RNS Number:6407K
Thistle Hotels PLC
01 May 2003



                       THISTLE HOTELS PLC ("THISTLE")
          RESPONSE TO BIL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED'S ("BIL") REVISED OFFER


The Board of Thistle* has noted BIL's announcement dated 30 April 2003 stating
that it has increased its offer from 115 pence to 130 pence in cash per Thistle
share (the "Revised Offer"). Under the terms of the Revised Offer, BIL will
retain the recommended final dividend for 2002 of 3.4 pence per Thistle share.
The Board of Thistle* has also noted BIL's announcement dated 1 May 2003 stating
that it owns or has received valid acceptances in respect of, in aggregate,
approximately 52.7 per cent. of the existing issued share capital of Thistle and
that the Revised Offer is now declared unconditional in all respects. The Board
of Thistle*, having consulted with its advisers, sets out below its views on the
Revised Offer and its recommendation to Thistle shareholders.


The Board of Thistle* is of the view that the Revised Offer, which it notes is
now final, still fails to reflect Thistle's underlying value and prospects.


However, given that the Revised Offer has now been declared unconditional in all
respects and BIL has stated its intention to de-list Thistle shares when
practicable, shareholders who do not accept the Revised Offer will own shares in
an unlisted company controlled by BIL.


Whilst the Board of Thistle*, which has been so advised by Merrill Lynch
International, considers the Revised Offer to be inadequate, for the reasons
stated above they recommend that shareholders accept the Revised Offer, as they
will be doing in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings. In providing
advice to the Board of Thistle*, Merrill Lynch International has taken into
account the Board of Thistle's* commercial assessments.


Enquiries:

Thistle Hotels Plc                                      Telephone: 020 7895 2304
Ian Burke, Chief Executive Officer
Merrill Lynch International                             Telephone: 020 7995 2000
Simon Mackenzie-Smith, Managing Director
Richard Nourse, Managing Director
Deutsche Bank                                           Telephone: 020 7545 8000
Charles Wilkinson, Managing Director
Financial Dynamics                                      Telephone: 020 7831 3113
Andrew Dowler
Ben Foster


* The Board of Thistle for these purposes comprises all of the directors of
Thistle other than Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan and Mr Arun Amarsi, who in view of
their positions as Chairman and CEO, respectively, of BIL have not participated
in the deliberations of the board in relation to BIL's offer to acquire all of
the shares in Thistle not already owned by BIL.


Merrill Lynch International and Deutsche Bank AG are acting for Thistle Hotels
Plc and for no-one else in connection with BIL's offer for Thistle Hotels Plc
and will not be responsible to anyone other than Thistle Hotels Plc for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Merrill Lynch International or
Deutsche Bank AG or for providing advice in relation to such offer.



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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