J Rothschild Partnership New Business Up 17%

St. James's Place Capital PLC
21 January 2000


                         J. ROTHSCHILD ASSURANCE GROUP
                         ANNOUNCES  NEW BUSINESS FROM
                     THE J. ROTHSCHILD PARTNERSHIP UP 17%
                                       
                                                                           
Sales  through  the  Group's sole UK marketing arm,  The  J.  Rothschild
Partnership rose by 17% for the year to 31 December 1999.


Highlights for the year and increases over 1998 were:

     New regular premiums                                  £59.1m   +11%
     New single premiums                                   £557.7m  +23%
     New unit trust (including PEPs and ISAs) premiums     £152.7m  +26%
     Total new business                                    £130.1m  +17%


Total Group funds under management were £4.6 bn an increase of 46% since
the beginning of the year.

The size of The J. Rothschild Partnership, the sole UK marketing arm  of
the J. Rothschild Assurance Group increased by 9%, from 891 to 972, during    
the year.   On  average, members of  The J. Rothschild Partnership have 12    
years experience in financial services.

Mike Wilson, Group Chief Executive, commented:

'We are delighted with the rising trend in new business from The J. Rothschild
Partnership, up 25% in the second half, compared with 10% growth in the  first
half.

With  a  9%  increase in the number of Partners and a continuing increase  in
productivity  per  Partner,  we  look  forward  to  the  future   with   great
confidence'.


                         J. ROTHSCHILD ASSURANCE GROUP
                             NEW BUSINESS FIGURES
                         FOR YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 1999
                                       
                 ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL
                                       
                                       
                                                                      
                              Unaudited                Unaudited      
                             3 Months to                 year to
                             31 December              31 December
                                1999                     1999
                                                                    
The J. Rothschild         1999  1998   Growth      1999    1998  Growth
Partnership
                           £'m   £'m        %       £'m     £'m     %
Life and Pension Business                                                   
                                                                    
New Regular Premiums                                                        
Life                       7.9   6.5      22%      25.6    21.1   21%
Pension                    9.9   8.7      14%      33.5    32.3    4%
                                                                    
                          17.8  15.2      17%      59.1    53.4   11%
                                                                    
New Single Premiums                                                 
Life                     147.3  84.9      73%     475.5   358.0   33%
Pension                   18.2  38.1     (52%)     82.2    94.5  (13%)
                                                                    
                         165.5 123.0      35%     557.7   452.5   23%
                                                                    
Unit Trust Business                                                 
(including PEPs and ISAs) 

                                                                    
New Single Premiums       37.0  22.4      65%     152.7   121.1   26%
                                                                    
Total New Business        38.1  29.7      28%     130.1   110.8   17%
from The J. Rothschild
Partnership
                                                                    
                                                                    
                                                                    
International              0.2   1.0    (80%)       1.6     3.5  (54%)
Distribution
                                                                    
                                                                    
Miscellaneous              0.1   0.1       0%       0.5     1.2  (58%)
Distribution
                                                                    
                                       
                         J. ROTHSCHILD ASSURANCE GROUP
                             NEW BUSINESS FIGURES
                         FOR YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 1999
                                       
                                                                  
                           Unaudited               Unaudited        
                          3 Months to              year to
                          31 December            31 December
                              1999                  1999
                                                                    
Total Group           1999   1998  Growth      1999  1998  Growth
Business
                       £'m    £'m       %       £'m   £'m       %
Life and Pension                                                 
Business
                                                                 
New Regular Premiums                                                    
Life                   8.1    7.6      7%      27.3  24.5     11%
Pension                9.9    8.7     14%      33.5  32.3      4%
                                                                 
                      18.0   16.3     10%      60.8  56.8      7%
                                                                 
New Single Premiums                                                      
Life                 147.5   85.8     72%     477.7 363.8     31%
Pension               18.2   38.1    (52%)     82.2  94.5    (13%)
                                                                 
                     165.7  123.9     34%     559.9 458.3     22%
                                                                 
Unit Trust Business                                                      
(including PEPs 
and ISAs)
                                                                 
New Single Premiums   37.6   22.5     67%     154.0 129.3     19%

                                                                 
Total New Business                                                       
                                                                 
Life                  22.9   16.2     41%      75.1  60.9     23%
Pension               11.7   12.5    (6%)      41.7  41.8      0%
Unit Trust             3.8    2.2     67%      15.4  12.9     19%
                                                                 
                      38.4   30.9     24%     132.2 115.6     14%
                                                                 
                                       

                         J. ROTHSCHILD ASSURANCE GROUP
                             NEW BUSINESS FIGURES
                         FOR YEAR TO 31 DECEMBER 1999
                                       
                                       
                                       
Notes to Editors



1.  St.  James's  Place  Capital plc, which is listed on  the  London  Stock
    Exchange, is the ultimate holding company of the companies comprising the 
    J. Rothschild Assurance Group.

2.  'Total New Business' is calculated following  the convention in the  life
    assurance industry, by adding together new regular premiums and one-tenth 
    of single premiums.

3.  'International distribution' last year represented less than 3% of total
    Group Premiums.  During 1999 J. Rothschild International withdrew from    
    certain territories.  This was ahead of a relaunch under Paul           
        Bradshaw concentrating on Europe.

4. 'Miscellaneous distribution' represents business which comes to the group
   from sources other than The J. Rothschild Partnership or its               
   International business.