Disposal

Tate & Lyle PLC
20 December 2001



         Tate & Lyle sells United Farmers and Industry Co Ltd (UFIC)

Tate & Lyle PLC ('Tate & Lyle') announces the sale of its 20.38% stake in
United Farmers and Industry Co Ltd ('UFIC') to a subsidiary of the majority
shareholder, the Mitr Phol Sugar Corporation. UFIC comprises two sugar
factories and ancillary businesses in Thailand. Tate & Lyle was a founding
investor in this business and a shareholder since 1983. 

The book value of Tate & Lyle's investment was £7.3 million at 31 March 2001.
The proceeds will be used to pay down group debt. 

The disposal is part of an ongoing effort to divest of non-core businesses and
reduces Tate & Lyle's Asian sugar interests to a majority holding in Nghe An
Tate & Lyle (which owns a sugar factory in Nghe An province, Vietnam) and
holdings in several sugar factories in China.


For more information contact:      Mark Robinson 020 7626 6525
                                   Chris Fox 020 7626 6525 (Press)