Offer Update

Peel Hldgs PLC 24 December 2002 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AT 7.00 A.M. ON 24 DECEMBER 2002 PEEL HOLDINGS P.L.C. RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER BY ROTHSCHILD ON BEHALF OF PEEL PORTS LIMITED (A SUBSIDIARY OF PEEL HOLDINGS P.L.C.) FOR CLYDEPORT PLC The Board of Peel announces that Peel's Offer for Clydeport has been declared unconditional as to acceptances and will remain open until further notice. The Loan Note Alternative will also remain open until further notice. Peel announces that by 3.00 p.m. on 23 December 2002, the second closing date of the Offer, valid acceptances had been received in respect of 34,572,887 Clydeport Shares, representing approximately 82.0 per cent. of the issued share capital of Clydeport. This includes valid acceptances in respect of all of the 325,518 Clydeport Shares, representing approximately 0.8 per cent. of the Clydeport Shares currently in issue, in respect of which Peel received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer. Such irrevocable undertakings included 282,000 Clydeport Shares, representing approximately 0.7 per cent. of the Clydeport Shares currently in issue, held by persons acting in concert with Peel. Immediately prior to the Offer, Peel Holdings held 3,384,000 Clydeport Shares, representing approximately 8.0 per cent. of the Clydeport Shares currently in issue. During the Offer Period, Peel Holdings has acquired 1,775,100 Clydeport Shares, representing approximately 4.2 per cent. of the Clydeport Shares currently in issue and has agreed to acquire a further 25,000 Clydeport Shares representing approximately 0.1 per cent. of the Clydeport Shares currently in issue. Accordingly, as at 3.00 p.m. on 23 December 2002 Peel Group had acquired during the Offer Period and has received valid acceptances of the Offer in respect of in aggregate 36,347,987 Clydeport Shares, representing approximately 86.3 per cent. of the Clydeport Shares currently in issue, and representing approximately 93.8 per cent. of the Clydeport Shares to which the Offer relates. Enquiries: Peel / Peel Holdings 0161 629 8200 Mr John Whittaker Mr Peter Scott Rothschild 0161 827 3800 Mr Richard Bailey Mr Andrew Simpson The definitions set out in the Offer Document dated 18 November 2002 apply to this announcement unless otherwise indicated. The Offer (including the Loan Note Alternative) will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, fax, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan and the Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan. Accordingly, copies of this announcement are not being, and must not be, mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan. The Loan Notes have not been, and will not be, listed on any stock exchange and have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act nor under the relevant securities laws of any province or territory of Canada, Australia or Japan. The Loan Notes may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan N M Rothschild & Sons Limited, which is regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Peel and Peel Holdings in connection with the Offer and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than Peel and Peel Holdings for providing the protections offered to clients of N M Rothschild & Sons Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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