HARTEST HOLDINGS PLC

Extension to PUSU Deadline

On 31 December 2009, the deadline imposed upon Delta Controls Limited ("Delta") to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Hartest Holdings Plc ("Hartest" or "Company") under Rule 2.5 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for Hartest, was extended to 5.00pm on Monday, 1 February 2010.  

On 12 January 2010, Delta announced that agreement in principle had been reached with the board of Hartest with a view to Delta making a cash offer for the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of Hartest at a price of 69 pence per share and that Delta had received a letter of intent from Elektron plc ("Elektron") to enter into an irrevocable undertaking to accept an offer, when made, at 69 pence per share. Elektron holds the voting control over 1,992,722 ordinary shares representing 23.2 per cent of the existing voting share capital of Hartest.  The announcement further stated that the possible offer was conditional, inter alia, upon the board of Hartest Holdings suspending the proposed interim dividend of 0.67 pence per share.  As the record date for the interim dividend has now passed the board of Hartest has agreed that Delta's offer, if made, will be subject to a minimum price per share 68.33 pence in cash.

Since 31 December 2009, discussions between Delta and Hartest have continued in good faith and significant progress has been made in the due diligence process required by Delta and its bankers.  However, due to the necessary approval process by Delta's bank, this process has not yet been completed and, as the proposed Offer will be partially funded by a banking facility made available to Delta, it is not possible for Delta to make an offer by the existing deadline.

The board of Hartest continue to believe that a cash offer by Delta, should it be made, will be worthy of shareholder consideration and, having regard to the progress made and the limited additional work required, have agreed to Delta's request to extend the deadline by which Delta must make their offer to 5.00pm on 22 February 2010.

Shareholders are reminded that there can be no certainty that an offer will be made for the Company and further announcements will be made in due course.

For further information

Geoff Spink                             Hartest Holdings Plc               01252 749 530

Executive Chairman

William Vandyk                       Astaire Securities Plc             020 7448 4400