Holding(s) in Company

The Company has been notified today for the purposes of Part VI of the
Companies Act 1985 that Aberforth Partners has a notifiable interest in
11,034,385 Ordinary Shares of 5p each which, represents 22.94% of the issued
share capital of Oxford Instruments plc. This interest arises as a result of
the discretionary investment management powers that Aberforth Partners can
exercise over the funds of their clients. Aberforth Partners is not the
beneficial owner of these shares.

The shares to which this notification relates are registered as follows:

Registered Holder                            Number of Shares        
                                                                     
  Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees            2,172,000        
           Limited A/c ABERFIT1                                      
                                                                     
  Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees             275,000         
           Limited A/c ABERFIT3                                      
                                                                     
  Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees            2,186,651        
           Limited A/c ABERFUT1                                      
                                                                     
  Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees            2,745,000        
           Limited A/c ABERLP1A                                      
                                                                     
  Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees            2,745,000        
           Limited A/c ABERLP1B                                      
                                                                     
The Church Commissioners for England (Chase          377,600         
             GIS) Nominees Ltd                                       
                                                                     
    State Street Nominees Ltd A/C JD59               533,134