Offer Update

Macfarlane Group PLC
7 November 2000

                               
  NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE
                        UNITED STATES,
      CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR JAPAN
______________________________________________________________
                               
  MACFARLANE GROUP PLC ('MACFARLANE') CASH OFFER FOR BRITISH
               POLYTHENE INDUSTRIES PLC ('BPI')

The  board of Macfarlane announces that as at 3.00 p.m.  on  7
November  2000,  being the first closing date  of  the  Offer,
valid  acceptances  of the Offer had been  received  from  BPI
shareholders submitting 176 Forms of Acceptance in respect  of
459,113 BPI shares, representing 1.24 per cent. of the  issued
share  capital of BPI subject to the Offer. Together with  the
325,000  BPI  shares acquired by Macfarlane before  the  Offer
Period,  which represents 0.88 per cent. of the  issued  share
capital of BPI, Macfarlane now owns or has secured acceptances
over  784,113  BPI shares representing 2.12 per cent.  of  the
issued share capital of BPI.

The  Offer  has been extended until 3.00 p.m. on  28  November
2000.   BPI  shareholders who have not yet accepted the  Offer
are  urged to complete and return their Form of Acceptance  as
soon as possible.

Other  than  as  disclosed above, neither Macfarlane  nor  any
persons acting in concert with Macfarlane owned any BPI shares
(or   rights  over  such  shares)  immediately  prior  to  the
commencement of the Offer Period, nor have acquired or  agreed
to  acquire any BPI shares (or rights over such shares) during
the Offer Period.

Words and expressions defined in the Offer Document issued  on
behalf  of  Macfarlane  on  17 October  2000,  have  the  same
meanings in this announcement, unless otherwise indicated.

Enquiries:

Macfarlane Group PLC
Iain Duffin                                  0141 333 9666

Noble Grossart Limited
Sir Angus Grossart                           0131 226 7011
Todd Nugent

HSBC
John Hannaford                               020 7336 9000

Beattie Media
Gordon Beattie                               01698 787878

Bell Pottinger
Kate Power                                   020 7353 9203

                               
Copies  of  the  Offer Document, Form of  Acceptance  and  the
document  sent  to  BPI shareholders on 2  November  2000  are
available free of charge from Lloyds TSB Registrars,  Antholin
House,  71 Queen Street, London EC4N 1SL (telephone  [phone]
2027).

The  directors  of  Macfarlane (whose names  are  set  out  in
paragraph   2  of  Part  7  of  the  Offer  Document)   accept
responsibility   for  the  information   contained   in   this
announcement  and to the best of the knowledge and  belief  of
the  directors  of Macfarlane (who have 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.

Noble  Grossart Limited, which is regulated in the UK  by  The
Securities   and   Futures  Authority   Limited,   is   acting
exclusively for Macfarlane and no one else in relation to  the
Offer  and  will not be responsible to any person  other  than
Macfarlane for providing the protections afforded to customers
of  Noble Grossart Limited or for giving advice in relation to
the Offer.