SAR - UCM Group PLC

3i Group PLC
18 December 2000

                                                            FORM SAR 5


                                       Date of disclosure..18.12.00...

             DISCLOSURE UNDER NOTE 3 OF RULE 5 OF THE RULES GOVERNING
                   SUBSTANTIAL ACQUISITIONS OF SHARES ('SARs')
                 

Date of sale....15.12.00..................................................

Sale of.........UCM Group plc............................(name of company)


(1) Class of voting shares    Number of shares/rights   If rights over shares
    (eg ordinary shares)      over shares sold          sold, as opposed
                                                        to the shares
                                                        themselves, specify
                                                        nature of rights

    ...Ords 5p............    ....250,000......shares    .......N/A........
                              ....N/A..........rights


(2) Resultant total holding   Resultant total holding   Total percentage
    of voting shares (and %   of rights over shares
    of total voting shares    (and % of total voting
    in issue)                 shares in issue)

    ...3,489,205....(14.58%)  .....N/A......(    %)     ....14.58%..(    %)


(3) Party making disclosure....3i Group plc.................................  

(4)  (a)  Name of person selling shares or rights over shares .3i Group plc.
          and, if different, beneficial owner............................... 

     (b)  Names of any other persons acting by
          agreement or understanding (see SAR 5)............................
          .............3i Smaller Quoted Companies Trust plc................


Signed, for and on behalf of the party named in (3) above...................

(Also print name of signatory).....J Davies - Authorised Signatory..........

Telephone and extension number.....0207 928 3131............................


For full details of the SARs disclosure requirements, see Rules 3 and 5 of the
SARs.  If in doubt, contact the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, 
Tel. No: 020 7382 9026.