Sophos Announced a Takeover Offer for Utimaco

Business Wire, July 28, 2008

FOXBORO, Mass. & OBERURSEL, Germany -- Sophos Holdings GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sophos Plc. Oxford, UK, today announced its intent to make a voluntary takeover offer in cash for all outstanding shares in Utimaco Safeware AG at the price of EUR14,75 per share.

Initial conversations regarding this potential takeover offer have taken place between the senior management of Sophos and Utimaco. Based on these conversations Utimaco has allowed Sophos to conduct a limited Due Diligence.

The Management Board and the Supervisory Board of Utimaco now await the details of the takeover offer in order to provide a statement according to u 27 WpouG (Wertpapiererwerbs- und oubernahmegesetz - German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act).

As soon as the complete bidding documents are available, they will be posted on the Utimaco homepage under www.utimaco.de \ Investor Relations.

Independent from a potential takeover offer by Sophos, Utimaco and Sophos entered into a reseller agreement regarding SafeGuard Enterprise and a mutual referral agreement for all products of both companies. According to the reseller agreement, Sophos is entitled to sell the product SafeGuard Enterprise to its customer base via its sales channels similar to the other sales partners of Utimaco.

About Utimaco Safeware AG - The Data Security Company.

Utimaco is a leading global provider of data security solutions, enabling mid- to large-size organizations to safeguard their data assets against intentional or accidental data loss, and to comply with privacy laws. Utimaco's complete range of data security solutions provide full 360 degree data protection for data at rest, data in motion and data in use. Utimaco offers its customers comprehensive on-site support via a world-wide network of certified partners and subsidiaries. Utimaco Safeware AG, with headquarters in Oberursel, near Frankfurt, Germany, is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN DE0007572406). For more information please visit www.utimaco.com.

For more information on Sophos please refer to: www.sophos.com