Holding in Company

British Empire Sec & Gen Tst PLC
18 December 2000

                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     BRITISH EMPIRE SECURITIES & GENERAL TRUST PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     AS IN 2

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

     THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY:             16,604,565
     HSBC GLOBAL CUSTODY NOMINEE A/C 888569:            5,264,250

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.



6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     2,500,000

8)   (1.41%) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES 10p

10)  Date of transaction

     14/12/00

11)  Date company informed

     18/12/00

12)  Total holding following this notification

     21,868,815
               
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     12.40

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     JACQUELINE BEATON
     FRIENDS IVORY & SIME PLC
     0131 465 1076

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification: 18/12/2000




                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     BRITISH EMPIRE SECURITIES AND GENERAL TRUST PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     VIDACOS NOMINEES LTD

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     AS IN 2

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

     MILLENNIUM PARTNERS LP

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     10,525,000

6)   (5.97%) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     -

8)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security: 

     ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction



11)  Date company informed

     14 DECEMBER 2000

12)  Total holding following this notification

     10,525,000
                             
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     5.97%

14)  Any additional information

     MILLENNIUM ALSO HOLDS AN ECONOMIC INTEREST IN 2,300,000 ORDINARY SHARES    
     THROUGH VARIOUS DERIVATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.

15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries: 

     KATRINA FYFFE
     FRIENDS IVORY & SIME PLC
     0131 465 1000



16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification: 18/12/2000