Holding in Company

Smith(David S)(Holdings) PLC
4 April 2001



The Company was informed today that Deutsche Bank AG and its subsidiary
companies have a notifiable interest in the ordinary shares of the Company of
10.36%.  Please see schedule below for full details.


Letter to Smith (David S) Holdings PLC - Dated 3 April 2001

In accordance with Sections 198-202 of the Companies Act 1985, we write on
behalf of Deutsche Bank AG, to inform you that, on the basis that the relevant
issued share capital of your company is 320,820,389 ordinary shares, Deutsche
Bank AG and its subsidiary companies have a notifiable interest in the shares of
10.36%. The total interest is in 33,264,444 shares registered in the names and
in the amounts as set out in the Schedule below.

Deutsche Bank AG is a corporation domiciled in Frankfurt, Germany, of which
Deutsche Bank AG London is a branch.

Companies within the Group acting as Fund Managers hold some of the shares on
behalf of a number of clients whose portfolios are managed on a discretionary
basis.

If you require any further information concerning this notification please
contact David Lindsay or Cheryl Slater in the London Compliance Department of
Deutsche Bank AG.

Letter from Deutsche Bank AG London


SCHEDULE 

                           SMITH (DAVID S.) HOLDINGS PLC
                                ORDINARY 10P SHARES

HELD AS PRINCIPAL                                             NO. OF SHARES

Morgan Grenfell & Co. Ltd.                                         307,105
Deutsche Bank AG London                                            651,321

HELD IN CUSTOMER PORTFOLIOS

Morgan Nominees                                                 14,243,707
Morgan Nominees Account CSL                                        113,000
Morgan Nominees Account ENF                                        357,300
Morgan Nominees Account LAM                                        435,400
Morgan Nominees Account NG                                         188,618
Morgan Nominees Account PGP                                         78,000
Morgan Nominees Account SL                                       1,039,116
BT Globenet Nominees Ltd                                           432,311
Chase Nominees                                                   1,992,737
Chase Nominees Account 14186                                       206,900
Clydesdale Bank Custodian Nominees                                 273,886
Deutsche Bank International Limited                                281,447
MSS Nominees                                                     1,044,000
Nortrust Nominees                                                6,107,851
Perry Nominees                                                     216,560
RBSTB Nominees                                                   1,652,639
State Street Nominees                                            3,329,646
Vidacos Nominees                                                   312,900

TOTAL                                                           33,264,444

NOTE: The shares comprised under this notification may, from time to time, be
      the subject of a stock lending agreement resulting in a change in
      registration but not in DBAG's interest in the shares.

3 April 2001