Subsidiary, Bernard Ward Limited, Sold

Artisan (UK) PLC
23 February 2000

              Artisan (UK) plc ('Artisan')
                            
                 Disposal of Subsidiary



Artisan announces today that, as referred to in the Offer
Document  relating to its offer for Bickerton Group  plc,
it has sold its subsidiary, Bernard Ward Limited, to that
company's  management  team for a cash  consideration  of
£350,000.

Bernard Ward, an approved contractor to a number of local
authorities,   housing  associations  and  other   public
bodies,  contributed  £13,915 of profits  before  tax  on
turnover of £2,861,740 for the nine months to 31 December
1999.

In  the  opinion  of  the Directors  of  Artisan,  having
consulted with their Nominated Adviser, the terms of  the
transaction  are  fair  and  reasonable  so  far  as  the
shareholders of Artisan are concerned.