RNS Number:6217T
Chaucer Holdings PLC
23 December 2003

For immediate release                                           23 December 2003

                              CHAUCER HOLDINGS PLC

                           EXERCISE OF SHARE OPTIONS

Chaucer Holdings PLC ('Chaucer') has today issued 1,405,844 new ordinary shares
of 25 pence each in the Company, which will be admitted to listing and to
trading next week. 1,335,844 of these shares were issued pursuant to an option
at 32 pence per share granted to Numis Securities Limited ("Numis") under the
terms of Schedule 6 of the Placing and Open Offer Agreement dated 10.4.03
between Chaucer and Numis.

In addition, a former employee was, under the terms of the Chaucer Approved
Share Option Scheme, granted 45,000 and 25,000 options at an exercise price of
32 pence and 34 pence respectively. 70,000 new ordinary 25 pence shares will be
issued to him.

Following the allotment of these shares, the total number of Chaucer shares in
issue will be 290,465,169.



Enquiries:

Philip Osman
Company Secretary
Chaucer Holdings PLC
Tel: 020 7397 9777



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