TED Ted Baker Plc

RNS No 1048j
TEPNEL LIFE SCIENCES PLC
21 June 1999

                       
                        TEPNEL BUYS FOOD TESTING BUSINESS
                                       
Tepnel Life Sciences PLC ("Tepnel") announces the acquisition from Cortecs plc
("Cortecs")  of  their  food diagnostics ("BioKits") and  Laboratory  Services
businesses. In future the acquired businesses will together be known as Tepnel
BioSystems Ltd.

The  purchase of these businesses will give Tepnel the ability to exploit food
testing  applications for its range of DNA technologies  and  provide  further
outlets  for  Tepnel's FARAS product range (ELISA kits  for  testing  for  the
presence of antibiotics in meat).

The  overall acquisition is for a consideration of #1,000,000 payable in cash.
The  net  assets  acquired, excluding the value attributable to  goodwill  and
"know-how",  are valued at #510,000. As part of the deal, 19  staff  based  in
Deeside,  North  Wales  will  transfer their employment  to  Tepnel.   Audited
financial  accounts for the year to 30 June 1998 show profits before  taxation
and  management  charges for the two acquired businesses  of  #96,920.   After
completion, Tepnel's cash reserves will be approximately #2.0 million.

Also  associated with this acquisition, Tepnel has been awarded a Welsh Office
grant of #150,000 in support of job creation.

The  BioKits  business,  established in  1984,  is  a  market  leader  in  the
development,  production  and marketing of a unique and  innovative  range  of
testing  kits  for  the  detection of allergens, additives,  contaminants  and
toxins in foods.

The  Laboratory Services business has provided an efficient, professional  and
confidential  microbiological,  analytical  chemistry  and  radiation  testing
service  for  over 12 years to the food, water and pharmaceutical  industries.
The  laboratory maintains internationally recognised accreditation via regular
UKAS inspections.

BioKits  will  provide Tepnel with  an established  customer  base in the food
testing  market,  a  strong  pipeline  for  new  products  and  revenue growth
opportunities through geographic expansion, particularly  into the US. It also
offers a new channel to market for Tepnel's FARAS product range.

The acquisition creates the opportunity to provide customers  with  both ELISA
(protein) and  DNA  technologies  dependent  upon their application.   It also
provides  better  access  to the genetically modified (GM) food testing market
for Tepnel's DNA analysis  technologies  as  well  as   additional   strategic
partnership opportunities.

Peter  Raymond, Chairman said:  "These acquisitions give Tepnel  an  important
market opportunity.  We will expand the  existing products   and  services  by
adding  Tepnel's  new  DNA-based technologies.

"BioKits  already  has  an established position  in  the  food testing  market
and  is  developing  an  innovative  range  of  new  rapid  testing  products.
Laboratory Services has an outstanding  reputation for delivering reliable and
cost-effective  analysis  to   the  food,  personal  care  and  pharmaceutical
industries. Both businesses will  contribute immediately  to  our  income  and
profits and generate a significant return on investment.

"The  opportunities  in  the  food  testing  market  are  increasing  rapidly,
particularly in respect of GM products.  We believe that the  market  for DNA
based  food   testing,  such  as  GMO  detection,  meat  analysis   and   food
contamination identification, represents a significant growth opportunity  and
these strategic acquisitions give us access to that market on a global scale.

"These acquisitions complement the long term  DNA  strategy of Tepnel  in  the
Life Sciences and  Clinical  Diagnostics  markets  and  provide  sales revenue
whilst clinical  technologies  are being commercialised."


For further information, please contact:

Tepnel Life Sciences PLC                                    Tel: 0161 445 9457
Peter Raymond, Chairman
Mike Billingham, Commercial Director
Jeremy Lee, Finance Director

Tepnel BioSystems Ltd                                       Tel:  01244 288888
Phil Goodwin, General Manager                               


Rawlings Financial PR Limited                               Tel: 0113 242 1500
John Rawlings
Catriona Valentine


END

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