RNS Number:2600I
Thistle Hotels PLC
04 March 2003







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



4 March 2003


                      THISTLE HOTELS PLC ("THISTLE")
             REJECTION OF BIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED'S ("BIL") OFFER



The Board of Thistle* has consulted with its advisers to consider today's
announcement of an unsolicited offer for Thistle by BIL at 115 pence per share.
It notes that BIL intends to retain the proposed final dividend of 3.4 pence per
Thistle share announced yesterday. The Board strongly believes that this offer
is opportunistic and totally fails to recognise the underlying value of Thistle.



The Board of Thistle, along with its advisers, continues to focus on the best
strategic options to deliver value for all shareholders.



The Board of Thistle will provide detailed advice to its shareholders in due
course.



In the meantime Thistle shareholders should take no action in relation to their
Thistle shares.



Enquiries:


Thistle Hotels Plc                                                              Telephone:  020 7895 2304

Ian Burke, Chief Executive Officer


Merrill Lynch International                                                     Telephone:  020 7995 2000
Simon Mackenzie-Smith, Managing Director
Richard Nourse, Managing Director


Deutsche Bank                                                                   Telephone:  020 7545 8000
Charles Wilkinson, Managing Director, Corporate Broking


Hogarth Partnership Limited                                                     Telephone:  020 7357 9477
Nick Denton
Chelsea Hayes



* The Board of Thistle for these purposes comprises all of the directors of
Thistle, other than Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan and Mr Arun Amarsi, who in view of
their positions as directors of BIL have not participated in the deliberations
of the Thistle board in relation to BIL's offer.



Merrill Lynch International and Deutsche Bank AG are acting for Thistle Hotels
plc and for no-one else in connection with BIL's offer for Thistle Hotels plc
and will not be responsible to anyone other than Thistle Hotels plc for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Merrill Lynch International or
Deutsche Bank AG or for providing advice in relation to such offer.



END


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