RNS Number:0808Q
Merchant Retail Group PLC
23 September 2003


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      23 September 2003


                           MERCHANT RETAIL GROUP PLC
        (The Specialist Perfumery Retailer and Department Stores Group)

                               Holding in Company


The Board of Merchant Retail Group plc announces that it was notified on 22
September 2003 that Standard Life Group holds a material interest in 5,361,273
ordinary 10 pence shares of the Company, which represents 4.90% of the Company's
issued ordinary share capital.

The number of ordinary 10p shares in issue is 109,464,653.


For further information please contact:

Philip Newton (Chief Executive)                01494 894000
Ann-Marie Wilkinson / Amanda Sheehy            020 7398 3300
(Beattie Financial)


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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