Holding in Company

Cairn Energy PLC
21 July 2000


On 20 July 2000 Cairn was notified under Sections 198 - 202 of the Companies
Act 1985 (as amended) that on 19 July 2000 Standard Life Investments purchased
on behalf of Standard Life Group 50,000 Ordinary Shares of 10p each in the
share capital of Cairn, increasing its total holding to 4,420,062 Ordinary
Shares.  This represents 3.00% of Cairn's current issued ordinary share
capital.

The registered holder to which this notification relates and the number of
shares held by the registered holder as at 20 July is as follows:-

       REGISTERED HOLDER                   NUMBER OF SHARES

       Stanlife Nominees Limited              4,420,062