Offer Update

Macfarlane Group PLC
21 November 2000



 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO
                   THE UNITED STATES,
   CANADA, AUSTRALIA, THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND OR JAPAN



    MACFARLANE GROUP PLC OFFER FOR BRITISH POLYTHENE
                     INDUSTRIES PLC
                            
                RESPONSE TO BPI DOCUMENT


The  Board  of Macfarlane Group PLC ('Macfarlane')  notes
the  latest  announcement by British Polythene Industries
PLC ('BPI').

Iain Duffin, Chief Executive of Macfarlane, said:

'The Board of Macfarlane notes BPI's announcement and  is
considering its position.'


Enquiries:

Bell Pottinger Financial                        020 7353 9203
David Rydell
Kate Power

Beattie Media                                    01698 787878
Gordon Beattie

Macfarlane                                       0141 333 9666
Iain Duffin, Chief Executive

Noble Grossart Limited                           0131 226 7011
Sir Angus Grossart
Todd Nugent

HSBC                                             020 7336 9000
John Hannaford

Noble  Grossart Limited, which is regulated in the UK  by
The  Securities and Futures Authority Limited, is  acting
for  Macfarlane  and no one else in connection  with  the
offer  and  will not be responsible to any  person  other
than Macfarlane for providing the protections afforded to
customers  of  Noble Grossart Limited, or  for  providing
advice in relation to the offer.

The offer is not being made in the United States, Canada,
Australia,  Republic  of Ireland  or  Japan.  Accordingly
copies  of  the offer document and the form of acceptance
are  not  being  and  must  not be  mailed  or  otherwise
distributed or sent in, into, or from, the United States,
Canada,  Australia,  Republic of  Ireland  or  Japan  and
persons  receiving such documents (including  custodians,
nominees  and trustees) must not distribute or send  them
in,  into  or from the United States, Canada,  Australia,
Republic of Ireland or Japan.