Potential acquisition and suspension of shares

8 October 2015

Benchmark Holdings plc

(the "Company")

Potential acquisition and suspension of shares

Benchmark Holdings plc has become aware of speculation and confirms that it is contemplating a potential acquisition which would constitute a reverse takeover under the AIM Rules. As a result, trading in the Company's shares will be suspended until such time as an admission document is published in relation to the potential acquisition or the talks otherwise conclude. The Company will update shareholders with further information in due course.

Notes to Editors:

Founded in 2000, Benchmark represents a new model in sustainable business development. Over the last decade it has built a profitable group of companies on the economics of a sustainable food supply chain. The company is growing in response to a rapidly increasing demand for sustainable food supply chains, and in particular for seafood, from both mature and emerging markets.

Benchmark is an ethical company with an explicit policy based on the "3E's" definition of a sustainable business - ethics, environment and economics - which guides its strategy and operations.

The Group has four divisions: Animal Health which researches, manufactures and markets medicines and vaccines particularly for aquaculture; Sustainability Science which researches and informs sustainable development in the food industry, Technical Publishing which effects technology transfer through online publishing and education, and Animal Breeding and Genetics which is the second largest supplier of salmon eggs and genetic expertise in the world. Benchmark operates internationally with offices in the UK, Ireland, Norway, USA, Brazil, China, Russia, Iceland, Thailand, Belgium, Chile, Spain, Germany, Portugal and Australia and as at 29 September 2015 employs 396 people. For further information on Benchmark please visit www.bmkholdings.com.