Result of EGM

Hill & Smith Hldgs PLC
27 October 2000


Hill  & Smith Holdings PLC - Recommended Offer for Ash  &
Lacy plc

The  Board of Hill & Smith Holdings PLC ('Hill &  Smith')
is  pleased to announce that at the extraordinary general
meeting  of Hill & Smith held earlier today, shareholders
approved  the resolutions necessary to implement  Hill  &
Smith's recommended offer for Ash & Lacy plc.


PRESS ENQUIRIES

For further information contact:

For Hill & Smith:

Hill & Smith                  01902 357910
David Winterbottom (Chairman)
David Grove (Chief Executive)

Old Mutual Securities              0121 710 4501
Richard Welton

Rawlings PR                        01756 770376
John Rawlings
Catriona Valentine



The  directors of Hill & Smith accept responsibility  for
the  information contained in this announcement  and,  to
the  best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all
reasonable  care to ensure that such is  the  case),  the
information   contained  in  this  announcement   is   in
accordance  with  the facts and does  not  omit  anything
likely to affect the import of such information.

Old  Mutual Securities, which is regulated in the  United
Kingdom  by The Securities and Futures Authority Limited,
is acting exclusively for Hill & Smith and no one else in
connection with the Offer and will not be responsible  to
anyone  other  than  Hill  &  Smith  for  providing   the
protections   afforded  to  customers   of   Old   Mutual
Securities or for giving advice in relation to the Offer.

The  Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly,  in
or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.