Holding in Company

Weir Group PLC
17 May 2001



TO: COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT OFFICE

We confirm having today received notification from AXA S.A. and its subsidiaries
in terms of the Companies Act 1985 that the companies as set out in the schedule
below have a notifiable interest in the issued share capital of the company.

FROM: THE WEIR GROUP PLC




                       DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST IN SHARES OF

           APPENDIX - NOTICE UNDER SECTION 198 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 1985

                         WEIR GROUP PLC ord 12.5p shares


Name of the          Number of        Particulars of              Registered as
Company/Fund          Shares          Beneficial owners


AXA UK Investment
 Co ICVC                 5,599        Trustees of AXA UK         HSBC Global
UK Tracker Fund                       Investment Co ICVC         Custody
(Non Material)                        UK Tracker Fund            Nominee (UK)
                                                                 Limited      


Sun Life Assurance    
 Society Plc          4,346,033       Sun Life Assurance         HSBC Global
 (Material)                            Society Plc                Custody
                                                                  Nominee (UK)
                                                                  Limited

Sun Life Pensions
 Management Ltd           1,300       Sun Life Pensions
(Material)                             Management Ltd            Smith &
                                                                  Williamson
                                                                  Nominees Ltd

Sun Life Pensions
 Management Ltd          29,696       Sun Life Pensions          RBSTB nominees
(Material)                             Management Ltd             designation
                                                                  Sunpen

Sun Life International  200,000       Sun Life International
(IOM) Ltd                              (IOM) Ltd                 Sun Life
(Material)                                                        International

AXA Sun Life plc      5,966,803       AXA Sun Life plc           AXA Sun Life 
(frmly Axa Equity                      (frmly Axa Equity          plc
 & Law Life                             & Law Life
 Assurance Society                      Assurance Society
 plc)                                   plc)
(Material)


                     
                                           Holding as % of Issued Capital
       
    Total Material   10,543,832                     5.25

  Total Non-Material      5,599                     0.00

              Total  10,549,431                     5.25%