Re. Share Split and EGM

Helical Bar PLC
01 August 2005

1 August 2005


                  Helical Bar plc ('Helical Bar' / 'Company')

                       Extraordinary General Meeting and
               proposed sub-division of Existing Ordinary Shares


Helical Bar announces today that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company
is to be held at the registered office of Helical Bar, 11/15 Farm Street, London
W1J 5RS, at 11.00 a.m. on 31 August 2005 to approve a sub-division of the
Company's ordinary share capital.


Reason for the Share Split


In recent years, the price of the Company's ordinary shares has risen to the
point where they are now one of the most highly priced ordinary shares compared
with comparator companies quoted on the London Stock Exchange.  The closing
price on 28 July 2005 was £14.96.  The Board believes that it is appropriate to
propose the Share Split, i.e. a five-for-one sub-division of Existing Ordinary
Shares.  The Share Split should improve the liquidity and may reduce the bid/
offer spread of the Company's ordinary shares.


Financial effects of the Share Split


If the proposed Share Split proceeds, it is expected that the price of each New
Ordinary Share will be approximately one-fifth of the price of an Existing
Ordinary Share.  This will reflect the fact that shareholders will own five
times as many ordinary shares.  Shareholders should note however that, subject
to market movements, the aggregate value of their shareholdings should remain
the same.


The New Ordinary Shares will carry the same rights in all respects as the
Existing Ordinary Shares, including voting rights and rights to participate in
dividends of the Company, and will be transferable in the same manner as the
Existing Ordinary Shares.


Dealings


Applications will be made for admission of the New Ordinary Shares to the
Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's market for listed
securities.  If the applications are accepted, it is expected that the last day
of dealings in the Existing Ordinary Shares will be 31 August 2005 and the
effective date for dealings to commence in New Ordinary Shares will be 1
September 2005.


The EGM will also consider a resolution to increase the Company's market
purchase authority in light of the Share Split and recent exercises of options.


Subject to the approval, where necessary, of the Company's auditors and the
Inland Revenue, appropriate adjustments will be made to outstanding rights in
accordance with the rules of the Company's employee share schemes to take
account of the Share Split and Optionholders will be contacted separately in due
course.


Recommendation


The Directors believe that the Share Split is in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommend that the
Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions, as they intend to do in respect
of their own beneficial holdings.


Defined terms used in this announcement have the same meaning as given to them
in the circular posted to the Company's shareholders today, a copy of which is
available for inspection at the FSA's document viewing facility.



For further information, please contact:


Helical Bar plc

Nigel McNair Scott

Tel: [phone]



JP Morgan Cazenove

Richard Cotton/Roger Clarke

Tel: [phone]



Financial Dynamics

Stephanie Highett/Dido Laurimore

Tel: [phone]


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