SThree plc 16 November 2005 Embargoed until 0800 16 November 2005 THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN This document is an advertisement and not a prospectus. Investors should not purchase any Ordinary Shares referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in the prospectus. SThree plc ("SThree" or the "Group") Admission to Official List and commencement of unconditional dealings on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange SThree, one of the UK's leading information, communication and technology ("ICT") staffing businesses based on turnover, is pleased to announce that its ordinary shares have been admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities (ticker symbol STHR). Unconditional dealings in SThree's ordinary shares commenced at 8.00am today. UBS Investment Bank acted as Sponsor, Financial Adviser, Bookrunner and Global Co-ordinator of the Global Offer. Investec Bank (UK) Limited and Oriel Securities Limited acted as Co-Lead Managers. - Ends - Enquiries: SThree plc 020 7292 3838 Russell Clements, Chief Executive Officer Sunil Wickremeratne, Chief Operating Officer Michael Nelson, Chief Financial Officer UBS 020 7567 8000 Jim Renwick / Russell Chambers Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700 Kevin Smith / John Coles Print resolution images are available for the media to view and download from www.vismedia.co.uk Notes to editors SThree, founded in 1986, is one of the leading ICT staffing businesses in the UK based on turnover. SThree provides both permanent and contract specialist staffing services in the UK and Europe, primarily in the ICT sector and, to an increasing extent in the UK, the banking and finance, accountancy, human resources and engineering sectors. SThree currently operates under 12 brands, the 3 largest by turnover being Computer Futures, Progressive and Huxley, and has 30 offices in the UK and 8 offices in Europe, in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Ireland. SThree has a selective approach to clients and focuses on high margin opportunities, predominantly within the small to medium-sized enterprises ("SME") market, which SThree defines as including autonomous divisions of large corporates. SThree does not pursue a high volume/low margin model. SThree has a diverse, international client list of over 4,000 clients, comprising primarily SMEs. Following the establishment of its first brand, Computer Futures, in 1986, SThree adopted a multi-brand strategy, establishing new operations to address growth opportunities. These new brands have typically been created out of one of SThree's existing businesses and are an important means of retaining high performing key employees who are often given the opportunity to acquire a minority equity stake in the new business. These materials are not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan. This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, nor may the securities be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration as provided in the US Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations thereunder. No securities are being registered for offer or sale in the United States and no public offering of the securities in the United States will be made. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there by any sale of the securities referred to herein in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption of registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The price and value of the securities referred to herein my go up as well as down. Persons needing advice should consult a professional adviser. Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of SThree. You can identify forward looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment, as well as many other risks specifically related to SThree and its operations. This document, which has been issued by SThree and is the sole responsibility of SThree, has been approved solely for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom by UBS Limited of 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. UBS Limited is acting exclusively for SThree in relation to the Global Offer and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than SThree for providing the protections afforded to clients of UBS Limited nor for providing any advice in relation to the Global Offer, the contents of this announcement or any other matter referred to herein. Investec Bank (UK) Limited and Oriel Securities Limited, each of which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, are advising SThree in relation to the Global Offer and no one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than SThree for providing the protections afforded to the customers of Investec Bank (UK) Limited and Oriel Securities Limited nor for providing any advice in relation to the Global Offer or any other matter referred to herein Copies of the prospectus are available from the Company's registered office and UBS Limited, 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. In connection with the Global Offer, UBS Limited as stabilising manager (the "Stabilising Manager") may effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the Ordinary Shares of the Company at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. Such transactions may commence on or after the publication of the Offer Price and will end no later than 30 days thereafter. However, there is no obligation on the Stabilising Manager to do this. Such transactions may be effected on the London Stock Exchange, the over the counter market or otherwise. There is no assurance that such transactions will be undertaken and, if commenced, they may be discontinued at any time. Save as required by law, the Stabilising Manager does not intend to disclose the extent of any over-allotments and/or stabilisation transactions under the Global Offer. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange