Holding in Company

Oxford Instruments PLC
2 August 2001


The Company has been notified today for the purposes of S.198 Companies Act
1985: as amended by the Disclosure of Interest in Shares (Amendment)
Regulations 1993 (ORD 5p) that Phillips & Drew Life Limited has a notifiable
interest in 1,825,665 Ordinary Shares of 5p each which, represents 3.81% of
the issued share capital of Oxford Instruments plc.

The shares to which this notification relates are registered as follows:

Registered Holder                           Number of Shares
Phildrew Nominees Limited a/c LF09              177,108
Phildrew Nominees Limited a/c LF20            1,648,557
                                              ----------
TOTAL                                         1,825,665

Phillips & Drew Life Limited is a subsidiary of UBS Asset Management Holding
(No. 2) Limited, which is also treated as having an interest in the above
shares.

Della Gorham (Mrs)
Assistant Company Secretary