Holding in Company

Esporta PLC
4 January 2001

                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

ESPORTA PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

LONDON MERCHANT SECURITIES PLC

3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

AS ABOVE

4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

LONDON MERCHANT SECURITIES PLC

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

N/A

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

11,355,625

8)   (6.8 %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

ORDINARY 25p SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

29 DECEMBER 2000

11)  Date company informed

2 JANUARY 2001

12)  Total holding following this notification

NIL
               
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

0%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

VICTORIA PENRICE  0118 912 3505

16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification .....4 JANUARY 2001.....