Holding in Company

Ascot PLC
9 March 2001


                      Ascot Plc ('Ascot')                               

Ascot has today been advised that Schroder Investment
Management Limited holds an interest in 11,577,623 ordinary
shares in the company.  These shares are held in portfolios
managed on a discretionary basis for clients under investment
management agreements.

These shares are or will be registered as follows:

Schroder Nominees Limited                            3,632,338
Chase Nominees Limited                               3,983,076
N.C.R.                                                 256,538
B.B.C. Pension Trust Limited Fund 'A'                2,239,441
Marsh Mercer                                           125,000
MANWEB Group                                           600,000
HLE                                                     60,000
Nortel Networks UK                                     500,000
Frank Russell                                          181,230
                                                    ----------
                                                    11,577,623
                                                    ----------

Schroder Hermes is managing 100,992 shares in (a) portfolio(s)
on a passive (index tracker) basis for clients under
investment management agreements.  These shares are registered
or to be registered in the name of Chase Nominees Limited.

Schroders plc and its subsidiaries therefore hold a total
interest in 11,678,615 ordinary shares in the company
representing 15.330% of their issued ordinary share capital.