RNS Number:4018H
Abbot Group PLC
12 February 2003


Letter to RNS


Please be advised that Abbot Group plc have been advised by Aberforth Partners
as follows.

"We hereby give notice for the purposes of Part VI of the Companies Act 1985 
that today we have become aware that Aberforth Partners has a notifiable 
interest in 19,371,103 Ordinary Shares of 15p each which, based on the 
information available to us, represents 11.02% of the issued share capital of 
the above company.  This interest arises as a result of the discretionary 
investment management powers that we can exercise over the funds of our clients.
Aberforth Partners is not the beneficial owner of these shares.

The shares to which this notification relates are, or will be registered as
follows:

Registered Holder                                      Number of Shares

Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd             3,877,308
a/c ABERFIT1                              

Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd             2,094,544
a/c ABERFIT2

Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd               675,000
a/c ABERFIT3

Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd             4,095,493
ABERFUT1

Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd             3,761,129
ABERLP1B

Clydesdale Bank (Head Office) Nominees Ltd             3,761,129
ABERLP1B

State Street Nominees Ltd a/c JD59                     1,106,500
                                                      19,371,103


Letter from  Abbot Group plc


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END

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