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The Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, PLC ("W&DB")

Recommended cash offer for English Country Inns PLC ("ECI")

The boards of W&DB and ECI are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash offer for ECI to be made by McQueen Limited on behalf of W&DB.

The Offer will be 128 pence in cash for each ECI Share, valuing ECI’s existing share capital at approximately £13.65 million.

W&DB has received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer, including from the directors of ECI in respect of 62,000 ECI Shares, representing approximately 0.58 per cent of the existing issued share capital of ECI.

The acquisition is consistent with W&DB’s strategy of expanding its estate where suitable opportunities occur that meet its returns criteria.  ECI provides a good geographic fit with its Pathfinder Pubs division, operational benefits through scale and opportunities for cost savings.

For further information please contact:

George Fleet
McQueen Limited
020 7484 8800

This summary should be read in conjunction with the full text of the announcement below:

http://www.companyannouncements.net/cgi-bin/articles/200508240700134202Q.html