MSP - Mas Plc - Changes to Investment Advisor

MSP - Mas Plc - Changes to Investment Advisor                                   
MAS PLC                                                                         
Previously Mergon Property Holdings Limited                                     
(Incorporated in the Isle of Man)                                               
(Registration number 2893V)                                                     
(Registered as an external company in the Republic of South Africa)             
(Registration number 2010/000338/10)                                            
JSE Share code: MSP                                                             
SEDOL: B4LFGHO                                                                  
ISIN: IM00B4LFGH00                                                              
("MAS" or "the Company")                                                        
CHANGES TO INVESTMENT ADVISOR                                                   
MAS wishes to announce a strategic change in the ownership structure of the     
holding company of MAS Property Advisors Limited ("Masprop"), the Company`s     
investment adviser.                                                             
Masprop is a wholly owned subsidiary of Exclusive Holdings Limited ("Exclusive  
Holdings"). On 23 February 2010 the Sanlam Group, a listed South African        
financial services firm, through its business unit Sanlam International         
Investment Partnerships ("SIIP"), acquired a 33.3% interest in the              
shareholding of Exclusive Holdings.  This transaction is the result of a        
strategic business partnership formed between the management of Exclusive       
Holdings and SIIP.                                                              
SIIP has a stated strategic objective to expand its asset management            
operations through acquisitions or investments in businesses where a strong     
management ownership structure is retained.  Hendrik Pfaff, Managing Director   
of SIIP and Robert Roux, Chief Operating Officer of Sanlam Investment           
Management will join the board of Exclusive Holdings. Hendrik Pfaff commented   
on the transaction: "We have again aligned with partners that are experienced   
specialists in a specific area and we are confident that this business will     
create long term value for its investors and shareholders.  Our partners        
include principals of Mertech and Attventure, whose proven expertise in the     
South African Atterbury Property Group has been extended to the UK. We look     
forward to working with them to develop a range of direct property investment   
management interests. Lukas Nakos is the MD of Exclusive and he has             
substantial experience in the UK and European property investment market,       
particularly in identifying and acquiring prime commercial properties."         
MAS believes that this transaction will have a significant impact on Exclusive  
Holdings and Masprop.  The opportunity for Exclusive and Masprop to partner     
with such a well regarded global investment organisation will enhance their     
capabilities as they will benefit from SIIP`s expertise and capabilities in     
areas such as distribution channels, governance, business strategy input,       
capital management and leveraging service provider relationships.  This         
influence will directly affect the impact that Masprop will have on MAS,        
thereby improving the Company`s business prospects and ultimately benefiting    
its shareholders.                                                               
MAS is currently underway with a second capital raising by way of a private     
placement of shares.  The offer opened at 09:00 (CET) on 22 February 2010 and   
will close at 12:00 (CET) on 31 March 2010.  The full details, terms and        
conditions of the private placing are contained in the prospectus issued by     
the Company, which will be made available to existing Shareholders and select   
institutions, high net worth individuals and business associates, in South      
Africa, Europe and the Isle of Man.                                             
Ends                                                                            
For further information:                                                        
MAS plc, MAS Property Advisors Limited and Exclusive Holdings Limited           
Lukas Nakos                                                                     
T +44 (0)1624 625 000                                                           
Sanlam International Investment Partners                                        
Hendrik Pfaff                                                                   
T +27 (0)21 950 4634                                                            
Note to editors:                                                                
About Sanlam International Investment Partners (SIIP)                           
SIIP is a division of the Sanlam Group (founded 1918), a listed South Africa    
financial services group with a market capitalisation of US$6bn. The group has  
investment management capabilities in Southern Africa, the UK, Asia and India.  
SIIP has a strategic objective to expand the group`s asset management           
footprint through direct investment in carefully selected specialist            
investment management businesses in specific regions. An important criterion    
is the retention of a strong management ownership structure that allows its     
investment partners the required autonomy to continue to drive their            
businesses and investment performance delivery. SIIP is fully aligned to its    
partners in whom it has a shareholding, and will assist and support in any      
area where it can add value or enhance the current proposition                  
About Exclusive Holdings                                                        
Exclusive Holdings is an international joint venture to form a new Isle of Man- 
based property investment advisory and management business. Exclusive Holdings  
is an incorporated venture between the Sanlam Group, the Mertech and            
Attventure Groups in South Africa and Salt Properties Limited in the Isle of    
Man.   Exclusive will focus on commercial property investment advisory          
mandates in Europe, initially in the UK, Switzerland and Germany.  The joint    
venture operates via its wholly owned subsidiary, MAS Property Advisors         
Limited, which is the investment adviser to MAS plc. Exclusive Holdings and     
MAS Property Advisors Limited is headed up by managing director, Lukas Nakos,   
a property expert with extensive experience in the UK and European property     
investment markets.                                                             
About MAS plc                                                                   
MAS has been established to invest primarily in the high quality office,        
retail, industrial and other property sectors initially in the UK, Germany and  
Switzerland. The Company`s objective is to provide shareholders with an         
opportunity to invest in a long term closed-ended investment company with an    
infinite life for investors seeking European investment opportunities that      
yield stable returns and portfolio diversification.  The Company is             
established in the Isle of Man and is listed on the EURO-MTF market of the      
Luxembourg Stock Exchange (primary listing) and on the Altx of the              
Johannesburg Stock Exchange (secondary listing).                                
For more information on the Company, please visit: www.masplc.com.              
Isle of Man                                                                     
5 March 2010                                                                    
Luxembourg Legal Adviser                                                        
M Partners                                                                      
Sponsor                                                                         
PSG Capital (Pty) Limited                                                       
Date: 05/03/2010 09:30:02 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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