Holding in Company

Electrocomponents PLC
7 January 2002

                            Electrocomponents plc

                      Notification of Material Interest

The Company has today received a notification from M&G Investment Management
Limited, pursuant to sections 198 - 202 of the Companies Acts, of its
interests in the Ordinary Shares of 10p each ('Shares') in the Company. The
notification reflects recent changes within M&G Investment Management Limited,
and includes the notifiable interests held by Prudential plc's subsidiary
company, The Prudential Assurance Company Limited.

The Company was informed that the notifiable interests of Prudential Plc are
as follows:

PRUDENTIAL PLC - total notifiable interest 21,497,665, % of Ordinary Share
Capital 4.94%

Registered Holders:
M&G (Lombard St) Noms FPE                                                61,416
MAGIM HSBC GIS NOM (UK) SALI                                             52,599
PACS Global Equities (UK)                                                 9,340
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC                                      18,844,240
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PPL AC                                       1,424,647
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) SAL AC                                           5,685
Prudential Holborn Pensions LD                                            2,386
Prudential UK Index Tracker TS                                            1,834
Prudential World Value Fund                                              58,620
ROY Nominees 578079                                                      57,508
ROY Noms Ltd 578052                                                      28,052
ROY Noms Ltd 578141                                                     163,688
ROY Noms Ltd 578192                                                     787,650



The Company was informed that the notifiable interests of the Prudential
Assurance Company Limited are as follows:

THE PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED - total notifiable interest
20,336,511, % of Ordinary Share Capital 4.67% which is a drop from their
previous holding of 4.67% of the Ordinary Share Capital.

Registered Holders:
MAGIM HSBC GIS NOM (UK) SALI                                             52,599
PACS Global Equities (UK)                                                 9,340
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC                                      18,844,240
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PPL AC                                       1,424,647
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) SAL AC                                           5,685



IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE INTEREST OF THE PRUDENTIAL ASSURANCE COMPANY
LIMITED IS INCLUDED IN, AND IS NOT ADDITIONAL TO, THAT OF PRUDENTIAL PLC.





CARMELINA CARFORA

Group Company Secretary

7 January 2002