SAR - British Biotech PLC

RNS Number:2483N
Amvescap PLC
07 July 2003

                                                   FORM SAR 3


Lodge with Company Announcements Office and the Panel.  A copy must also be sent to the company the
shares of which are acquired.

                                                                           Date of disclosure 7 JULY 2003

                             DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 3 OF THE RULES GOVERNING

                               SUBSTANTIAL ACQUISITIONS OF SHARES ("SARs")

Date of acquisition  4 JULY 2003

Acquisition in ......... BRITISH BIOTECH PLC ....... (name of company)

(1)     Class of voting shares          Number of shares/rights          If rights over shares

        (eg ordinary shares)            over shares acquired             acquired, as opposed

                                                                         to the shares

                                                                         themselves, specify

                                                                         nature of rights

        ORDINARY 5P                     3,405,000 shares                         -
             -                          N/A       rights                         -

(2)     Resultant total holding         Resultant total holding          Total percentage

        of voting shares (and %         of rights over shares

        of total voting shares          (and % of total voting

        in issue)                       shares in issue)

        13,732,432 (20.576%)                           -                 13,732,432 (20.576%)

(3)     Party making disclosure................ AMVESCAP PLC .................

(4)     (a)   Name of person acquiring shares or rights over shares  DISCRETIONARY

                                                       MANAGED CLIENTS OF AMVESCAP

              and, if different, beneficial owner ...............................

        (b)   Names of any other persons acting by

              agreement or understanding (see SAR 5)..............................


Signed, for and on behalf of the party named in (3) above...... R. CLYDE ....

(Also print name of signatory)............ ROBERT CLYDE ....................

Telephone and extension number........... 020 7065 3720.....................

Note. Under SAR 5, the holdings of and acquisitions by persons acting by

agreement or understanding must be aggregated and treated as a holding of or

acquisition by one person.  Note 3 on SAR 5 requires persons who must aggregate

holdings to disclose certain disposals.




For full details of the SARs disclosure requirements, see Rules 3 and 5 of the
SARs.  If in doubt, contact the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, Monitoring

Section.  Tel. No: 020 7638 0129.  Email:[e-mail]






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