3i Group plc announces the appointment of Mr Simon Ball as Finance Director of the Company with effect from 7 February 2005. This follows the Company's announcement that 3i Group's current Finance Director, Mr Michael Queen, would assume responsibility for Growth Capital.

Simon Ball (44) is currently the Director General Finance at the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). He was appointed to this role in January 2003.

He began his career at Price Waterhouse & Company before joining Kleinwort Benson Lonsdale plc in 1985, where he became Finance Director of Kleinwort Benson Securities Ltd in 1990, Finance Director of Kleinwort Benson Ltd in 1994, Group Finance Director in 1996 and Chief Operating Officer (UK) of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in 1997.

In 1998 Simon Ball was appointed Group Finance Director of Robert Fleming Holdings Limited and played a key role in its reorganisation and subsequent sale to Chase Manhattan Corporation for £4.5 billion. He was a Managing Director at Chase Manhattan International Limited until December 2000.

Since 2001 Simon has served as a non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of Leica Geosystems AG and is a non-executive adviser to Integrum Ltd.

Commenting on the appointment, Philip Yea, Chief Executive, of 3i Group plc said:

"We are delighted that Simon has agreed to become the Group''s Finance Director. He has a wide range of experience, combining a strong career in the financial services sector, experience of start ups and a track record of change management."

Simon Ball commented:

"I am delighted to be joining 3i Group. I am excited by Phil''s vision for the business and look forward to working with him and the team."

Gus O''Donnell, Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury, commented:

"Simon has made a substantial contribution to reshaping board level thinking during his two years in Whitehall. In addition to establishing the DCA as one of the leaders in financial management across government, his success has been a critical factor behind the Prime Minister''s and Chancellor''s initiative to strengthen strategic financial expertise across all our departmental boards."

This appointment has been approved by the Prime Minister on the advice of the advisory committee on business appointments.

There are no other matters to disclose in accordance with paragraph 16.4 of the FSA''s Listing Rules.

For further information please contact:

3i Group plc
Patrick Dunne, Group Communications Director -  020 7975 3283

Maitland Consultancy
Philip Gawith -  020 7379 5151

DCA
Lucian Hudson, Communications Director -  020 7210 8673