Highlights:

• Oxonica has raised approximately £7.1 million (net of expenses) through a placing of 8,658,796 new Ordinary Shares at 95.8 pence per share
• In addition, Oxonica shareholders have converted loans of approximately £2.0 million into Ordinary Shares at 95.8 pence per share, which together with the placing strengthens the balance sheet by £9.1 million
• The placing shares will represent approximately 23.5 per cent of the enlarged share capital of Oxonica following admission of its Ordinary Shares to AIM
• On Admission, Oxonica will have a market capitalisation of approximately £35.3 million
• The lead investors in the placing have been Richard Farleigh, Foresight 2 VCT plc, and Stagecoach Group plc
• Oxonica is admitting its ordinary shares to trading on AIM to raise additional capital for Group development. Admission to AIM will also raise its profile internationally with customers and suppliers and assist in the recruitment, retention and incentivisation of employees
• Oxonica focuses on the development of innovative commercial solutions for international markets using its expertise in the design and application of nanomaterials
• The net proceeds will help to develop and market Oxonica's commercial solutions, including the current products Optisol and Envirox, worldwide, to carry out any additional required product testing, to add to its research capabilities, to invest in the further commercialisation of Oxonica's UV protection technology and to accelerate the development of its biomarker technology
• The number of Ordinary Shares in issue following Admission will be 36,805,329
• Oxonica will have a RIC code of OXN.L
• Panmure Gordon & Co are nominated adviser and broker to Oxonica

Commenting on the Placing and Admission, Dr Kevin Matthews, Chief Executive of Oxonica said:

"We are delighted both to have had such a positive response to our fundraising and with today's admission to AIM. The listing and strengthened balance sheet will enhance our profile and visibility with global strategic partners as we seek to develop innovative nanotechnology solutions internationally. Oxonica is already well positioned within the nanotechnology market and we are excited about the future prospects of this evolving industry."

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Oxonica plc

Oxonica is one of the leading European nanomaterials groups with products already launched into international markets. It was spun-out from Oxford University in 1999 and currently employs 37 professional staff.

Oxonica's mission is to develop innovative commercial solutions for international markets using its expertise in the design and application of nanomaterials.

The company has three operating divisions: Oxonica Energy, Oxonica Healthcare and Oxonica Materials.

Commercialised products are:

Envirox Fuel Borne Catalyst - a fuel borne nanocatalyst for diesel engines which reduces fuel consumption with savings of 5-10% and reduces particulate emissions by up to 15%. The product has already been adopted by Stagecoach Group in the UK and in New Zealand and is distributed by DMX Technology Corporation to petroleum companies in the Philippines for use in a premium diesel.

Optisol UV Absorber - a photostable UV absorber that provides enhanced and longer lasting protection against UVA in sun-care and anti-ageing products. Optisol also reduces the formation of free radicals produced from exposure to the sun and which are implicated in premature skin ageing. Boots Group plc is the first to incorporate Optisol in their new Soltan Facial Sun Defense Cream for 2005.

In addition, Oxonica is working to generate a range of future product applications. These include additional fuel saving additives, marker technology for the clinical and life science diagnostics markets, further UV protection applications, including tailoring the Optisol product in the cosmetics markets, and new products for plastics and coatings, transparent conducting films and security markers.

Optisol and Envirox are trademarks of Oxonica.

For further information please contact: Sonia Bouzid, PR & Marketing Communications Manager, Oxonica, on +44 1865 856 728 or sonia.bouzid@oxonica.com