New Ascot License

Ascot PLC
6 March 2001



Date                   6 March 2001

Contact                Howard Dyer, Executive Chairman
                       Ascot Plc                              020 7815 0805

                       David Bick
                       Holborn Public Relations               020 7929 5599
                                                 [e-mail]


                                  ASCOT PLC

                                ASCOT LICENSES

              NOYORI ASYMMETRIC KETONE HYDROGENATION TECHNOLOGY


In a ground breaking deal of its kind, Professor Noyori of the world-renowned
Nagoya University in Japan and the Japan Science and Technology Corporation
(JST) have licensed to Ascot's fine chemicals subsidiary, ChiroTech, the
transfer and pressure hydrogenation technologies for the asymmetric
hydrogenation of ketones into chiral alcohols discovered and developed by
Professor Noyori.

Marking a key stage in a relationship with Noyori and JST ongoing since 1998,
the deal represents the first time that a Western fine chemicals company has
licensed the rights to such technology for use at commercial scale.

Pressure hydrogenation and particularly hydrogenation transfer catalysis are
key technologies in the cost effective production of chiral alcohols, one of
the most widely used classes of advanced intermediates in pharmaceutical
synthesis.  It is recognised that this technology is an optimum route for
commercial scale manufacture.

In combination with its own internal proprietary technology and broad
expertise in chemical synthesis, Ascot, through ChiroTech, is already applying
the technology to a range of in-house and bespoke client projects.



Howard Dyer, Chairman of Ascot plc, commented



'This license consolidates ChiroTech's position as the market leader in the
application of asymmetric hydrogenation technology.  Professor Noyori is an
acknowledged world authority in asymmetric catalysis and a key member of our
technology advisory panel.



'We are honoured that Professor Noyori and his colleagues have granted us the
opportunity to fully exploit this technology on a global basis.'


Adding to the announcement, Professor Noyori said



'We are very pleased that we have been able to license this technology to
ChiroTech.  They have consistently demonstrated their ability to develop
commercial applications and improve and develop new global markets for
catalytic based technologies.  My colleagues and I look forward to seeing our
technology used to provide important manufacturing solutions in the life
science industry and to build a long and successful relationship with Ascot.'





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