Acquisition Completed etc.

ARTISAN (UK) PLC 6 August 1999 Artisan (UK) plc Further to the announcement in the open offer document sent to shareholders on 17 June 1999, Artisan (UK) plc ('Artisan' or 'the Company') announces that it has today completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in Joseph Driver Building Limited ('Joseph Driver'). The Company has purchased outright 86% of the voting shares in Joseph Driver, for a payment of £1,158,309.80 of which £1,013,521.17 has been paid in cash and the balance of £144,788.73 satisfied by the issue of 1,782,015 Artisan ordinary shares to the Vendors. A further payment up to a maximum of £210,00 will be payable to the Vendors, dependent on the pre-tax profits achieved by Joseph Driver during the two years ending 31 March 2001. Any such further payment will be payable by 30 September 2001. At the same time, the Company has entered into put and call options to acquire all the remaining shares in Joseph Driver on the same terms. The option is exercisable by Artisan on or after 3 October 1999. Joseph Driver is a building and contracting company based in Tring, Hertfordshire. Its clients include a number of local authorities and housing associations, in London and the Home Counties. In the year ended 31 March 1999, Joseph Driver earned profits before tax of £144,003 and on that date had net assets of £1,267,750. The acquisition follows the successful conclusion to Artisan's recent Open Offer, which raised £3.32 million before expenses. Commenting on the acquisition, Artisan Chairman, Stephen Dean, said: 'Following our takeover of Bernard Ward Limited last year, the acquisition of Joseph Driver will further broaden the geographical and client base of the contracting side of our Group. It is another step in our strategy of building Artisan into a strong regional contracting group, complementing its development and leisure industry contracting divisions.' Application has been made for the 1,782,015 New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Dealings are expected to commence on 10 August 1999. For further information please contact: Artisan (UK) plc 01480 436666 Stephen Dean, Chairman Seymour Pierce 0171 648 8700 Sarah Wharry Boswell City Financial PR Ltd. 0171 583 2001 Glenda Boswell Mobile 0468 235 735