LONDON, Sept. 20, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) --
20 September 2004 COLT TELECOM GROUP PLC TONY BATES PURCHASES 100,000 COLT SHARES COLT Telecom Group plc (COLT), a leading pan-European provider of business communications solutions and services today announced that, Tony Bates, Director and Chief Administrative Officer has demonstrated his confidence in the future success of COLT by the purchase of a beneficial holding of 100,000 COLT ordinary shares, which represents 0.007% of the issued share capital of the Company. In recognition of this investment, and subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee, Tony Bates has been awarded a 1 for 2 matching share grant of 50,000 shares. Subject to performance conditions being met, the grant will become unconditional after three years. 50,000 of the shares were acquired on 17 September 2004 at 48.5 pence per share and the balance of 50,000 were acquired today at 48 pence per share. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange