RNS Number:3783K
Darby Group PLC
25 April 2003

Not for release, publication or distribution in or into United States, Canada,
Australia or Japan



Cash Offer by Strand Partners on behalf of Jarvis Porter Group PLC for the whole
of the issued and to be issued share capital of Darby Group Plc ("Offer")



Jarvis Porter has announced yesterday that, as at 3.00 pm on 24 April 2003
(being the first closing date of the Offer), valid acceptances of the Offer had
been received in respect of 20,182,125 Darby Shares, representing approximately
73.03 per cent. of the current issued ordinary share capital of Darby.  This
amount includes the irrevocable undertaking in respect of 8,262,799 Darby Shares
and letters of intent in respect of 1,450,000 Darby Shares, totalling 35.15 per
cent. of the current issued ordinary share capital of Darby.



On 24 April 2003 Jarvis Porter announced they had acquired in aggregate
4,135,000 Darby Shares representing 14.96 per cent of the current issued
ordinary share capital of Darby.



Therefore the total number of Darby Shares held by Jarvis Porter is 24,317,125
Darby Shares representing approximately 87.99 per cent. of the current issued
ordinary share capital of Darby.



As a consequence of Jarvis Porter Group plc having received acceptances in
excess of 50 per cent, the Offer has been declared unconditional in all
respects.



As the Offer has been declared unconditional in all respects,  the Independent
Directors have now decided to accept the Offer in respect of their own Darby
Shares amounting in total to 73,500 Darby Shares representing 0.27% of the
current issued ordinary share capital of Darby.  Furthermore the Independent
Directors recommend Darby Shareholders that they should also now accept the
Offer and they should do this as soon as possible.



The Offer has been extended and will remain open until further notice.



Terms defined in the Offer Document dated 3 April 2003 have the same meanings
when used herein unless the context requires otherwise.


Enquiries
Independent Directors of Darby                              Tel: (01724) 280 044
Stephen Knight
Hugh Hayes
Stephen Bannister

Arbuthnot Securities Limited                                Tel: (0121) 710 4500
(Financial Adviser to the Independent Directors of Darby)
Kevin Wilson
Susan Brice



The Independent Directors accept responsibility for the information contained in
this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Independent
Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that this is the case)
such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything
likely to affect the import of such information.



This announcement has been approved solely for the purpose of section 21 of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by Arbuthnot Securities Ltd of Temple
Court, 35 Bull Street, Birmingham, B4 6ES.



This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or invitation
to purchase any securities.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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