Holding in Company

Fleming Mercantile Inv Trust PLC
19 December 2000

                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     THE FLEMING MERCANTILE INVESTMENT TRUST PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION

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

     IN RESPECT OF SHAREHOLDER IN 2 ABOVE     

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

     FLEMING INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LTD:                    4,516,533
     FLEMING INVESTMENT TRUST MNGMT LTD:                   2,231,018
     FLEMING PRIVATE ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD                    498,769
     FLEMING UNIT TRUST MNGMT LTD:                           124,200
     SAVE & PROSPER EQUITY PLAN MANAGERS LTD:              3,767,975
     SAVE & PROSPER GROUP LTD (LIFE INSURANCE & PENSIONS): 3,755,490

5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     NOT STATED

6)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     NOT STATED 

8)   ( N/A %) of issued Class

9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES

10)  Date of transaction

     NOT STATED

11)  Date company informed

     19-DEC-2000

12)  Total holding following this notification

     14,893,985
              
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     10.96%

14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     FRASER EASTON - 020 7742 3425

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

     Date of Notification ..19 DECEMBER 2000