Holding in Company

Wolseley PLC
24 May 2001

WOLSELEY PLC - SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS

24 May 2001

Wolseley plc hereby notifies that on 24 May 2001 Wolseley plc received
notification from Legal & General Investment Management Limited that following
a sale of shares on 23 May 2001 Legal & General's interest in Wolseley plc
ordinary 25p shares stood at 2.93% (16,863,853 shares), identified as follows:

No. of shares     Nominee Name
110,000           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 775229
1,663,217         HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 886603
2,583,500         HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 775245
541,390           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 252605
328,813           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 360509
552,500           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 770286
10,753,123        HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 357206
41,310            HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 866197
290,000           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 130007


For and on behalf of Wolseley plc

Edward Parker

Assistant Company Secretary