Holding in Company

Ascot PLC
6 April 2001



                             Ascot Plc ('Ascot')

Ascot has today been advised that Schroder Investment Management Limited holds
an interest in 8,613,098 ordinary shares in the company.  These shares are
held in portfolios managed on a discretionary basis for clients under
investment management agreements.

These shares are or will be registered as follows:


Schroder Nominees Limited                                             2,913,772
Chase Nominees Limited                                                4,367,173
Nortrust Nominees Limited                                               381,538
RBSTB Nominees Ltd a/c ESPSBEB                                          300,000
HBC                                                                      60,000
State Street Nominees Limited a/c 5H57                                  500,000
BT Globenet Nominees Ltd a/c 6B                                          90,615
                                                                     ----------
                                                                      8,613,098
                                                                     ----------

Schroder Hermes is managing 100,992 shares in (a) portfolio(s) on a passive
(index tracker) basis for clients under investment management agreements.
These shares are registered or to be registered in the name of Chase Nominees
Limited.

Schroders plc and its subsidiaries therefore hold a total interest in
8,714,090 ordinary shares in the company representing 11.415% of their issued
ordinary share capital.



ENDS