Holding in Company

Allen PLC
15 February 2001


Letter to Allen Plc
13 February 2001

Companies Act 1985 (as amended):
Disclosure of Interests in Shares

In accordance with Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 (as amended) (the 'Act'),
we write to inform you that Prudential Plc and certain of its subsidiary
companies have a notifiable interest in the issued share capital of your company
as detailed in the schedule below.

For the purposes of S210 of the Act, the address for those companies identified
in the schedule below is Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R OHH.

                Notifiable Position Report for Allen Ord GBP0.05 
                             as at 12 February 2001            

Percentage holdings are calculated using an issued share capital of 
41,535,835 Ord GBP0.05 shares

                   Registered Holder                 Holding     %  

Prudential Plc                                      4,913,053  11.82  Total 
                                                                      Notifiable
                                                                      Interest
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD MGG       2,663,053
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD RIT         550,000
                   PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC  1,700,000

M&G Group Limited                                   4,913,053  11.82
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD MGG       2,663,053
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD RIT         550,000
                   PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC  1,700,000

M&G Investment                                      4,913,053  11.82
Management Limited
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD MGG       2,663,053
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD RIT         550,000
                   PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC  1,700,000

M&G Limited                                         4,913,053  11.82
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD MGG       2,663,053
                   CLYDESDALE BK NOMS LTD RIT         550,000
                   PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC  1,700,000

The Prudential
Assurance Company
Limited                                             1,700,000   4.09
                   PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC  1,700,000


Letter from M&G Investment Management Ltd.