RNS Number:6205U
Merrill Lynch Investment ManagersLd
26 January 2004

                                                                      FORM SAR 3

Lodge with a RIS or Newstrack if appropriate and the Takeover Panel.

A copy must also be sent to the company the shares of which are acquired.

Date of disclosure

26th January, 2004

DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 3 OF THE RULES GOVERNING

SUBSTANTIAL ACQUISITIONS OF SHARES ("SARs")

Date of acquisition

23rd January, 2004

Acquisition in (name of company)

Merrill Lynch Asset Allocator plc

1. Class of voting shares (eg ordinary shares)

0.1p Balanced Shares

0.1p Growth Shares

Number of shares/rights over shares acquired

290,000 Shares (0.1p Growth Shares)

If rights over shares acquired, as opposed to the shares themselves, specify
nature of rights

...............................................................

2. Resultant total holding of voting shares (and % of total voting shares in
issue)

Balanced: 5,225,069 (22.78%)

Growth: 24,132,525 (18.43%)

Total: 29,357,594 (19.08%)

Resultant total holding of rights over shares (and % of total voting shares in
issue)

29,357,594 (19.08%)

Total percentage

(19.08%)

3. Party making disclosure

MERRILL LYNCH INVESTMENT MANAGERS GROUP LIMITED

4. (a) Name of person acquiring shares or rights over shares

MERRILL LYNCH INVESTMENT MANAGERS GROUP LIMITED

and, if different, beneficial owner

...............................................................

(b) Names of any other persons acting by agreement or understanding (see SAR 5)

...............................................................

Signed, for and on behalf of the party named in (3) above

...............................................................

(Also print name of signatory)

Keli Walters

Telephone and extension number

0207 964 7492

Note 1.     Under SAR 5, the holdings of and acquisitions by persons acting by
agreement or understanding must be aggregated and treated as a holding of or
acquisition by one person. Note 3 on SAR 5 requires persons who must aggregate
holdings to disclose certain disposals.

Note 2.     The resultant total percentage holding of voting shares and rights
over shares is to be calculated by reference to the percentage held and in issue
outside treasury.

For full details of the SARs disclosure requirements, see Rules 3 and 5 of the
SARs. If in doubt, contact the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers, Monitoring
Section. Tel. No: 020 7638 0129.

Email:monitoring@disclosure.org.uk




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