Dividend Declaration

Personal Group Holdings PLC
25 February 2004



25 February 2004



                       PERSONAL GROUP HOLDINGS PLC


Acquisition of Partake Services Limited for a maximum consideration of £488,392
and second interim dividend announcement


Second interim dividend

The Directors of Personal Group Holdings PLC ('Personal Group'), the employee
benefits provider, are pleased to report that company performance for the year
ended 31 December 2003 is ahead of market expectations and announce that a
second interim dividend of 5p per share (2002: 3.85p), in respect of the year
ended 31 December 2003, will be paid on 24 March 2004 to members on the register
on 5 March 2004.

Shares will be marked ex-dividend on 3 March 2004. In the absence of unforeseen
circumstances, the directors expect to recommend a final dividend in respect of
the year ended 31 December 2003 for approval at the Annual General Meeting to be
held on 27 April 2004. As the strong solvency position of the group has been
maintained, the directors anticipate that they will continue the policy of three
dividend payments a year for the foreseeable future. The Company will announce
its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2003 on 31 March 2004.



Acquisition

Personal Group has also acquired the entire issued share capital of Partake
Services Limited ('Partake').

Partake is a software provider which has, in particular, developed the software
system that Personal Group uses for its Perflex on line flexible benefit
solution.  In addition, it has developed other software systems that serve the
property market.

The consideration for the acquisition is to be satisfied by £30,000 in cash and
the issue of 122,221 ordinary shares in Personal Group to the vendors,  provided
certain key employees of Partake remain with Personal Group Holdings for 3 years
following the acquisition.  Additionally a further 138,888 shares are payable,
contingent on Partake achieving profits before tax of £100,000 in the year to 31
December 2006.   The maximum consideration, excluding the value of future
dividends on the shares, is £488,392 based on the average mid market closing
share price of 175.556p during the three months preceding this announcement.

Christopher Johnston, Chairman and Chief Executive, of Personal Group,
commented:

'This small acquisition brings with it sophisticated software skills
particularly in regard to internet platforms, which are increasingly the forum
through which flex benefits are being accessed by employees and I believe will
become increasingly dominant over the medium term.  Bringing internet related
software expertise in-house, adds to our capability.'

'In the longer term, the service platforms aimed at the property market add to
the range of benefits we are able to offer and have the ability to attract
further clients for our financial advisory business '.

The vendors include Patrick Johnston and David Johnston, who are respectively
Christopher Johnston's nephew and brother.

In the year to 31 December 2003 Partake made losses before tax of £72,481 on
sales of  £251,833.  The company commenced trading in 1999 and has developed
proprietary software systems that service the property market, in particular a
system that allows for the multiple listing of houses for sale through estate
agents and for creating home information packs in line with the recently
announced Government initiatives.




Enquiries to:

Personal Group Holdings PLC
Christopher Johnston                                   Tel: [phone]
Chairman


John Barber
Finance Director                                    Tel: [phone]


Bankside Consultants
Simon Rothschild/Ian Seaton              Tel: [phone]


Background note

The Personal Group was established in 1984, and is one of the UK's leading
providers of employee benefit solutions to major employers in the UK. It offers
solutions for both flexible and voluntary benefits including the integration of
current benefits, online choice capability, full communication including
worksite presentation, total administration and bespoke benefit book
publication.

Personal Groups range of services include:

Employee benefit solutions

Accident and health insurance

General health insurance

Independent financial advice

Personal Group has an unbroken 18 year history of profitable trading and net
asset growth.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange