Holding in Company

McBride PLC
24 April 2001


Letter to:  Company Announcements Office

On 24 April 2001, McBride plc received the following notification dated 23 April
2001 from Franklin Resources Inc.:

S.198 Companies Act - Disclosure of Share Interests

We are acting on behalf of Franklin Resources, Inc and its affiliates, which
includes Franklin Mutual Advisors, LLC and Templeton Worldwide, Inc. and its
affiliates.  Franklin Resources, Inc and its affiliates perform investment
management and advisory services for clients on a global basis.

We wish to advise you of interests in the share capital of your Company under
management of Franklin Resources, Inc. and its affiliates on behalf of clients,
as detailed in the schedule below.

Registered Holder               No. of shares     % of Class

Chase Nominees Ltd, London         13,842,870         7.7927
State Street Bank, London             350,000         0.1970
                                   ----------         ------
TOTAL                              14,192,870         7.9897
                                   ==========         ======

Letter from:  McBride PLC