Last checked at 8 Jan 2009 12:36

8 January 2009
Grant of Awards - Employee Share Plans
Avon Rubber p.l.c ("the Company")
Announcement of transaction in ordinary shares of £1 each (the "Shares")
The Company announces that on 8 January 2009 nil cost options and conditional awards of shares ("Options") were granted under the Company's Performance Share Plan 2002 to Directors of the Company and persons discharging managerial responsibility ("PDMRs"), as listed below.
Certain Directors and PDMRs additionally surrendered 386,801 Options previously granted under the Plan.
The table below sets out the number of Options surrendered and the number of Options granted together with the total number of Options held by Directors and PDMRs. The vesting and performance period applicable to all of the Options granted is 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2011.
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| Name of Director/PDMR | Number of Options surrendered | Number of Options granted | Total number of Options held following surrender and grants |
| Peter Slabbert | 196,561 | 460,714 | 460,714 |
| Andrew Lewis | - | 222,857 | 222,857 |
| Simon Wright | 76,711 | 142,200 | 142,200 |
| Miles Ingrey-Counter | 24,731 | 60,000 | 60,000 |
| Matthew Evans | - | 85,714 | 85,714 |
| Jason Hargreaves | 15,366 | 57,429 | 57,429 |
| Paul McDonald | 17,423 | 62,571 | 62,571 |
| Michael Harral | 14,581 | 56,143 | 56,143 |
| Michael Hamner | 22,069 | 79,253 | 79,253 |
| Gary Dunn | 19,359 | 93,266 | 93,266 |
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The Company's Remuneration Committee believes the above surrender and grant of Options aligns Director and employee interests with those of shareholders. The Options are subject to performance criteria and within the individual limits set out in the Plan rules.
Following the above, the total number of shares under option, which could be issued to Directors and employees if all the performance criteria are met is 1,447,355 Ordinary Shares representing 4.97 per cent of the current issued share capital of the Company.
The transaction took place at Hampton Park West, Semington Road, Melksham,Wiltshire, SN12 6NB.
This announcement is made pursuant to Disclosure Rule 3.1.4 following notification under Disclosure Rule 3.1.2.
Contact Information:Â Miles Ingrey-Counter, Company Secretary, on telephone 01225 896850