Holding in Company

3i Group PLC
12 February 2001



LETTER TO: COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFICE

                       SECTION 198 COMPANIES ACT 1985
                The Listing Rules Chapter 9, Paragraph 9.11

Today, Monday 12 February 2001, 3i Group plc received a notification by reason
of the provisions of Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985.

The notification relates to the cessation of a notifiable interest in the share
capital of 3i Group plc of CGNU plc. A copy of the notification letter is
below.

LETTER FROM: 3i GROUP PLC


LETTER TO: 3i GROUP PLC

DATED 8TH FEBRUARY 2001 

3i GROUP PLC (THE 'COMPANY')

This notification supersedes our previous notification to you dated 16 November
2000.

This notification relates to issued ordinary shares of 50p each in the capital
of the Company (the 'shares') and is given in fulfilment of the obligations
imposed by sections 198 to 202 of the Companies Act 1985 (the 'Act').

Notification on behalf of CGNU plc

CGNU plc no longer have a notifiable interest in the shares.

If you require further information as to which companies in the CGNU group hold
interests in the shares (by virtue of s.203 of the Act) please submit a written
request and we will be happy to supply this information.

We are only required to notify interests which are defined as material interests
when the holding is equal to 3% or more of the Company's relevant share capital.
The term material interests exclude certain categories where we do not hold a
beneficial interest, for example where the shares are held in an Authorised Unit
Trust Scheme or Open Ended Investment Company. Holdings in those categories are
therefore not included in the holding notified under this letter. If you wish us
to confirm the level of holdings in these categories, please let us know.

LETTER FROM: CGNU PLC



APPENDIX: CGNU PLC


REGISTERED HOLDERS                        NUMBER OF SHARES HELD

BNY (Nominees) Limited                      14,200   (Material)

BNY Norwich Union Nominees Limited       9,105,739   (Material)

BT Globenet Nominees Limited                 1,500   (Material)

Chase GA Group Nominees Limited          6,606,282   (Material)

Chase GA Pension Nominees Limited           57,500   (Material)

CUIM Nominee Limited                     2,075,960   (Material)

Hibernian Investment Managers Limited       63,200   (Material)


TOTAL PERCENTAGE INTEREST OF CGNU PLC: 2.95%

ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL ON WHICH THIS NOTIFICATION IS BASED: 607,121,727