Acquisition of Packard Press Inc

St. Ives PLC
16 May 2000

                      ACQUISITION OF PACKARD PRESS INC

St Ives is pleased to announce the acquisition of Packard Press Inc
('Packard'), a privately owned US printer serving the corporate financial,
funds and commercial markets. Packard has offices in New York City and 
Philadelphia and a manufacturing facility in Marlton, New Jersey. Its annual
turnover is approximately $27 million and net assets at the date of 
acquisition are expected to be approximately $3 million. The acquisition of 
Packard is conditional only on the expiry of the necessary waiting period
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act of the USA. Substantially all the
consideration will be paid in cash at completion, which is expected to take
place on 31 May 2000.

The acquisition of Packard will enhance the position of Burrups, St Ives
existing corporate financial printing business, as a major force in
international corporate financial print markets. The business of Packard
will be integrated with that of Burrups and the combined business will trade
in international corporate finance markets under the Burrups name and as
Burrups Packard in domestic US markets. As a result of the acquisition
Burrups will have in place full facilities to serve the needs of its
customers not only in the UK and USA, but also worldwide through its existing
facilities in Paris, Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Tokyo.


  Enquiries:    Brian Edwards, Managing Director    St Ives plc
                                                  020 7928 8844

              Duncan Murray                       Citigate Dewe Rogerson
                                                  020 7638 9571