ARC International plc

ARC International PLC ("the Company")

Notification of Interest(s) in Shares

Section 198 Companies Act 1985

The Company received a notification today from AXA Investment Managers UK
Limited on behalf of AXA S.A. and its Group Companies, informing it that as at
22 January 2004 they had an interest in 27,222,838 ordinary shares representing
18.875% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company.

23 January 2004