Plan 2000

At the April 1998 extraordinary general meeting the shareholders approved a new, all-employee, option plan introduced to help retain and motivate staff worldwide at a time of unprecedented adjustments to be made for the euro and the Millennium. Under the terms of the plan a substantial majority of employees of the group became entitled to apply for a single award of options to acquire 2,000 shares, at the exercise price of 550p per share, exercisable in September 2001, and generally expiring in September 2005. At 31 December 1998 options to acquire a total of 25,738,000 shares had been granted to 12,869 employees, including the executive directors. In early 1999 further options will be granted to employees who joined Reuters after the initial qualification date and before 31 December 1998, but no further options will be awarded under this plan after 30 June 1999.