Holding(s) in Company

Cairn Energy PLC
14 November 2005



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                               14 November 2005


                           Cairn Energy PLC ('Cairn')

   Notification of Shareholding - Companies Act 1985 ss.198-202 (as amended)

On 11 November 2005, Cairn was notified by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers
Group Limited ('MLIM') on behalf of itself and certain of its subsidiaries, that
they had an aggregate interest in 19,247,877 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in
Cairn, representing approximately 12.05% of Cairn's current issued ordinary
share capital.

The registered holders to which this notification relates and the number of
shares held by those registered holders as at 11 November (if known) were as
follows:-

Registered Holder                         Number of      Nature of Interest
                                          Shares

Nutraco Nominees Limited (Des & Undes)      10,027,204   Non-beneficial
Possfund (MAM) Nominees Limited                488,081   Non-beneficial
Britel (MAM) Nominees Limited                  593,336   Non-beneficial
Treasury of the Government of the Isle
of Man Nominess A/C 5                          182,830   Non-beneficial
Treasury of the Government of the Isle
of Man Nominees A/C 10                         214,310   Non-beneficial
Stamford Nominees Limited                        1,000   Non-beneficial
Merrill Lynch Pensions Nominees Limited
A/C Noncert                                    897,031   Beneficial
Other Name(s)                                6,844,085   Non-beneficial
                                            19,247,877   12.05%




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