWSUIT As referred to in note 25 of the 2003 annual report, on 9 December 2003 DR H Rahmat Shah, the 20% shareholder of PT Sembada Sennah Maju, the owner of Sennah Estate, filed a lawsuit against its 80% shareholder, PT Pangkatan Indonesia, which is 80% owned by Rowe Evans Investments PLC. Sennah Estate consists of 1,813 hectares and forms part of the Group's own plantation areas of 10,014 hectares and 29,044 hectares owned by associated companies. This lawsuit demands that the sale and purchase agreement dated 19 March 2002, by which PT Pangkatan Indonesia acquired its 80% holding in PT Sembada Sennah Maju, is cancelled. The case was heard in the Medan District Court on 12 May 2004 and, to the board's disappointment, the judge found in favour of DR H Rahmat Shah ordering that the shares are handed back to him and that he repays the purchase consideration of some US$3.61 million to PT Pangkatan Indonesia within twelve months. The board and its Indonesian lawyers remain strongly of the opinion that there is no legal basis to the lawsuit. Accordingly, an immediate appeal has been lodged with the High Court of Medan and the status quo remains with regard to the ownership of the shares in PT Sembada Sennah Maju and the ownership and management of Sennah Estate. By order of the board M.P. Evans (UK) Limited Secretaries 18 May 2004
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