Holding(s) in Company

RNS Number:4882O
Associated British Ports Hldgs PLC
8 August 2003


                  DEALINGS BY SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

ASSOCIATED BRITISH PORTS HOLDINGS PLC

2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

HARRIS ASSOCIATES L.P.

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 THE ABOVE NAMED SHAREHOLDER

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

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION (BELOW)


5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.


6)   Percentage of issued class


7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed


8)   Percentage of issued class


9)   Class of security

ORDINARY SHARES OF 25 PENCE


10)  Date of transaction


11)  Date company informed

8 AUGUST 2003


12)  Total holding following this notification


13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED NOTIFICATION (BELOW)


14)  Any additional information


15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

AVRIL WINSON
020 7430 6848

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

     AVRIL WINSON
     Deputy Company Secretary &
     Deputy Head of Group Personnel

     Date of Notification        8 AUGUST, 2003




Letter to Associated British Ports Holdings plc

August 7, 2003

Associated British Ports Holdings plc
Mr. Hywel Rees
150 Holborn Street
London, EC1N 2LR
United Kingdom

Dear Mr Rees,

We are writing to notify you pursuant to the Disclosure of Interests in Shares
(Amendment) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993 No. 1819) of our interest in investment
holdings in the ordinary share capital of Associated British Ports.  Following
a purchase of 159,000 shares on August 6, 2003, accounts managed by Harris
Associates L.P. became the beneficial owners of 19,726,909 shares of Associated
British Ports.  This represents 6.05% of the company and an above the 6% filing
threshold.  The following is a breakdown as of August 6, 2003:

Account Name                                    Shares Owned      % of Company
Oakmark International Fund                      7,572,899               2.32%
AGF International Value                         6,166,595               1.89%
Harris Associates International Value L.P.      1,316,500               0.40%
BMG Foundation                                    845,600               0.26%
Illinois Teachers                                 800,000               0.25%
Nuclear Electric                                  616,615               0.19%
Pennsylvania State Retirement                     539,000               0.17%
MetLife Concentrated International                500,500               0.15%
MMIF Overseas Fund                                410,200               0.13%
Schwab International                              269,500               0.08%
Met Fund                                          263,000               0.08%
Levi Strauss Foundation                           103,900               0.03%
Boise Cascade                                      93,100               0.03%
CDC Nvest Star International                       86,300               0.03%
AGF International Class                            71,700               0.02%
AGF Harmony                                        71,500               0.02%

                                               19,726,909               6.05%

Percentages are based on 326,203,000 outstanding shares.  All holdings of
Associated British Ports are for investment purposes only.  If you have any
questions or require further information, please call me at [phone].

Letter from:
John Kane
Manager, Mutual Fund and Institutional Services
Harris Associates L.P. (advisor to The Oakmark Funds)




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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