Director Shareholding

Latham(James) PLC
16 December 2004

James Latham plc announces that on 15 December 2004, it purchased 50,000 of its
own ordinary £1 shares, at a price of 590 pence per share, to be held as
treasury shares. This is the only holding of treasury shares the Company has and
the number of shares remaining in the market is 4,990,000.



James Latham plc also wishes to announce that it was informed on 15 December
2004 that two directors of the Company also purchased shares in the Company on
the same day. Mr Roger Latham, Group Executive Chairman, purchased 10,000 shares
at 595 pence per share and is now beneficially interested in 117,857 shares,
representing approximately 2.4% of the reduced voting share capital available to
the market. Mr Peter Latham, Executive Director, purchased 8,000 shares at 595
pence per share and is now beneficially interested in 350,852 shares,
representing approximately 7.0% of the reduced voting share capital available to
the market.


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