Hartford Group PLC - Offer Wholly Unconditnl, etc.

RNS No 9260b
HARTFORD GROUP PLC
3 September 1999


 HARTFORD GROUP PLC ("HARTFORD") LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE
RECOMMENDED SHARE OFFER ("RECOMMENDED OFFER") FOR THE ENTIRE
ISSUED ORDINARY SHARE CAPITAL OF MONTANA PLC ("MONTANA") AND
                 RESULT OF THE HARTFORD EGM

On 10 August 1999, Hartford Group PLC ("Hartford") announced
the  terms  of  a  proposed merger  with  Montana  PLC,  the
restaurant operator.  The combined market capitalisation  of
the  two  groups,  following completion of  the  merger,  is
expected to be approximately #30 million based on Hartford's
closing price on 2 September 1999 of 1.25p.

The  board of Hartford announces that the Recommended  Offer
made  by  Apax Partners & Co. Capital Limited, on behalf  of
Hartford, for the entire issued share capital of Montana has
been declared unconditional in all respects, save in respect
of  Admission, on 3 September 1999.  The Offer  will  remain
open for acceptance until further notice.

By  3.00 p.m. London time on 2 September 1999, Hartford  had
received  valid  acceptances from the holders  of  3,560,438
Montana  Shares (representing approximately 88.34 per  cent.
of  the  existing  issued share capital of  Montana).  Terms
defined in the original offer document have the same meaning
in this press release unless the context requires otherwise.

The   total   number   of  acceptances   received   includes
acceptances in respect of 2,240,649 of a total of  2,275,649
Montana Shares (representing 55.59 per cent. of the existing
issued share capital of Montana), which were the subject  of
irrevocable  undertakings  to  accept  the  Offer  from  the
directors   of   Montana   and   certain   individuals   and
institutions.

Prior  to  the commencement of the Offer Period  on  5  July
1999,  save  as  disclosed  in the offer  document,  neither
Hartford nor any person acting in concert with it owned  any
Montana  Shares (or rights over such shares) nor since  that
date  (other  than as disclosed above) has Hartford  or  any
person  acting  in  concert with it acquired  or  agreed  to
acquire any Montana Shares (or rights over such shares).

The  merger  is conditional on the approval of, inter  alia,
the transaction by Hartford shareholders in general meeting.

The  special  resolution  set  out  in  the  notice  of  EGM
approving,  inter  alia, the merger was passed  by  Hartford
shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting which took
place at 10.00am today.

This  announcement,  which  is the  sole  responsibility  of
Hartford,  has been approved by Apax Partners & Co.  Capital
Limited  solely  for  the  purpose  of  Section  57  of  the
Financial Services Act 1986.

Apax  Partners & Co. Capital Limited which is  regulated  by
The  Securities and Futures Authority Limited, is acting for
Hartford  and no-one else in connection with the  Offer  and
will  not be responsible for anyone other than Hartford  for
providing the protections afforded to its customers nor  for
providing advice in relation to the Offer.

Enquires:

Hartford Group PLC

Matthew Freud                      0171 291 6400

Apax Partners & Co. Capital Limited

Richard Hughes                     0161 831 9133


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