Investec plc : Neontar Limited

Investec Limited Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Registration number 1925/002833/06       JSE share code: INL              ISIN: ZAE000081949

Investec plc Incorporated in England and Wales Registration number 3633621 JSE share code: INP ISIN: GB00B17BBQ50

(jointly "Investec")

As part of the dual listed company structure, Investec plc and Investec Limited notify both the London Stock Exchange and the JSE Limited of matters which are required to be disclosed under the Disclosure, Transparency and Listing Rules of the United Kingdom Listing Authority (the "UKLA") and/or the JSE Listing Requirements.

Accordingly, we advise of the following:

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

Investec plc has entered into a share purchase agreement pursuant to which its wholly owned subsidiary, Investec Holdings (Ireland) Limited ("Investec Ireland"), will acquire a majority interest in Neontar Limited (the "SPA"). Neontar Limited owns the NCB Group ("NCB"), one of Ireland's leading corporate finance and wealth and investment firms.

Investec Ireland will also make an offer (the "Offer") to acquire all of the ordinary shares of Neontar Limited from those shareholders of Neontar Limited who are not party to the SPA.

The consideration for the shares will be an amount equal to EURO4.35 million plus the net asset value of Neontar Limited as at completion, to be satisfied by Investec Ireland in cash. There may also be deferred payments to the sellers, dependant on the recovery of certain amounts by NCB. Net asset value of Neontar Limited is estimated to be EURO28 million.  At the election of Investec, the consideration may alternatively be satisfied by the issue of ordinary or preference shares by Investec plc, or a combination of cash and shares.

The sellers under the SPA are Quinn Financial Services Holdings Limited, Narcissus Limited, Conor O'Kelly, Ben Conte, Breffni Byrne, Martin Doyle, Paul Chew, John Sheehan, Alan Duff, Nigel Poynton, Greg Dilger, Eddie Clarke, Tommy Conway, Brian Delaney, Liam Booth, Graham O'Brien, Ed Murray, Brian Bolger, Bobby Hasset, Andrew Ennis, Michael Murphy, Fiona Mulhall, Paul Cullinane, James Sheeran.

The SPA is conditional, inter alia, on Investec acquiring, prior to completion, 100 per cent of Neontar Limited pursuant to the SPA and the Offer and on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, with completion expected during the second quarter of 2012.

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This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom.

Any securities to be issued by Investec plc as described in this announcement have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities laws of any state, district or other jurisdiction of the United States, or of Australia, Canada or Japan.