Holding in Company

Ascot PLC
31 July 2000


                      Ascot Plc ('Ascot')
                               
Ascot has been advised on 28 July 2000 that Fidelity
International Ltd (FIL) and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries now hold an interest in 7,437,255 ordinary shares
in the company representing 9.77% of the company's ordinary
issued share capital.

This represents an increase of 1,300,000 ordinary shares since
the previous notification.