Holding in Company

Ascot PLC
24 July 2000

                      Ascot Plc ('Ascot')
                               

Ascot has today been advised that Fidelity International Ltd
(FIL) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries now hold an
interest in 6,137,255 ordinary shares in the company
representing 8.06% of the company's ordinary issued share
capital.

This represents an increase of 1,200,000 ordinary shares since
the previous notification.