Birse Group Plc - Holding by Nat.Westminster Bk

RNS No 6351a
BIRSE GROUP PLC
2nd December 1998



LETTER TO: BIRSE GROUP PLC                

We, National Westminster Bank 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 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 below.
4.  The percentage quoted on the schedule below is based on your issued ordinary
    share capital of 192,389,534 as advised to us by Extel.
5.  None of the shares on the schedule below relates to interests as mentioned
    in Section 208(5) of the Act.
6.  NatWest Asset Management Holdings Ltd, Asset Management Holdings Plc and
    Gartmore Investment Management Plc are interested in 22,898,961 shares.
    Of this figure Gartmore Investment Ltd are interested in 20,358,961 shares.
    None of these companies have come under a further obligation to make a 
    disclosure as defined under Section 199 of the Act.  These interests are
    included on the schedule below.

SCHEDULE OF REGISTERED HOLDERS FOR NOTIFICATION S198-L01/JCM/98820

Registered Holder                                Number of Shares     %     
BNY GIL CLient A/C Nominees Ltd                     7,413,000 
Capital Strategy Fund Ltd                           1,000,000 
Chase Nominees Ltd                                  7,585,961 
Fielding Nominees Ltd                                  50,000 
Finserve Nominees Ltd                                  92,000 
Indosuez Euro Small Comp.                             600,000 
Midland Bank Trust Co.                              4,700,000 
RBSTB Nominees Ltd                                  1,600,000

Total Interest of National Westminster Bank Plc    23,040,961        11.97


END

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