Holding in Company

Ascot PLC
25 April 2001

                             Ascot Plc ('Ascot')


Ascot has today been advised that Fidelity International Ltd (FIL) and its
direct and indirect subsidiaries hold an interest in 7,627,255 ordinary shares
in the company representing 9.99% of the company's ordinary issued share
capital.


There is no change in the amount of shares held from the notification of 2
January 2001 but due to a change in the issued share capital the percentage
held has decreased from 10.01% to 9.99%.