Director Shareholding

Next PLC
17 April 2002

Next ESOP Trust

On 17 April 2002 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 87,825 Ordinary Shares of 10p
each in Next plc to satisfy share options exercised by employees of the Company.

Executive Directors of Next plc who are participants in the Company share option
schemes are deemed to be discretionary beneficiaries of the Trust and are
consequently considered to be interested in all of the shares held by the Trust
which amount to 7,884,425.

Next ESOP Trust

The Next ESOP Trust has purchased the following ordinary shares of 10p each in
Next plc:

Date of Acquisition            No of Shares                    Price
                                                               Per Share

12 April 2002                  250,000                         1071.92p      





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