Merrill Lynch(EMM) - EMM Disclosure

RNS Number:2447G
Merrill Lynch International
25 February 2000

                          FORM 38.5 (SUMMARY)                                 
               

Lodge with Company Announcements Office and the Panel.  Use a separate form   
for each class of securities in which dealings have been made.                
                                


                       CONNECTED EXEMPT MARKET-MAKERS:                        
                        
    DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS      
                                          


Name of EMM               Merrill Lynch International                         

Date of disclosure        February 25, 2000                                   

Contact name              Linda Blatt                                   

Telephone number          0171 772 1040                                    


Please see attached disclosure of dealings under Rule 38.5 in the securities  
of the following companies:                                                 
                                                 
BTP plc                                                 
Ocean Group Plc                                                 
NFC Plc                                                 


AMENDMENT                                                 

If the attached Rule 38.5 disclosure is to amend a previous disclosure, please
state which element(s) of previous disclosure was incorrect:                  
In the case of option business or dealings in derivatives full details should 
be given on a separate sheet so that the nature of the dealings can be fully  
understood.  For options this should include the number of securities under   
option, the exercise period (or in the case of exercise, the exercise date),  
the exercise price and any option money paid or received.  For derivatives    
this should include, at least, the number of reference securities to which    
they relate (when relevant), the maturity date (or if applicable the closing  
out date) and the reference price.                                            
    
For full details of disclosure requirements see Rules 8 and 38 of the Code.   
                                             
If in doubt contact the Monitoring Section of the Panel,                      
                          
Tel. No: 0171 638 0129                                                 

                                                 
                                                                 FORM 38.5      
                           
              
                          CONNECTED EXEMPT MARKET-MAKERS:                     
                           
     DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS     
                                           


Dealing in       BTP plc           (name of company)

Class of security               Ordinary                            

Date of disclosure              25/2/2000                            

Date of dealing                 24/2/2000                            

Name of EMM                     Merrill Lynch International                   

Name of offeree/offeror with whom connected BTP plc              


Total number of securities purchased                            555       
                                   
Highest price paid*                                             #5.90       
                                   
Lowest price paid*                                              #5.90       
                                   
                                   
Total number of securities sold                                 Nil       
                                   
Highest price received*                                         n/a       
                                   
Lowest price received*                                          n/a       

*Currency must be stated                                                 
                                                 
                                                 

                                                                 FORM 38.5      
                         
               
                          CONNECTED EXEMPT MARKET-MAKERS:                     
                           
     DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS     
                                           


Dealing in         Ocean Group Plc      (name of company)       

Class of security               Ordinary                     

Date of disclosure              25/2/2000                     

Date of dealing                 24/2/2000                     

Name of EMM                     Merrill Lynch International                   

Name of offeree/offeror with whom connected Ocean Group Plc       


Total number of securities purchased                            26,736       
                                   
Highest price paid*                                             #12.00       
                                   
Lowest price paid*                                              #11.75       
                                   
                                   
Total number of securities sold                                 15,518       
                                   
Highest price received*                                         #12.21       
                                   
Lowest price received*                                          #11.85       

*Currency must be stated                                                 
                                                 
                                                 

                                                                  FORM 38.5     
                     

                          CONNECTED EXEMPT MARKET-MAKERS:                     
                           
     DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS     
                                           




Dealing in            NFC Plc         (name of company)       

Class of security               Ordinary                                   

Date of disclosure              25/2/2000                     

Date of dealing                 24/2/2000                     

Name of EMM                     Merrill Lynch International                   

Name of offeree/offeror with whom connected  OCEAN GROUP PLC       


Total number of securities purchased                            88,729       
                                   
Highest price paid*                                             #3.40       
                                   
Lowest price paid*                                              #3.28       
                                   
                                   
Total number of securities sold                                 36,860       
                                   
Highest price received*                                         #3.48       
                                   
Lowest price received*                                          #3.30       

*Currency must be stated                                   

END

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