Birse Group PLC - Hldg by Nat.Westminster Bk

RNS No 5560w
BIRSE GROUP PLC
13th March 1998

TO BIRSE GROUP PLC

SECTION 198 COMPANIES ACT 1985

We, National Westminster Bank Plc, on behalf of:

      NatWest Asset Management Holdings Ltd
      Asset Management Holdings Plc
and   Gartmore Investment Management Plc

write to advise you pursuant to Section 198 of the Companies Act 1985 (the Act)
that:

1.  This notification relates to the ordinary 10p share capital of Birse Group
plc.

2.  The number of shares in which we know we and the aforementioned companies
were interested, for the purposes of sections 208 and 209 of the Act,
immediately after the time when the obligation arose, are shown on the schedule
below.

3.  The identities of the registered holders of these shares and the number of
shares held by each holder, so far as is known to us at the date of this
notification, are shown on the schedule.

4.  The percentages quoted on the schedule are based on your issued ordinary
share capital of 191,773,294 as advised to us by Extel.

5.  None of the shares on the schedule relates to interests as mentioned in
Section 208 (5) of the Act.

6.  Gartmore Investment Ltd is interested in 27,898,961 shares.  Of this
figure National Westminster Life Assurance Ltd is interested in 9,625,961
shares.  None of these companies have come under a further obligation to make a
disclosure as defined under Section 199 of the Act.  These figures are included
in the interest on the schedule below.
                                                               

From:  J.C. Melson
       Head of Share Disclosure

Schedule of registered holders for notification S198-L01/JCM/98249

Registered Holder                             Number of Shares   Percentage

BNY GIL CLIENT A/C Nominees Ltd                   2,000,000
Capital Strategy Fund Ltd                         1,000,000
Chase Nominees Ltd                               11,825,961
County NatWest Investment Nominees Ltd            4,250,000
GIL Nominees Ltd                                    623,000
Indosuez Euro Small Comp.                           600,000
Midland Bank Trust Co                             5,650,000
NatWest Corporate Nominees Ltd                    2,800,000
Royal Bank of Scotland Edinburgh Nominees Ltd     1,600,000
Vidacos Nominees Ltd                                350,000

Total interest of Gartmore Investment Management Plc
                  Asset Management Holdings Plc
                  NatWest Asset Management 
                                   Holdings Ltd  30,698,961          16.00

Fielding Nominees Ltd                                 56,000
Finserve Nominees Ltd                                 92,000

Total interest of National Westminster Bank Plc   30,846,961          16.08

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