Placing and Open Offer at 590p per Share

Aortech International PLC
1 February 2000

                               
                   AORTECH INTERNATIONAL PLC
                               
  Placing and Open Offer of  3,007,922 New Ordinary Shares at
                        590p per share
           to raise £ 17.14 million (net of expenses)


AorTech  International plc, ('AorTech' or 'the  Company')  the
Scottish-based   manufacturer   of   cardiovascular    devices
announces  that  it  proposes  to raise  approximately  £17.14
million  (net of expenses) by way of a Placing and Open  Offer
of 3,007,922 New Ordinary Shares at 590p per share.

The funds raised will be used principally:

*    to provide funds for the marketing of TruCOMMS
*    to  provide funds for clinical trials in both Europe & US
     of the new tri-leaflet heart valve;

In  addition the Company will continue its policy of aiming to
acquire  products  and/or  technologies  consistent  with  the
Company's  strategy  which is to be at the  forefront  of  the
cardiovascular market

The Placing and Open Offer are conditional on, inter alia, the
passing of resolutions at an Extraordinary General Meeting  of
the Company to be held on 25 February 2000.

Commenting  on  the  Proposed Placing and Open  Offer,  Gordon
Wright, Chairman said:

'We  are  raising  the  funds to build  upon  the  significant
progress made to date.

'Clinical trials for TruCCOM are ongoing and the Directors are
in  the  process of selecting sites in the USA and Europe  for
tests  in  intensive  care units and operating  theatres.  The
first  phase  of  the animal trials for our tri-leaflet  valve
which commenced in November 1999 is continuing successfully.'

                                             1st February 2000
For further information contact:

AorTech  International plc               Tel:  [phone]
Eddie McDaid

Bell  Lawrie                             Tel:  [phone]
Clive Thomson

College Hill                             Tel: [phone]
Michael Padley


      For further information, visit AorTech's website at
                        www.aortech.com
                  AorTech International PLC:
                               
  Placing and Open Offer of 3,007,922 New Ordinary Shares at
                        590p per share
           to raise £17.14 million (net of expenses)

AorTech International plc ('AorTech' or 'the Company')
                               
AorTech,   the  AIM  quoted  Scottish-based  manufacturer   of
cardiovascular  devices announced today that  the  Company  is
proposing to issue 3,007,922 New Ordinary Shares at a price of
590p  per  share to raise approximately £17.14  million  after
expenses.   The  New  Ordinary Shares are being  conditionally
placed by Bell Lawrie Wise Speke with institutional investors,
however Qualifying Shareholders are being invited to apply for
these New Ordinary Shares, at the Placing Price, by way of the
Open  Offer.   The Placing and Open Offer are conditional  on,
inter  alia,  the  passing of resolutions at an  Extraordinary
General Meeting of the Company to be held on 25 February 2000.
The  following is a summary of developments which  have  taken
place  since the announcement of the Interim Results  for  the
period to 30 September 1999 which were released on 15 December
1999.

Future Prospects, as per the Interim Statement

The acquisition and development of TruCCOMS, together with the
continued  development  of  the new  trileaflet  heart  valve,
demonstrates our determination not only to expand further  the
Company's  product  base  but  also  to  introduce  innovative
products  to  the  medical device market with,  the  Directors
believe,  significant profit potential.  Obtaining  regulatory
approval for TruCCOMS together with the commencement of  sales
of  this  product will have a substantial benefit on the  long
term future growth of AorTech.

The  Directors  are particularly excited about  the  continued
good  results from the trileaflet heart valve development  and
look forward to the progress of this project during the course
of  the next twelve months and to the commencement of clinical
trials  in patients in 2001.  The Directors believe that  this
will have a further significant impact on the performance  and
future prospects of the Company.

Given  the  Company's  prospects and  plans  for  growth,  the
Directors  are examining the merits of a range of stockmarkets
on  which the Company's shares might be traded.  These include
the  Official  List, with the option of joining techMARK,  and
NASDAQ in the USA.

Current Developments and Use of Net Proceeds

Since  the announcement of the Interim Results for the  period
to  30 September 1999 which were released on 15 December 1999,
trading has continued satisfactorily.

Clinical trials for TruCCOMS are ongoing and the Directors are
in  the  process of selecting sites in the USA and Europe  for
tests  in  intensive care units and operating  theatres.   The
first  phase  of  the trials for the tri-leaflet  valve  which
commenced in November 1999 is continuing successfully.



Discussions  are  underway  with  the  appropriate  regulatory
bodies  regarding the clinical trials necessary for  achieving
FDA  approval and a CE mark for the valve and sites are  being
sought for patient clinical trials in both the USA and Europe.
The  Directors have concluded heads of terms to acquire a  new
facility, which will adjoin the Company's existing facility in
Scotland, where the Company can carry out the final  phase  of
testing and the manufacturing process for the valve.

The Directors are aware that to develop the true potential  of
the new projects access to significant funds is essential.  In
particular, product marketing of TruCCOMS and clinical  trials
of   the   new   tri-leaflet  heart  valve  will   necessitate
substantial commitment.

The  Placing and Open Offer will result in cash proceeds  (net
of  expenses)  of approximately £17.14 million which  will  be
used principally to provide funding for:

* the product 'roll-out' and marketing of TruCCOMS; and

* clinical trials on patients and regulatory approvals in both
  Europe and the USA for the new heart valve project.

The  Directors are continuing with their policy of  aiming  to
acquire   products  and/or  technology  consistent  with   the
Company's  strategy  which is to be at the  forefront  of  the
global market for cardiovascular devices and treatments.

Placing and Open Offer

3,007,922  New Ordinary Shares are being conditionally  placed
by Bell Lawrie Wise Speke with institutional investors, at the
Placing   Price,   subject  to  clawback  to   satisfy   valid
applications  from  Qualifying  Shareholders  under  the  Open
Offer.   Under  the  Open Offer, Qualifying Shareholders  will
have the right to subscribe for:

       1 New Ordinary Share for every 8 Ordinary Shares
                               
held  on the Record Date of 21 January 2000 at a price of 590p
per  share.   Certain  shareholders including  Mr  McDaid  and
companies  owned by the trustees for trusts, the beneficiaries
of  which include Mr Wright and Mr McDaid  have undertaken not
to  apply  for  their pro rata entitlements  of  New  Ordinary
Shares  under  the Open Offer to the extent of  1,620,527  New
Ordinary shares (representing approximately 54% of the  Issue)
and   accordingly,   Bell  Lawrie  Wise  Speke   has   agreed,
conditionally,  to place these shares firm with  institutional
investors.  Melody Investments Ltd, a company owned by a trust
of  which  Mr  McDaid is a beneficiary have  agreed  to  place
100,000  Ordinary Shares with institutional investors  at  the
Placing  Price.  Messrs McKenna, Madden, Duijst,  Cameron  and
Gray  will be applying for their entitlements in full.  Messrs
Lowinger,  Madden and Gray have indicated their  intention  to
act  as  placees in respect of 5085, 847 and 1000 New Ordinary
Shares respectively under the Placing.

Further Information

A  Prospectus setting out, inter alia,  details of the Placing
and  Open Offer and containing the notice of the Extraordinary
General  Meeting  together with the recommendations  from  the
Board  to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed  at
the  EGM will be despatched to shareholders later today.   The
Prospectus  will be accompanied by a personalised  application
form  (which may not be split or transferred except to satisfy
bona  fide market claims) and a form of proxy for use  at  the
EGM.   The  latest  time  and date for  receipt  of  completed
application forms and payment in full under the Open Offer  is
3.00  p.m. on 23 February 2000.  The latest time and date  for
splitting  of  application forms is 3.00 p.m. on  21  February
2000.   Dealings are expected to commence in the New  Ordinary
Shares on AIM on 2 March  and 3 March 2000.

                          DEFINITIONS


                    
'AIM'               the Alternative Investment Market of the
                    London Stock Exchange
                    
'Bell Lawrie Wise   Bell Lawrie Wise Speke (a division of
Speke'              Brewin Dolphin Securities Limited which
                    is regulated by the Securities and
                    Futures Authority Limited)
                    
'Board' or          the Directors of AorTech International
'Directors'         plc
                    
'Extraordinary      the Extraordinary General Meeting of the
General Meeting' or Company convened for 10.30 a.m. on  25
'EGM'               February 2000 pursuant to the notice set
                    out at the end of this document
                    
'Group'             AorTech International plc and its
                    subsidiaries
                    
'New Ordinary       the Ordinary Shares of 25p each in the
Shares'             capital of the Company to be allotted
                    pursuant to the Placing and Open Offer
                    
'Qualifying         the holders of Ordinary Shares on the
Shareholders'       register of members of the Company on the
                    Record Date other than certain overseas
                    holders
                    
'Record Date'       close of business on 21 January 2000


Copies of this statement will be available for a period of 14 days
    from the Company's registered office: Phoenix Crescent,
    Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill, Scotland ML4 3NU.