Disclosure of interests

19/12/2002

On 5 December 2002 the Company received notification from HSBC Bank plc that, as a result of the transfer of the investment banking business of HSBC Investment Bank plc to HSBC Bank plc, HSBC Investment Bank plc and its holding company, HSBC Investment Bank Holdings plc no longer held a notifiable interest in the Company and as at the close of business on 1 December 2002, HSBC Bank plc held 5,000,000 ordinary shares in the Company, representing 6.13% of the issued share capital.

Further to this, the Company has today been informed that, as at 3 December 2002, HSBC Bank plc held 4,750,000 ordinary shares in the Company, representing 5.82% of the issued share capital of the Company. Following the admission to trading of the 2,650,000 shares the subject of a placing on 5 December, this will represent 5.64% of the issued share capital of the Company.

Further Enquiries:
Dr Marc Pinter-Krainer
CEO, Knowledge Technology Solutions 020 7256 2300