Announcement concerning individuals injured by UK Thalidomide

It is now more than 44 years since The Distillers Company (Biochemicals) Limited (DCBL), currently a non-trading subsidiary of Diageo plc (Diageo), withdrew Thalidomide from the UK market. Diageo has just concluded a major new agreement to provide a substantial boost to the funding until 2037 of the Thalidomide Trust, which was set up as part of the original 1973 DCBL settlement. This will enable the Trust to increase payments to those affected and will assist them in coping with increasing levels of disability as they get older. In 2004 the UK Government changed the tax status of the Trust so that all payments to beneficiaries are now exempt from tax.

Diageo accordingly gives notice that no further direct claims against DCBL or Diageo will be considered unless they are notified to Diageo with appropriate supporting evidence by 31 December 2006.

Any individuals who wish to give notice of a claim by this date are recommended to contact Pannone & Partners of 123 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BU, attention Patricia Noone, the firm which has acted for almost all new claimants in recent years.