OPTOS : Two Non-Executive Directors Appointed

LONDON, UK, 1 June 2011 – Optos plc (LSE: OPTS), a leading medical retinal imaging company, is today announcing that Mr John Goddard and Mr David Wilson have been appointed to the Board as Non-Executive Directors, with immediate effect. 

Mr John Goddard FCA (59) has had a distinguished career in the global pharmaceuticals industry, the majority of which was with AstraZeneca, where he was ultimately Head of Group Strategic Planning. He has extensive experience of mergers and acquisitions, and had significant involvement in the merger of Astra and Zeneca. Prior to his retirement from AstraZeneca last year, Mr Goddard was responsible for building a 100-strong global team focused upon M&A and licensing, which completed 75 transactions in four years, including several acquisitions, in-licensing and out-licensing of compounds, and disposals. Latterly, Mr Goddard became Chairman of the AstraZeneca spin-out, Aptium Oncology, and of the substantial medical device business, Astratech. Mr Goddard is a Member of the Board of Directors of Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Renovo Group plc and serves on the Advisory Board of DRI Capital Inc.

Mr David Wilson (48) has 26 years of experience in the City and is currently Deputy Chief Executive of the Investment Banking business at Matrix Group. Until February this year he was the Chief Executive of Piper Jaffray Ltd., a position he held from 2005. Mr Wilson helped launch the firm’s investment banking and M&A advisory service in Europe, which became a market-leading healthcare franchise. He was appointed to the Operating Board of Piper Jaffray & Co., the US-based parent company, in 2008 and as Chairman of the firm’s Global Healthcare Group in 2010. He has extensive global fundraising and cross-border M&A experience. Previous positions include Joint Head of UK Investment Banking at ING Barings, Director of Investment Banking at Deutsche Bank and Head of Small Companies Corporate Broking at UBS.

Dr Peter Fellner, Chairman, commented: “We are delighted to welcome John and David to our Board as Non-Executive Directors. With John’s international experience and in-depth understanding of the life sciences sector, and David’s extensive advisory and City expertise in this sector, they will together bring a wealth of knowledge to the Company, and will provide a very valuable strategic input going forward.”

There are no further details to be disclosed relative to the Financial Services Authority UK Listing Rules and Form AP01 confirming the respective appointments has been submitted to the Registrar of Companies.

Enquiries:

Optos plc is a leading retinal imaging company. Our vision is to be recognised as the leading provider of retinal diagnostics through leveraging our unique wide-field imaging technology. Both eye and non-eye diseases often first exhibit in the periphery of the retina. These are very difficult to detect clinically with conventional examination equipment and techniques. Optos' devices produce ultra wide-field, high resolution images of approximately 82% of the retina, something no other device is capable of doing in any one image. The images provide optometrists and ophthalmologists with enhanced clinical information which facilitates the early detection, management and treatment of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina such as retinal detachments and tears, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Retinal imaging can also indicate evidence of non-eye or systemic diseases such as hypertension and certain cancers.

Optos has a range of medical devices that support different customer segments and patient levels: the P200 and 200Dx devices are concentrated on wellness screening carried out by optometrists and ophthalmologists in primary care; the P200C and 200Rx devices are designed to meet the need for more exacting clinical imaging capabilities and standards in secondary care within the ophthalmology market and at optometric practices that are clinically managing a patient base with advanced ocular disease; and the P200MA  and 200Tx devices supports ophthalmologists and retinal specialists in the medical care market. Optos' product range has recently been expanded to include the AccuPen, PachPen and B-Scan handheld devices for glaucoma and tumour management. The acquisition of Opto Global, completed in December 2010, brings additional devices for both optometrist and ophthalmologist practices, and expand the geographic reach outside our core North American and European markets.

For more information please visit our website www.optos.com

Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections about its industry, its beliefs and assumptions.  Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.