Further re Acquisition

Benchmark Group PLC
21 June 2004

Not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part in or into the
                   United States, Canada, Australia or Japan

                                                                    21 JUNE 2004

        RECOMMENDED ACQUISITION OF BENCHMARK GROUP PLC BY GE REAL ESTATE

                            COURT SANCTION OF SCHEME

Benchmark and GE Real Estate are pleased to announce that, earlier today, the
Court sanctioned the Scheme pursuant to which GE Real Estate is to acquire
control of Benchmark and confirmed the reduction of capital involved therein.
Accordingly, all the conditions of the Scheme have been satisfied or waived
other than relating to the delivery and registration of the Court Order by the
Registrar of Companies.

The Scheme is expected to become effective on 1 July 2004 (in which case, the
last day of dealings in the Benchmark Shares and Benchmark CULS is expected to
be 30 June 2004) and, providing this is the case, the consideration will be paid
not later than 8 July 2004.

Terms used in this announcement have the same meanings given to them in Part 6
of the Scheme Document, which was posted to Benchmark Shareholders and Benchmark
CULS Holders on 30 April 2004.

Press Enquiries

Morgan Stanley                                           Tel: [phone]
(Financial adviser to GE Real Estate)
Mark Warham
Jonathan Lane


Financial Dynamics                                       Tel: [phone]
(Public relations adviser to GE Real Estate)
Stephanie Highett
Dido Laurimore


Benchmark                                                Tel: [phone]
K.C. Wong (Independent Director)
Nigel Kempner (Chief Executive)


HSBC                                                     Tel: [phone]
(Financial adviser to Benchmark
Charles Packshaw
Charles Ashton
(Corporate broker to Benchmark)
Heraclis Economides


Tavistock Communications Limited                         Tel: [phone]
(Public relations adviser to Benchmark)
Jeremy Carey



Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited is acting exclusively for GE PCI and GE Capital and
no-one else in connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to
anyone other than GE PCI and GE Capital for providing the protections afforded
to clients of Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited or for providing advice in connection
with the Acquisition.

HSBC Bank plc, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial
Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Benchmark and no-one else in
connection with the Acquisition and will not be responsible to anyone other than
Benchmark for providing the protections afforded to clients of HSBC Bank plc or
for providing advice in connection with the Acquisition.

The availability of the Acquisition to persons who are not resident in the
United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which
they are located.  Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should
inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable requirements.

The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in certain
jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in any such
jurisdiction into which this Announcement is released, published or distributed
should inform themselves about, and observe such restrictions.  This document is
not for release, distribution or publication in or into or from the United
States, Canada, Australia or Japan.  Accordingly, copies of this Announcement
are not being, and must not be mailed, or otherwise distributed, or sent in or
into or from, the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO SUBSCRIBE FOR OR BUY ANY SECURITY, NOR A SOLICITATION OF ANY VOTE OR
APPROVAL IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE, ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER
OF THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
CONTRAVENTION OF APPLICABLE LAW.

Any person who, alone or acting together with any other person(s) pursuant to an
agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal) to acquire or control
securities of Benchmark, owns or controls or becomes the owner or controller,
directly or indirectly, of one per cent. or more of any class of securities of
Benchmark is generally required under the provisions of Rule 8 of the City Code
to notify a Regulatory Information Service as specified in the Listing Rules and
the Panel by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the business day
following the date of the transaction of every dealing in such securities during
the period to the date on which the Scheme becomes effective.  Dealings by GE
PCI, GE Capital or Benchmark (or by their respective 'associates', within the
definition set out in the City Code) in any class of securities of Benchmark
until the end of such period must also be disclosed (save where omission of such
associates from this requirement has been approved by the Panel).  Please
consult your financial adviser immediately if you believe this Rule may be
applicable to you.


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