Market Purchases

Johnson,Matthey PLC
21 June 2001

                                                                             
 Not for release, distribution or publication in whole or in part in or into
                     the USA, Canada, Australia or Japan
                                                                             
                                                                 21 June 2001
                                                                             
                                                                             
                   Johnson Matthey plc ('Johnson Matthey')
             Recommended cash offer for Meconic plc ('Meconic')
                                      
                                      
                                      
                              Market purchases

Further  to the announcement this morning of the recommended cash  offer  for
Meconic  (the  'Offer'),  Johnson  Matthey announces  that  it  has  acquired
10,800,000  Meconic ordinary shares, representing 29.7% of Meconic's  current
issued share capital, at 405 pence per share in the market.


Enquiries

Johnson Matthey plc
John Sheldrick                                       020 7269 8403
David Morgan                                         020 7269 8454


Schroder Salomon Smith Barney                        020 7986 4000
(financial adviser to Johnson Matthey)
James Steel
Jan Skarbek

Credit Suisse First Boston de Zoete & Bevan Limited  020 7888 8888
(brokers to Johnson Matthey)
Chris Chambers
Chris Sim

Salomon  Brothers International Limited (trading as 'Schroder  Salomon  Smith
Barney')  and  Credit Suisse First Boston de Zoete & Bevan Limited  ('CSFB'),
which  are  regulated  in  the United Kingdom by The Securities  and  Futures
Authority Limited, are acting exclusively for Johnson Matthey and no one else
in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Johnson  Matthey for providing the protections afforded to its customers  nor
for  providing advice in relation to the Offer.  Salomon Smith  Barney  is  a
service  mark  of  Salomon  Smith Barney Inc.  Schroder  is  a  trademark  of
Schroders  Holdings  plc  and  is  used under  licence  by  Salomon  Brothers
International Limited.


Salomon Brothers International Limited (trading as Schroder Salomon Smith
Barney) is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Securities and Futures
Authority Limited.  Salomon Smith Barney is a service mark of Salomon Smith
Barney Inc.  Schroders is a trademark of Schroders Holdings PLC and is used
under licence.