Statement re Bickerton AIM Listing

Artisan (UK) PLC
4 April 2000

ARTISAN (UK) plc TO MAINTAIN BICKERTON AIM LISTING 

Artisan (UK) plc, the AIM listed property development, contracting and
property refurbishment group, announces that as part of a review of the
options available to the company following its successful offer for Bickerton
Group plc, the board of Artisan (UK) plc intends to maintain Bickerton Group's
AIM quote and is seeking investments in the ICT sector, but not as an
incubator fund.

As a consequence of the review it has been decided that the Bickerton Group's
trading subsidiaries will become direct operating subsidiaries within the
Artisan group structure.

Mr Stephen Dean, Chairman of Artisan (UK) plc, has been appointed Chairman and
Mr Christopher Musselle, Finance Director of Artisan, appointed a Director of
Bickerton Group plc. 

Mr I Lawson, Mr C Burr and Mr K Adams have relinquished their directorships of
Bickerton Group plc with immediate effect but will retain their operating
roles within Artisan trading subsidiaries. Mr G Lamb has resigned as director
and secretary of Bickerton and will be assuming a new financial role within
the Artisan group. Mr K Wilkins and Mr A Morton resigned as non-executive
directors of Bickerton Group on the offer becoming unconditional.

The Board of Artisan (UK) plc state that it understands that the disposal of
shares in Artisan (UK) plc placed in connection with the acquisitions of
Bickerton Group and other recent property acquisitions, has now been completed
and that the residual shares from these placings will be retained for the time
being.

Enquiries:

Artisan (UK) plc                                                01480 436666
Stephen Dean, Chairman                                                 
Chris Musselle, Finance Director

Boswell City Financial PR Limited                               0171-583 2001
Glenda Boswell                                           Mobile [phone]
Rodney Johnson