Dr Karl-Gerhard Seifert Retires from Board

Ascot PLC
7 February 2000


Contacts      Howard Dyer, Chairman
              Ascot Plc                                      0171 815 0805

              David Bick
              Holborn Public Relations                       0171 929 5599
                                                [e-mail]



                                   ASCOT Plc

Ascot Plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Karl-Gerhard Seifert as
non-executive director with effect from 8 February 2000.

Dr Seifert is currently Head of Private Equity for Germany at Morgan Grenfell
and previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Clariant
International (overseeing integration of Hoechst Speciality Chemicals from
July 1997 to 1999). Dr Seifert's career began as a research chemist for IBM
before his rise through the ranks at Hoechst AG first as an operations
manager, then as a corporate planner and (from 1988) as a member of the
Management Board.  Hoechst comprises one of the largest chemicals businesses
in the world with more than DM50 billion in annual sales, about 25% of which
are in pharmaceuticals.  As a member of the Management Board of Hoechst, Dr
Seifert was responsible for heading agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics
and diagnostics (1989 to 1996) and speciality chemicals.  He played a leading
role during a period of transformation at Hoechst with the integration of its
chemicals businesses in various jurisdictions.

Dr Seifert's experience in the pharmaceuticals and agriculture sectors will be
of major benefit to Ascot's chemicals business in its drive to develop high
added value technical products and processes.

The appointment of a fourth non-executive director further strengthens the
Board.

Note to Editors

Ascot's main businesses relate to speciality chemicals and fine chemicals. 
Speciality chemicals includes custom processing and the manufacture of
speciality products.  Fine chemicals comprises Chirotech and the large scale
manufacturing facilities of Mitchell Cotts Chemicals.  The group also has a
number of other operations involved in engineering and property.