Holding in Company

Ascot PLC
19 October 2000

                      Ascot Plc 
                               

Ascot Plc has been advised on 18 October 2000 by Scudder
Threadneedle Investments Limited that Zurich Allied AG has
ceased to have a disclosable interest in the Company, whilst a
disclosable interest has been acquired by a new ultimate
holding company, Zurich Financial Services, incorporated and
quoted in Switzerland.  The current notifiable interest
amounts to 2,765,275 ordinary shares which represents
approximately 3.63% of the Company's issued ordinary share
capital.

Zurich Financial Services has been renamed Zurich Group
Holding.