26 August 2008

QUALCERAM SHIRES PLC 

OFFER TALKS TERMINATED

Qualceram Shires plc ("Qualceram" or the "Company") announced on 20 March 2008 that the Board of Qualceram had received "an unsolicited preliminary expression of interest from a third party to acquire the Company which may or may not lead to a formal offer being made to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company". 

Since this announcement, Qualceram in conjunction with its advisers Davy Corporate Finance held thorough and detailed discussions with a number of potentially interested parties regarding an offer for the entire share capital of the Company.

The position of potential buyers and current valuation levels have been negatively impacted by the continued deterioration in the UK and Irish construction markets, the general downturn in the economy, credit market conditions and uncertainty surrounding a recovery in the Company's key markets. These factors have restricted the ability of the parties who expressed an initial interest in making an offer for the Company, and with whom the Board has engaged during the last five months, to make acceptable offers.

As a result, the Board is terminating the process and Qualceram can confirm that it has ended discussions with potential buyers.

The directors of Qualceram accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this announcement for which they take responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Davy Corporate Finance, which is regulated in Ireland by the Financial Regulator, is acting as financial adviser to Qualceram and no one else in connection with the matters referred to in this announcement and will not be responsible to any person other than Qualceram for providing the protections afforded to the clients of Davy Corporate Finance or for providing advice in relation to the matters referred to herein.

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