Appointment of Chief Financial Officer

16 February 2016

Merlin Entertainments plc

Appointment of Chief Financial Officer

Merlin Entertainments plc (Merlin) today announces that it has agreed the appointment of Anne-Françoise Nesmes to the Board as Chief Financial Officer, with effect from 1 August 2016.

Ms. Nesmes will succeed Andrew Carr, whose intention to retire was announced in January. Mr. Carr will remain in post until her arrival and continue to be employed for a period after Ms Nesmes' appointment as part of a handover process.

Ms. Nesmes is currently Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc, a FTSE 250 international specialist veterinary pharmaceuticals company, where she has held the role since April 2013. Previously she worked for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in a number of senior finance roles including Senior Vice-President of Finance of GSK Vaccines Belgium and Vice-President & Finance Controller for GSK Europe. She has also held finance roles in Caterpillar, ADP, Tetra Pak, and John Crane.

Sir John Sunderland, Chairman of Merlin, said:

"We look forward to welcoming Anne-Françoise to the Board later in the year. Her extensive finance and international experience will enable her to make a significant contribution to our business as we continue to grow. On behalf of the Board I would like to again thank Andrew for his dedication to Merlin during the past 16 years and building it into the successful company it is today. We wish him all the best in the future."

Save for the Directorship in Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc referred to above, there are no matters requiring disclosure pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13.

For further information please contact:

Investors

Alistair Windybank / Simon Whittington

+44 (0)1202 440 082

Media (Brunswick)

Craig Breheny / Imran Jina

+44 (0)20 7404 5959

About Merlin Entertainments plc

Merlin Entertainments plc is a global leader in location based, family entertainment. Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 100 attractions, 12 hotels and 4 holiday villages in 23 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable experiences to its more than 60 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its circa 27,000 employees.