Holding(s) in Company

Cairn Energy PLC
21 December 2004



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                                                                21 December 2004

                           CAIRN ENERGY PLC ('Cairn')

   Notification of Shareholding - Companies Act 1985 ss.198-202 (as amended)

Cairn was notified on 21 December 2004 by the AEGON UK plc Group of Companies
('the Group') that, following the purchase of 182,748 shares, the Group has an
interest in 4,862,790 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in Cairn, representing
3.06% of Cairn's current issued ordinary share capital.

The AEGON UK plc Group of Companies means Scottish Equitable plc, Scottish
Equitable (Managed Funds) Limited, AEGON Fund Management UK ltd, AEGON
Investment Managemet UK ltd, AEGON Asset Management UK plc, Scottish Equitable
Trustees Limited, Guardian Assurance plc, Guardian Linked Life Assurance
Limited, Guardian Pensions Management Limited and Guardian Unit Managers
Limited.

The registered shareholder to which this notification relates and the number of
shares held by the registered holder at the date of notification is as follows:-

REGISTERED HOLDER                          NUMBER OF         %
                                           SHARES

Chase Nominees Limited                     4,862,790       3.06




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange