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4 December 2009 

MINERVA ANNOUNCES THE RE APPOINTMENT OF

OLIVER WHITEHEAD AS NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

Minerva plc ("Minerva" or the "Company") announces that, following a Board Meeting this afternoon, Oliver Whitehead has been reappointed as a Director of Minerva plc with immediate effect to act as Chairman during the course of the unsolicited offer from KiFin Limited. This follows the announcement earlier today that, at Minerva's Annual General Meeting ("AGM"), the Resolution to re-elect Oliver Whitehead (Chairman) as a Director of the Company was not passed. 

During KiFin Limited's unsolicited offer for the Company, the Board believes that the interests of all shareholders should be protected and the role of a strong, independent Chairman is the most important aspect of this. Excluding the vote of KiFin, whose unsolicited offer for the Company has been rejected by the Board, 99.86% of shareholders voting at the AGM supported the re-election of Oliver Whitehead. Under these circumstances, and given the near unanimous support of those shareholders who voted other than KiFin, the Board has decided that it is appropriate to re-appoint Oliver Whitehead as Chairman.  

Oliver Whitehead was first appointed to the Board of Minerva in July 2006. He is also currently Chairman of Norland Managed Services Limited. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of Alfred McAlpine from May 1993 to August 2003 and from then until June 2007 was Chairman of Alfred McAlpine. He was formerly Group Chief Executive of Babcock International Group plc.

There are no other details which need to be notified under paragraph 9.6.13 of the Listing Rules.

John Matthews, Senior Independent Director of Minerva, commented:

"The Board is very disappointed by this deliberately disruptive behaviour by a shareholder that has made a bid for the Company. We have decided to reappoint Oliver as Chairman during the course of the unsolicited offer as it is critical that all shareholders' interests are protected. We are pleased that Oliver has agreed to the reappointment."

Enquiries: 

Greenhill & Co. International LLP      020 7198 7400

James Lupton

Brian Cassin

Citigroup Global Markets                  020 7986 4000

Andrew Forrester

Brunswick Group                             020 7404 5959

Simon Sporborg

Tom Williams

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